SWC in March?

[red_squirrel]

Hi everyone

A couple of questions from a newbie, both to this forum and to long-distance Amtrak travel.

Over the next couple of years, I intend to do the three great journeys from Chicago to the West: Empire Builder, California Zephyr and Southwest Chief.

My plan is to start with the Chief as far as Albuquerque. I will spend a couple of days in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Vegas, NM (the one without the casinos). I've seen LA before so I don't need to ride to the end of the line. I figured I would do the Chief first as it will be a shorter journey than the other two, allowing me to get used to Amtrak, and I've long wanted to see New Mexico -- the history, the architecture, the skies, the air.

So now for my questions:

-- Will I missing the best part of the scenery if I do only the CHI - ABQ part of the journey and don't continue to LA?

-- I plan to go in late March. Will Spring have come to NM by then? Obviously I'm used to the cold as I'm currently based in Chicago, but I'd like to think NM would have some vegetation and blossom at this time of year (Chicago has nothing until mid-May). Is there any particular reason why I should ride the EB or CZ in March and postpone the SWC until later?

Thanks.

 

[Ryan]

I'm not sure about the seasons, but I think that you're absolutely missing out by only going to ABQ. The desert between there and LA really needs to be seen, it's pretty incredible. Here's a typical scene (many more in that set):



AZ Desert by Ryan Stavely, on Flickr

(that was in Late April, by the way)

 

[the_traveler]

If you take the CZ, I rate it the most scenic journey on Amtrak - especially the crossings of the Colorado Rockies and Donner Pass. A couple of years ago, I took the CZ in March during a snow storm while crossing Donner Pass! It added to the beauty!

I'd rather see the storm from inside a nice warm train then while driving on I-80!

 

[lthanlon]

I live in Chicago and I'd definitely recommend riding the SWC all the way to Los Angeles. The change in scenery, cities and people accounts for most of the fun for me. And I absolutely love the Chief's path in and around L.A. -- even if you've never been there before, it all seems familiar because you've seen it in TV and movies.

 

[zephyr17]

The best scenary on the Chief is between Trinidad, CO and Albuquerque, NM, Raton and Glorietta passes. The scenary west of Albuquerque is interesting, but you are getting the best parts east of there.

 

[zephyr17]

I live in Chicago and I'd definitely recommend riding the SWC all the way to Los Angeles. The change in scenery, cities and people accounts for most of the fun for me. And I absolutely love the Chief's path in and around L.A. -- even if you've never been there before, it all seems familiar because you've seen it in TV and movies.

BTW-those iconic LA River bridges (I think the 4th Street Bridge is in you pic) seen in countless movies and TV shows are probably going to be replaced sometime in the not-to-distant future. Apparently the acid content in the sand they used in the concrete was too high and they are breaking down and will have to be replaced...so see them while you can.

For more information, go to the Los Angeles Conservancy website. All the info on the state of those bridges is in there, they are listed as some of LA's most endangered structures.

 

[gswager]

You can easily access to both ABQ and Santa Fe by using NM Rail Runner which is commuter train. Hotels in ABQ are a lot cheaper than Santa Fe. Santa Fe is a very unique place to explore which I high recommend for you to look into.

Las Vegas was originally started with 3 villages. There is a bus transit at Las Vegas station. I do not know about the taxi.

March is a windy and dry season. It could be about 30-40 degrees different in day/night temperature. Wettest season is in late summer which is ideal to look at the scenery. NM weather is widely swing so some years may be wet or not.

Best scenic part of SWC route is between Trinidad, CO and Albuquerque, NM.

 

[SoCalResidentAmtrakEmploye]

I live in Chicago and I'd definitely recommend riding the SWC all the way to Los Angeles. The change in scenery, cities and people accounts for most of the fun for me. And I absolutely love the Chief's path in and around L.A. -- even if you've never been there before, it all seems familiar because you've seen it in TV and movies.

BTW-those iconic LA River bridges (I think the 4th Street Bridge is in you pic) seen in countless movies and TV shows are probably going to be replaced sometime in the not-to-distant future. Apparently the acid content in the sand they used in the concrete was too high and they are breaking down and will have to be replaced...so see them while you can.

For more information, go to the Los Angeles Conservancy website. All the info on the state of those bridges is in there, they are listed as some of LA's most endangered structures.

Not quite accurate - they're being upgraded, in most cases. In fact, where the Gold Line now travels over one, they're widening the bridge including new supports underneath (as you can see on the SWC and SL), and keeping the iconic "triumphal arches" along the top. Several of them are also postwar, with basically contemporary concrete which still has 50 years on it before it'll need retrofitting.

