yarrow
Engineer
yarrow, jj and i called ken at the spokane station at 1 a.m. and ken told us the eb would depart 15 minutes late at 3a.m. we got to the station and duane(our other agent)told us the eb would get into spokane around 3:15 and we would depart about 4. at 4 he announced the eb would be in at 4:15 and we would leave about 5 a.m. which is what happened. we got to our bedroom and the seats were made up as beds. we just put them back in daytime configuration and enjoyed some rare daylight mileage to pasco.
the trip along the columbia and through the gorge was beautiful as usual and we got to pdx a little after noon. we took a quick scurry to powell's bookstore then back to the metropolitan lounge to relax a bit in comfort before the cs. yarrow and i peered out the window as it rolled in and were gratified to see the willamette valley ppc.
we spent most of our time in the ppc other than dinner which we chose to eat in the dining car rather than the ppc. the meal was delicious, hot and nicely presented. there were several railfans on board for the trip over tehachapi pass next day and we were fortunate that one of them was very knowledgeable about the great coyote mtn slide and was able to share his incredible wealth of information as he gave us a guided tour climbing the west side of the cacades and over the pass.
next morning we were due in sac about 6:30 and were maybe 10 minutes behind schedule. we and 3 others dashed into the diner for a quick breakfast when it opened at 6:30. we ended up getting our meals to go and dashed off the train to eat in the station. our server gave us each a real steel amtrak fork to take with us to eat with as a souvenier.
the sacramento station is a nice one in good shape. we had a couple hours to wander and went through old sacramento and the area of the california state railroad museum. everything was closed on sunday at 7 in the morning but there were many outdoor displays and refurbished and recreated buildings so it was very enjoyable. i would sure like to see the inside of that museum some day.
the cz was a few minutes late but we settled quickly into our bedroom. the sleeper was quite newly refurbished and very nice. we had never had a bedroom before, only roomettes or a family bedroom, and i am convinced the bedroom is the way to go if possible.
the crew on all 3 trains were very nice but especially on the zephyr where they were operating under difficult conditions due to the flood. the cz, from sac to den, is hands down the most scenic route we have taken(i never thought i, devoted to the noble eb as i am, would say that). we began by climbing into the high sierras. beautiful mountains, lakes and huge ponderosa pines. beauty and history around every bend.
once in nevada i was prepared for much less beautiful views and until we got past reno it wasn't very spectacular. but once we began to follow the humbolt river the views of the alkali flats, green meadows and winding river bordered on both side by desert mountains were magnificent.
next morning we got up just after we started to climb up the colorado plateau into the part of utah called castle country. it just kept getting prettier and prettier the farther we went. immense and weird cliffs and rock formations. once past green river we began our 250 mile journey along the colorado through wonderful canyons where the river was so rapid it was almost a continuous waterfall and through broad valleys where the river slowed somewhat and the views were wide. it is this part of the trip that sets the zephyr apart in my view.
the first major canyon was ruby canyon. towering red sandstone walls with only room for the river and the train track. glenwood canyon, the most famous, was next and just went on and on. it was time for lunch and we are usually jophnny on the spot in the dining car. not that day. we got lunch but only after the canyon. then back to our room for gore and byers canyons.
went through the moffat tunnel at 9,000 ft and crossed the continental divide. then a beautiful looping descent through 20-some tunnels down into denver with views of the mountains and great plains like coming in on an airplane. arrived at denver's historic union station right on time.
i get irritated with amtrak pretty regularly but this wonderful journey made up for a lot and built up some credit i will allow amtrak for bonheaded things they do in the future.
the trip along the columbia and through the gorge was beautiful as usual and we got to pdx a little after noon. we took a quick scurry to powell's bookstore then back to the metropolitan lounge to relax a bit in comfort before the cs. yarrow and i peered out the window as it rolled in and were gratified to see the willamette valley ppc.
we spent most of our time in the ppc other than dinner which we chose to eat in the dining car rather than the ppc. the meal was delicious, hot and nicely presented. there were several railfans on board for the trip over tehachapi pass next day and we were fortunate that one of them was very knowledgeable about the great coyote mtn slide and was able to share his incredible wealth of information as he gave us a guided tour climbing the west side of the cacades and over the pass.
next morning we were due in sac about 6:30 and were maybe 10 minutes behind schedule. we and 3 others dashed into the diner for a quick breakfast when it opened at 6:30. we ended up getting our meals to go and dashed off the train to eat in the station. our server gave us each a real steel amtrak fork to take with us to eat with as a souvenier.
the sacramento station is a nice one in good shape. we had a couple hours to wander and went through old sacramento and the area of the california state railroad museum. everything was closed on sunday at 7 in the morning but there were many outdoor displays and refurbished and recreated buildings so it was very enjoyable. i would sure like to see the inside of that museum some day.
the cz was a few minutes late but we settled quickly into our bedroom. the sleeper was quite newly refurbished and very nice. we had never had a bedroom before, only roomettes or a family bedroom, and i am convinced the bedroom is the way to go if possible.
the crew on all 3 trains were very nice but especially on the zephyr where they were operating under difficult conditions due to the flood. the cz, from sac to den, is hands down the most scenic route we have taken(i never thought i, devoted to the noble eb as i am, would say that). we began by climbing into the high sierras. beautiful mountains, lakes and huge ponderosa pines. beauty and history around every bend.
once in nevada i was prepared for much less beautiful views and until we got past reno it wasn't very spectacular. but once we began to follow the humbolt river the views of the alkali flats, green meadows and winding river bordered on both side by desert mountains were magnificent.
next morning we got up just after we started to climb up the colorado plateau into the part of utah called castle country. it just kept getting prettier and prettier the farther we went. immense and weird cliffs and rock formations. once past green river we began our 250 mile journey along the colorado through wonderful canyons where the river was so rapid it was almost a continuous waterfall and through broad valleys where the river slowed somewhat and the views were wide. it is this part of the trip that sets the zephyr apart in my view.
the first major canyon was ruby canyon. towering red sandstone walls with only room for the river and the train track. glenwood canyon, the most famous, was next and just went on and on. it was time for lunch and we are usually jophnny on the spot in the dining car. not that day. we got lunch but only after the canyon. then back to our room for gore and byers canyons.
went through the moffat tunnel at 9,000 ft and crossed the continental divide. then a beautiful looping descent through 20-some tunnels down into denver with views of the mountains and great plains like coming in on an airplane. arrived at denver's historic union station right on time.
i get irritated with amtrak pretty regularly but this wonderful journey made up for a lot and built up some credit i will allow amtrak for bonheaded things they do in the future.
