mucomix
Service Attendant
SWC from KC to Williams Jct. This is more of a comment on the GCRR. I have no point of reference on Amtrak travel but the wife and myself took out a roomette it served us well. I did go back to the coach car and tried out one of those seats. They do set better then what we had in the roomette but I myself would not enjoy sleeping in one. I see how one could how one could be disappointed springing the extra for the roomette if all they wanted was a seat. We found it nice that there is lots of head room with the top bunk down one of us could take a nap and the other could set below. I did not sleep that well on the train but than again I don’t sleep that well away from home. A after lunch nap helps make up for it. It still beats driving and I have a good road car. As for Food we brought a bunch of snacks but never ate many we found the meals that came with the room very sufficient. One thing I do not understand is they do not make coffee throughout the day. If they made coffee even such as it is throughout the day I bet I could get my father to try the train. He would be content to drink coffee and watch the world go by. Also you never know who you will meet on the train we ate with another couple who happened to be from the area I was raised and it is off the beaten path I did not know them but they knew my folks, we had a nice visit. I have nothing bad to say about my Amtrak trip on the SWC.
We also took the train up to the Grand Canyon one the GCRR more less bought the three day package with an extra day at Williams. It was wonderful!! . Many years ago I stopped by the GC on a road trip it was not unlike Chevy Chase “Vacation” the move here is the big hole lets go. Staying the night is worth it. We took the parlor car up and back I was out on the back platform for most of the ride. It was very handy that the luggage was taken from the train to the room and on departure picked up from the room to the train and was sent to are room once back at Williams. The room at the lodge was very adequate. I cannot speak for meals at the GC we took are meals at the El Tovar. (A nice place) Do bring a flash light to walk around with at night not a lot of lighting and one hell of a hole on one side. Nothing bad to say about the meals with the package at Williams one night was better than the other but one could make out ok. I personally would opt out of the bus tour when you book the trip the NPS has a good bus service.
In short the Mrs. and I are sold on train travel this fall we are going to take the CA Zephyr from Omaha to Davis CA.
We also took the train up to the Grand Canyon one the GCRR more less bought the three day package with an extra day at Williams. It was wonderful!! . Many years ago I stopped by the GC on a road trip it was not unlike Chevy Chase “Vacation” the move here is the big hole lets go. Staying the night is worth it. We took the parlor car up and back I was out on the back platform for most of the ride. It was very handy that the luggage was taken from the train to the room and on departure picked up from the room to the train and was sent to are room once back at Williams. The room at the lodge was very adequate. I cannot speak for meals at the GC we took are meals at the El Tovar. (A nice place) Do bring a flash light to walk around with at night not a lot of lighting and one hell of a hole on one side. Nothing bad to say about the meals with the package at Williams one night was better than the other but one could make out ok. I personally would opt out of the bus tour when you book the trip the NPS has a good bus service.
In short the Mrs. and I are sold on train travel this fall we are going to take the CA Zephyr from Omaha to Davis CA.