 

[zephyr17]

I live in Chicago and I'd definitely recommend riding the SWC all the way to Los Angeles. The change in scenery, cities and people accounts for most of the fun for me. And I absolutely love the Chief's path in and around L.A. -- even if you've never been there before, it all seems familiar because you've seen it in TV and movies.

BTW-those iconic LA River bridges (I think the 4th Street Bridge is in you pic) seen in countless movies and TV shows are probably going to be replaced sometime in the not-to-distant future. Apparently the acid content in the sand they used in the concrete was too high and they are breaking down and will have to be replaced...so see them while you can.

For more information, go to the Los Angeles Conservancy website. All the info on the state of those bridges is in there, they are listed as some of LA's most endangered structures.

Not quite accurate - they're being upgraded, in most cases. In fact, where the Gold Line now travels over one, they're widening the bridge including new supports underneath (as you can see on the SWC and SL), and keeping the iconic "triumphal arches" along the top. Several of them are also postwar, with basically contemporary concrete which still has 50 years on it before it'll need retrofitting.

Apparently the one in the most immediate danger is the 6th St bridge (and the Gold line is on the 1st St Bridge, not the 4th St Bridge). The 6th St Bridge is the one with the arches. All of them are famous (although most folks don't know the specific ones. The ones most commonly seen in media are the 4th St and 6th St bridges). Here is the link with the details:

http://laconservancy.org/bridges/index.php

 

[NETrainfan]

Hi- Our favorite Amtrak stopover is Santa Fe. First- we had a great van driver from Lamy station to our inn- Alexander's Inn- then we had an enjoyable time walking all around this small interesting city.

Took a side trip, by car, to the Bandelier National Monument where we saw Ancestral Pueblo dwellings up close as we hiked through the park. So much to see and do in Santa Fe.

 

[me_little_me]

You can easily access to both ABQ and Santa Fe by using NM Rail Runner which is commuter train. Hotels in ABQ are a lot cheaper than Santa Fe. Santa Fe is a very unique place to explore which I high recommend for you to look into.

Las Vegas was originally started with 3 villages. There is a bus transit at Las Vegas station. I do not know about the taxi.

March is a windy and dry season. It could be about 30-40 degrees different in day/night temperature. Wettest season is in late summer which is ideal to look at the scenery. NM weather is widely swing so some years may be wet or not.

Best scenic part of SWC route is between Trinidad, CO and Albuquerque, NM.

I agree about staying in ABQ and taking RailRunner to Santa Fe. There is free shuttle or not long walk to the Plaza in Santa Fe from the RailRunner train. Note that the SWC (and original Santa Fe) never made it to the city for passenger operation. The "Santa Fe" stop was and is in Lamy. The RailRunner follows the Amtrak/Santa Fe tracks out of Albuquerque but then when they head northeast towards Lamy, it continues on track straight into Santa Fe partially running along I-25.

 

[NETrainfan]

Do you know the round trip cost of the RailRunner from ABQ to Santa Fe?

 

[gswager]

Do you know the round trip cost of the RailRunner from ABQ to Santa Fe?

The cost of roundtrip on RailRunner, from ABQ to Santa Fe, is $7 each way or $8 roundtrip (or $7 if you book on-line).

 

[Eric S]

Note that the SWC (and original Santa Fe) never made it to the city for passenger operation. The "Santa Fe" stop was and is in Lamy. The RailRunner follows the Amtrak/Santa Fe tracks out of Albuquerque but then when they head northeast towards Lamy, it continues on track straight into Santa Fe partially running along I-25.

The AT&SF did actually serve the Santa Fe with passenger service, it's just that the main ("named") passenger trains did not stop there. But the branch line serving Santa Fe did have passenger service (or at least mixed train service) at one time.

 

[ButFli]

I can atest to the convenience of the NM RailRunner between ABQ and Santa Fe. I stopped on the Eastbound SWC in ABQ for a few nights. I caught the RailRunner to Santa Fe one morning and came back in the afternoon. There is a free minivan from the station in Santa Fe to the Plaza but it is a short enough walk if you know where you are going. The RailRunner uses the same station in ABQ as the SWC and it's right in downtown near all the hotels there.

ABQ isn't the most happening place in the world but it's nice for a visit. It was the first overseas place I'd ever traveled to alone and it treated me alright. Ah... good times.

 

[George Harris]

Interesting that NONE of the named points in AT&SF were main line points in the ultimate system. While Topeka kept passenger service, the major trains, and the freight bypassed it. Atchison is a point on the Missouri River 40 or so miles north of Kansas City, and Santa Fe was just discussed.

