Recent content by Sam314

FYI: Indian railways have a strict "No Motorbikes in Hand Luggage"-Policy :P And this, my dear fellow railfans, is no joke.

You wanted advice, you get it: As soon as VIA lets me move in permanently I'll change my address to VIA 1 and enjoy my own private zip code ;) . Security is not an issue on the Canadian - so it does not really matter whether you book open sections or a bedroom. Bedrooms, however offer the...

Lemme see: right, as a terrorist this would be my No.1 choice for launching an attack against the general public. :ph34r: Or I would use those soap dispensers that are available in every single Amtrak bathroom since about 1971. But as a law abiding citizen, I will just launch an initiative...

According to my experience, it makes a lot of sense to tell the elephant you're carrying to breathe in before boarding. :P Even the new Via carry-on policy (which is just nuts on paper) is not enforced, unless you ask a conductor to lift your luggage into the train.

If Mrs. Ghost is like Mrs. Sam (actually it's still Miss Sam, but this would generate some confusion), then you will visit the museum in Winnipeg on your own. However, it's conveniently located next to the train and you can visit it in about an hour. About SFC: If your're fond of streetcars (not...

$10 billion is what small countries like Switzerland or Austria spend for one single tunnel - forget about any kind of ribbon cutting if the money has to last for the whole US. Also, unless you're in China, it takes decades from the first plans to the opening of a high speed line. The swiss for...

On planet Amtrak "Mea culpa" is actually spelled "Maricopa" :P At least someone should apologize for listing that station for years in the timetables, without opening it. That, and for exposing my eyes to a Barry Manilow CD cover without warning!

Note that there's a railway museum in Winnipeg Union Station. It may seem closed when the Canadian arrives, but they open up for the four hour layover. Why don't you do a layover in Sacramento instead of Emeryville/San Francisco? There's the excellent California State Railroad Museum to visit...

In Japanese it's spelled: ウイスキー :ph34r: :P However on a train it doesn't taste properly unless it's wrapped in a brown bag......

Rereading my post, i just realize that half a sentence is missing, sorry: It might be also worth getting an upgrade between.... Emeryville/Oakland and Portland. This will get you the opportunity to use the Pacific Parlor Car, which is quite nice. Also, check the sleeper prices on the day you're...

I don't wish to spoil your trip, but: Quit your job & sell your Grandma in order to include the train! (It's not just a train it's THE train, also in terms of frequency) And if you mention India, the diner competes with the 1AC food on the Mumbai Rajdhani (still not sure which one was better)...

HSR in Britain is just one line at the moment, also France has started way earlier in the fifties by upgrading old lines. Population density is the point. It just makes absolutely no sense to build a high speed line through Wyoming. Where there are people there is some kind of rail service in...

When we've been to Niagara Falls we were quite cheesed off by the touristy atmosphere. The Niagara Falls, ON station is linked to the falls by the WEGO buses. http://www.niagaraparks.com/wego/ The falls itself are quite impressive, though. However, don't miss the craft brewery, close to the...

CZ & EB are certainly the classic LD routes for beginners. Not a bad choice. There are two things which seem to be a bit odd: WAS-BOS-NYP-CHI (I guess you're taking train 66 from WAS-BOS), why don't you do WAS-NYP-BOS-CHI, this would give you the opportunity to travel BOS-ALB (Albany) too...

Who needs a bus to San Francisco, if there's a ferry from Oakland? http://sanfranciscobayferry.com Also it's easy to change to the BART trains at Richmond. But I agree that, as the CZ does not stop at either location you would need to get another train (the Coast Starlight maybe?) or change...