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When I retired in 2019, my plan was to take a train trip each year. COVIT stopped that plan, but I finally booked a trip on the Capitol Ltd. and California Zephyr spanning May 15 - May 27, 2023 with 4 days in Sacramento. I booked the trip in December, 2022 and glad I did! All the trains I was...

Last fall, I mentioned to my Assistant that the April 2016 Conference of the Public Library Association in Denver would make a great train trip from our nearby Pittsburgh Station, and he agreed to let me book the trip. I made the reservations in December 2015 and was able to achieve inexpensive...

To celebrate my successful Back Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic, I proposed to my wife a round trip train trip from our home station of Pittsburgh to Los Angeles to visit a friend. I booked the trip at the end of 2014 as my wife insists on Bedroom accommodations, and we were ready to begin our...

My wife and I returned from our train trip which included the Capitol Ltd., California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, and the Southwest Chief in a trip that started and ended in Pittsburgh. Thinking of issues discussed over the past weeks, I looked for answers during our trip spanning May 17 - June...

The opportunity to use Amtrak to go to Salt Lake City for a computer conference became a reality in late summer, so I booked online and was able to snag roomettes for the whole trip at a reasonable price, returning right before the Thanksgiving travel season. My neighbor took me to the Amtrak...

I recently returned from a round trip from Pittsburgh to Salt Lake City on the Capitol Limited and California Zephyr, roomette on each leg of the trip. Given the recent discussion of food service on Amtrak, I was particularly observant in the Dining Cars. Overall, the food quality and service...

I just returned from a round trip from Pittsburgh to Salt Lake City via the Capitol Ltd., and the California Zephyr; and I wanted to share information on four topics in recent discussion on the Forum. Black Ink is indeed a requirement for signing in the Dining Car, as when I used my own pen, I...

Two fellows from work allowed me to arrange their first train trip, in coach from Pittsburgh to Chicago round trip on the Capitol Limited. We spent three great days in Chicago last week. The Westbound Train 29 was about 75% filled in coach, no Amtrak staff made any mention of a dining car, but...

On our recent trip, ice in the Sleepers was done four different ways on the CL and CZ round trip. On the CL westbound, you had to ask your attendance who would retrieve it from the dining car. On the CZ westbound, it was in a styrofoam cooler in the corner across from the coffee pot. CZ...

With our upcoming trip on the CL and CZ next week, I have been tracking the on-time status of both trains from Pittsburgh to Chicago to Sacramento. While our round trip has no tight connections (we're even staying overnight in CHI eastbound) I also chart trains for 30 days in advance of a train...

NARP reported on 9/19/2008 that the Dining Car on the CL has been replaced with the Cross-Country Cafe (Diner-Lounge) due to a shortage of traditional Superliner Diners. However, the CL will retain both the full diner menu and staffed Lounge car. The same hotline news also states that the...

My wife is joining me on a cross-country train trip in late October. This will be her first time on a train, I am a 20 year veteran and am excited that I finally convinced her to join me. I am sharing all the tips and hints on train travel, and some she has already heard from my train talk...