Another little point: The main line across New Mexico and Arizona was originally to be the major part of the line to San Francisco for the St. Louis - San Francisco Railroad, which due various manipulations and financial issues never got west of Lawton, Oklahoma.

 

[red_squirrel]

Hi again,

Since posting my original message, I have had the pleasure of riding the City of New Orleans, the Silver Metor, and the fabulous California Zephyr. I've discovered that I love long-distance Amtrak, even more than I expected.

I'm looking into doing the Southwest Chief in late August. I have to fly out of Albuquerque but would like to see Santa Fe too.

So I'm considering two options:

1. Chicago > Lamy > Santa Fe (Amtrak and bus) > One night in Santa Fe > NM Rail Runner to Albuquerque > One night in Albuquerque > Fly from ABQ

2. Chicago > Albuquerque (Amtrak) > Two nights in ABQ with day trip to Santa Fe on NM Rail Runner > Fly from ABQ

Is there any particular reason for favoring one of these options over the other? And is late August a good time to visit New Mexico? Not too hot? I know somebody earlier on the thread mentioned that late summer was a good time to go because it was the wettest time of year and therefore the best scenery.

red_squirrel

 

[Ryan]

I know you said you have to fly out of ABQ, but if if it is at all possible to press on to LAX, I would encourage it. It was the best part of the trip in my book.

 

[gswager]

Santa Fe is a whole different world than in ABQ because of its unique culture. Yes, it's a wettest month. Thunderstorms frequently occur in late afternoon and early evening.

With your options, I would recommend to take number 1 because nighttime at Santa Fe is cooler. Disadvantage is most hotels in Santa Fe are expensive. I would take #2 if you're taking lots of suitcases.

 

[Red_Squirrel]

Is Albuquerque worth stopping in at all? Or should I just spend 2 nights in Santa Fe and get a shuttle bus to ABQ Airport?

Would love to do the ABQ > LAX leg and have seen some great pictures of it, but think it won't happen on this trip.

 

[amamba]

I know you said you have to fly out of ABQ, but if if it is at all possible to press on to LAX, I would encourage it. It was the best part of the trip in my book.

I respectfully disagree with Ryan. I took the SWC last year and found the best scenery to be east of ABQ. Maybe it was the time of year that I rode the train, but I had dinner not long after leaving ABQ and then it got dark. I found the stuff leading into ABQ to be the same scenery as after ABQ, so I don't see the need to press on to LAX.

I have been to Santa Fe, NM twice, both times were in the last five years. There is not much to see in ABQ but Santa Fe was beautiful. I don't really see the point to staying in ABQ. I would recommend doing the SWC all the way to ABQ and then taking the rail runner up to Santa Fe. Then I would spend two nights in Santa Fe and then take the rail runner back to ABQ before flying out.

 

[guest]

Is Albuquerque worth stopping in at all? Or should I just spend 2 nights in Santa Fe and get a shuttle bus to ABQ Airport?

Would love to do the ABQ > LAX leg and have seen some great pictures of it, but think it won't happen on this trip.

Hate to say it, but given the short amount of time you have for the trip, you really don't have enough to really see Santa Fe or Albuquerque satisfactorily!!

Santa Fe is definitely worth two full days and nights (and more) with so many shops, museums, art galleries, historical sites and stunning architecture, all walkable or easily reached by the municipal transit system. August also features a lot of night-time activities because the temperatures are so mild and the air so clean. And the town of Taos, with its famous pueblo and plaza, is only about a 90-minute drive north.

But Albuqerque also has great sights, including Old Town and the many museums and historical sites throughout the city, as well as the spectacular cable car up Sandia Peak.

So I would pick one or the other for your first short trip.

Assuming that you are flying out of Albuqerque either late afternoon or early evening of your third day (counting the day you get off the train either in Santa Fe or Albuqerque), I would recommend you see Albuqerque this time around. That way, you will have two nights, one full day, and most of another day to see the town. If you pick Santa Fe, you'll have two nights, but only one full day, as you'll have to leave Santa Fe by early afternoon (at the latest) in order to get to the airport in time. And you'd probably have to leave even earlier if you take the Rail Runner, because mid-way schedules have been lopped severely.

 

[RedSquirrel]

I just booked my trip for late August! I was pleased to be able to get a low bucket. Decided to take everybody's advice and to focus on one city for this short trip. I'll spend one night on the train, two nights in Santa Fe and then on the third day get the Rail Runner to Albuquerque, have lunch there, and fly out in the evening.

Have found a nice B&B and going to look into the Santa Fe opera. Seems everything in that city is $$!