Random Question about LA-San Antonio

I am booking a trip from LA to San Antonio in the next few weeks. I have done it before and had a great time and was on time When booking the trip I can either choose the 422 Texas Eagle or 2 Sunset Limited. I want to be at the very back of the train. One of the things that was fun about my previous trip was walking out of my sleeper and looking out the back of the train at all the desert behind us.

Which train do I book to be at the back? Texas Eagle or Sunset Limited? Thanks

"Train" 422, the 2230 Sleeper, will put you on the rear.

KnightRail said:

"Train" 422, the 2230 Sleeper, will put you on the rear.

Click to expand...

Yep...422!

The 2230 (#422) car on the rear is great, only drawback is the walk to the Dining Car, but then after sitting one does need to stretch the leg muscles some.

Random answer about LA-San Antonio.

It's called the Wilcox Playa and in the past was used by the Air Force as a bombing range.

The Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle route crosses the northwest lobe of the roughly triangular playa.

I wondering when you are going? I'll be taking Sleeper LAX Union Station to SAS San Antonio Oct. 4 and returning Oct. 19 I am in car 130 on way to Texas and car 230 on way back.

I did an run to Omaha in August and was in last car both ways. On return a curious young boy found that the rear door had not be lock and was very surprised when it opened. Let in a lot of fumes smoke. The second engine was quite an oil burner. The Old Man T.O.M. in shorten form

KnightRail said:

"Train" 422, the 2230 Sleeper, will put you on the rear.

Click to expand...

The sleeper on the rear of the train, sounds better to me for sure. You'd have less of a risk of Amtrak train engine fumes heading into your car, and being able to look out the rear door of your train as it passes through rural areas would be fun for sure. I will remember to book a sleeper in 422, for sure! Speaking of the Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited going west, I am right that the time the train spent in San Antonio(providing it doesn't run into significant delays reducing dwell time) would allow me if I wanted to take a short walk to the Riverwalk area, or at least to the nearby Denny's in San Antonio? The latter would at least allow for a break, from Amtrak train food fare.

Westbound Texas Eagle stop in San Antonio is scheduled for 4 hr, 50 min. Westbound Sunset Limited stop is scheduled for 2 hr, 40 min.

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Youre correct about the dwell times in San Antonio if Westbound, but the calling times are in the middle of the night( #1/#421Westbound Arrives 1030pm/Leaves @245am/ #22/#422 Arrives around 5-6am/ Departs @ 7am so not much time to visit Dennys if East bound..)

You would have plenty of time to visit the Riverwalk and eat if Westbound, but not so much if Eastbound/don't even get off the train during the switching/ Breakfast will begin soon after departure from SAS on the way to Austin.

If you're have a sleeper ticket for a sleeper in the Transition sleeper behind the baggage car or any other sleep car, you can go back to the last car (sleeper or coach) and look out the 'railfan' window.

If arriving on the TE in 2130, going west and have lots of luck with you, you may arrive 1 hour 10 minutes early. Yes, if this happens, you could get to the Riverwalk while all the good restaurants are still seating customers.