Recent content by Swimmingcat

Well yesterday I booked passage on this route, transferring in SAC. Yes there is that 'almost 5 hr' layover there, but being the conservative type, I'd rather take that than transferring further downline. I figured I could have breakfast in SAC & maybe walk around a bit. Or even better, being...

I'm about to book passage (one way) from Seattle to Denver, plans are to do SB Starlight (#11?), transferring to EB Zephyr (#6). Plan now is for Coach on Starlight, Roomette on #6, leaving Seattle on July # (arrive Denver Jul #). I know that the layover in SAC is "guaranteed" but I'm debating...

I think that the dining car meals are quite good -- The salads almost have to be 'standard' since to make them for each diner would take longer. But you have a choice of dressings (and sometimes crouton packs?). I agree with one poster who mentioned the spinach frittata -- I wasn't crazy about...

I learned at least once to always knock gently on restroom doors (lower level Superliners) before entering -- unless the door is obviously ajar -- I think I surprised someone in one who had not latched the door while they were using it :-). I think there's a 'vacant-occupied' sliding indicator...

I believe that the 5/25 (Pioneer) split started taking place in DEN in 1991 (I have an old Trains mag on it - "Amtrak returns to WY"). I rode DEN - Ogden in 1993 IIRC. 25/26 (& 35/36) ended in 1997. For many of those towns along the I-80 corridor -- Amtrak was a nice alternative to Greyhound...

Interesting topic -- and all the variations that you 'all have observed! Recently I've only ridden the eastbound CZ Emeryville (origin point of course) to Denver just after New Years. At EMY I recall that I 'checked in' with the SCA at the door -- my printout already had car & room # so it was...

On #8, are the sleeping cars at the front of the train? (since the OP will be in the Transdorm). If so, that's interesting -- the only train I've ridden sleeper is the CZ, where they are on the rear. Or is it because of the 8/28 combining at Spokane? (both originating cities sending sleepers...

I was worried about this, a tad, last Christmas. I had a ticket for (unreserved) Capitol from (Oakland) Coliseum to Emeryville, to connect w/Zephyr (all-reserved) to Denver. But I was able to get directly to EMY (dad took me) to board the Zephyr -- and the Cap Corridor is unreserved -- this...

This will be interesting to watch. I've ridden the SWC in the past (mostly taking the "Thruway" bus (a regular Greyhound run) from C Springs to Raton to connect there, & vice versa). I can see everyone's point -- concern over loss of service to Colo & NM communities vs faster routing on the...

I recall the movies they would show in the SSL in the evenings, & in the morning -- sometimes cartoons. I think on this last trip on #6 I 'suddenly' recalled that there was not the video monitor up in that cubby . . . I prefer it that way. Also, now that I travel sleeper, if it's dark I...

Sometimes, airfares between city pairs don't always appear to make sense from a price standpoint, or a pure distance factor. That $411 seems quite high (the price you mention) for a fairly short distance. My recent trip on Southwest Air -- Denver to Oakland (CA) on Dec 23 (a very busy travel...

That's pretty funny re: the interstates on flat ground -- although I drove it westbound (I-80) last Feb and there are some hills (near Des Moines?). I agree about the 'corners' of the state -- on 2012 RAGBRAI it was Sioux Center to Clinton -- the day prior to RAGBRAI I rode from Sioux City to...

I think this post hits it right on the head! -- there are many people who won't fly, they have the time (& funds, perhaps, to go sleeper), they want to see our country, they consider it (as I do) as sort of a 'land cruise', etc. I'm not sure that Amtrak 'should' always compete with the...

The very first time that I read "Agent's" reply, I read it as "Utah" -- then saw that it was Iowa. Looking at the #6/(17) hyperlink I could see that the further time loss occured well after it left Denver -- then made sense. By the way, that hyperlink to the train on-time status was interesting...

Those ladies were probably lucky that you were there to help them out -- hopefully they will stay 'converts'! I've never been in a Metro lounge -- there isn't one in Emeryville or Denver (my usual route). I rode the CZ from Denver to Chicago in 1995 in coach to visit relatives, many of whom...