🚀 go-pugleaf

adrian@ntmtv.com (Adrian Brandt) writes:
>Linda Emerson <lae@netcom.com> wrote:
>> Has anyone spent much time traveling through California via Amtrak?  I 
>> had an occasion to take the Coast Starlight from LA to Emeryville this 
>> weekend and found it to be a refreshing way to make the journey.
>
>Yes, I love going by train--when I've got the time.  It should come
>as no surprise that it's a relatively slow, easy-going trip.  Don't
>expect the train to be right on time, as the Coast Starlight is often
>delayed by freight trains and other interference on it's host railroad,
>the Southern Pacific.  But that's not the point.  Taking the train is
>relaxing and makes it so that getting there is part of the fun.

I agree.  This past summer my wife and I took our first Amtrak
trip.  The Coast Starlight was our second favorite route, second
only to the California Zephyr from Emeryville, CA to Denver, CO.
The routes were relaxing, scenic and informative.  A great way
to see our country.  At each stop, we felt refreshed and ready
to enjoy our destination.  As Adrian says, the train was often late
(pretty slow going through San Luis Obisbo area due to past fires
and waiting for other trains to pass); but that didn't matter to
us since "getting there was part of the fun"!

My favorite part of the Coast Starlight was eating in the dining
car with the Pacific Ocean just off the left side of the train.
Also seeing the never used space shuttle launching pad at
Vandenberg Air Force base.

We took the Coast Starlight from LA to Portland, Oregon then
transferred to the Empire Builder (in sleeping car) to Glacier
National Park, MT.  After our four night stay at Glacier
we took the Empire Builder to Seattle, WA for a two night stay.
From Seattle we took the NorthWest Talgo to Portland for a three
night stay.  From Portland we took the Coast Starlight to
Emervyille, CA and transferred to the California Zephyr (in a sleeping
car) to Denver, CO for a two night stay and then we flew home.

The train travel was simply great.  We enjoyed every aspect
of it.  The CA Zephyr route is VERY scenic; highlights for us were
crossing the Sierra Nevadas at Donner Pass, crossing the Nevada
dessert at dusk, following the Colorado River through canyons for
240 miles, and crossing the Rockies.

>Due to it's popularity, a good tip with the Coast Starlight is to make
>your reservations by calling Amtrak as early as possible.  That way
>you will be more likely to get one of the lower fares.

Very good advice.  We booked our trip very early and got some great
fares.   We booked all our rail travel via Ascutney Travel Service
in Calremont, NH based on an article by Len Bachelder <M00209@mitre.org>
in rec.railroad  Len wrote:

I would STRONGLY suggest that you deal with a travel agent who keeps
informed about the various options, rules, restrictions, etc.  I would
recommend Stanley Barriger of Ascutney Travel Service in Claremont NH
(1-800-TRAINS-4). He has a nationwide if not worldwide clientele who
deal with him because he specializes in rail travel for railfans.
(Stanley worked for Amtrak for many years and knows the operations inside
and out.)

Mike
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Michael Kimura -- mnk@mass.rsg.hac.com -- (310) 607-1570
Hughes Aerospace & Electronics Company (HAEC) -- Radar Systems, El Segundo, CA
P.O. Box 92426, MS: R8/N505, Los Angeles, CA 90009
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