Penny,
I'll weigh in with an opinion, and provide some pictures of what you will see on the TE. We've done the TE both east and west on loops around the West when we lived in Golden (DEN). [To loop from and to Denver, of course, meant taking the CZ and CS in addition to the TE, making the loop about 6,500 miles.] I really like the TE because it is the longest LD Amtrak train you can take across the US—some 2,700 miles, nearly 70 hours, and 3 nights on the train. If you really want a lengthy train experience, this is THE experience.
Before suggesting a direction, let me weigh in on the scenery. It's great. Many folks say "take the CZ" because it's got such beautiful scenery. Yes, it does. But of a mountainous kind. The TE provides a different perspective on America, a subtle beauty that is often overlooked. Perhaps I am numb to mountainous landscapes from having lived several decades in the Rocky Mountains, which are indeed beautiful. But I find the austerity of form of our nation's deserts and plains to have a beauty in their own right. So, while on board, allow yourself to partake a different kind of beauty.
Now that you plan to go, which way should you go? I'd probably suggest starting in Chicago and heading west, as Jim suggests. Heading west means you gain a little daylight as you traverse from Central through Mountain to Pacific Time, which you would lose going east. You have a better chance to see the Gateway Arch going east, and a much better chance to see the Salton Sea going west. The stretches in the dark are pretty much the same in both directions—with a little wiggle room at the dawn and dusk parts. Still, I think you have slightly better opportunity to see more going west.
Some other points:
- Going west means starting at CHI Union Station. If you are coming from the east to CHI, you will have several hours to wander about downtown Chicago while waiting for the TE departure at 1:45 pm. OK, you could have some good time wandering around LA since you would not leave until 3:00 pm.
- You get to hang out in the sleeper lounge at the CHI Union Station, which is quite nice. Wi-Fi, munchies, and beverages included.
- From St Louis to Dallas, expect freight delays and short rails that provide a clickity-click to help to lull you to sleep.
- Be ready for bumps, thunks, and clunks as the TE and SL are put together or broken apart in San Antonio. Of course, if you are in on time, you have a good 4 hours for heading down to the River Walk and avoiding the reconfiguration process. Just remember your car number for when you come back as it will be in a different location.
- Don't be shocked when Homeland Security or at least military-looking types in green uniforms come on board and look at you, perhaps asking you for an ID, at Alpine, Texas. Still better than at the airport, for they don't (at least in our experience) bring out the latex gloves for the body cavity search.
- Be prepared to look out the back window of your sleeper for some interesting views of the rail system.
- Get ready for a multi-car walk to eat or to the SSL as you are in the sleeper that is the last car on the train. Of course, you may never hear the engine's whistle and get a better night of sleep.
You should have a great experience. I provide a few photos below to show some of the sights that you will see. I think the TE route offers some beautiful landscapes that illustrate the diversity of America's geography. Everybody should be so fortunate to experience this. Enjoy!
scientist
