Dukey,
This made me laugh because it is so true.
I am really enjoying your reports. I hope you are enjoying your trip as much as we are enjoying reading about it.

Schmerl,

Thanks very much. I am typing this as we head back home. The trip was worthwhile and I am glad we were able to to it so last-minute, timing-wise. Unfortunately we had a couple of minor glitches at the hotel in Chicago: waited for the room to be ready, told we would be texted when it was; we weren't; went back to Front Desk; given keys to wrong room; another trip back to Front Desk, etc.

Trip out to O'Hare was smooth and even at 5:00 AM the traffic (we opted for a cab instead of using the CTA) was stop and go a couple of times but could have been much worse. Delay getting off the gate due to "mechanical difficulties" but at least we are in the air headed to lots of rain this coming week; some flooded streets especially out near the beach which has become the new reality for some of us I'm afraid.

Thanks for the report, maybe some day I'll try it too.

Wonderful shots! Thanks again for sharing this, Dukey1.

Loved your trip report and the pics. I'd love to do the route you did, with DH who is having back issues and can't travel the way we used to, but...he's also turning into a curmudgeon...so maybe not. aarrgghh! :)
Anyway, thanks for sharing!

My pleasure. As I said above, the scenery, particularly in California, parts of Central Nevada, and western Colorado, is what made this trip for me. There were a few "issues" with the train itself but nothing that wasn't manageable. I'm simply happy that the train wasn't as late as it was when I took the Coast Starlight a couple of years ago and that we didn't arrive at the originating station to the greeting of, "We honestly don't know were the train is right now" which happened the last time we took the Empire Builder from Portland. Actually, we ended up on a bus from Portland to Spokane which was an "adventure" in and of itself.

Denying the issues Amtrak has repeatedly had is of no use. I wish I thought improvement is forthcoming because nobody enjoys rail travel more than I do.

Thanks so much for taking time to write this!

A wonderful report, Dukey1. I have only ridden AMTRAK on tne east coast and this trip sounds so interesting,

It is interesting, scenery-wise and "scenery" is not the same for everyone. For example, I thoroughly enjoyed the daylight crossing of part of central Nevada with its vastness; others might find that terribly boring. Someone said to me they were delighted that we were crossing southern Nebraska during the night and that the only thing worse would be "crossing Kansas during the day."

I am honestly afraid that we may not see this kind of transportation opportunity much longer. The "Canadian" trip between Toronto and Vancouver is somewhat comparable, mainly thorough the Rockies but even that has evolved over time and was much more scenic when the Canadian Pacific route (think Calgary, Lake Louise, and Banff) was used.

I'm happy folks enjoyed the report and than you for your kind words.

An interesting read, thank you. I shared this report with our 20-something DS. He and his girlfriend are interested in train travel in the U.S., though the sleeping room may not fit within their budget just yet. Would you mind sharing a little more about the meals onboard? Both of them are into food as part of their holiday.

<< I will say again that I would not trust any Amtrak timing other than those in the Northeast Corridor to be on time due to the freight movements which these trains are often delayed by. >>
IME the east coast trains are often late, too. My kids and I used to ride the Vermonter a lot between Montpelier Vt and NYC/Philadelphia/DC and the on time record was not great.
I enjoy and my husband LOVES train travel so I appreciated your report and pictures.

@fourfortravel - do they have any interest in Canada? Dukey's info is more up to date than mine, but I thought the food was better on the Canadian - perfectly cooked rack of lamb on the last night! Also, Via Rail offers open berths as well as sleepers.

@Dukey - I'm afraid you may be right about Amtrak long distance. I see that the Jacksonville to New Orleans route has still not been repaired and it's been years.

fourfortravel--here is a link with dining car menus for different Amtrak trains. They seem to vary from route to route and I am sure that the quality will depend somewhat on the chef.
As I indicated earlier in the thread, my husband and I took the Coast Starlight train in April and thought our dinner was only ok . We had salmon and butternut squash risotto
https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/meals...-a-glance.html

Vttraveler, the problem is anywhere Amtrak is using trackage owned by a freight railroad such as in Vermont, there can be delays. IMO the food is MUCH better on the Canadian, the menus are more varied, and the rolling stock interiors have been renovated and maintained to a much better degree.

Dukey,

You write: "I am honestly afraid that we may not see this kind of transportation opportunity much longer." I too have and have had similar concerns about long-distance rail travel in North America. The plus side to this is that in large part owing to the concern of losing this form of transport that I appreciate so much, I decided a number of years ago that I was going to try to explore as much of the USA and Canada by rail as I could before it was gone. And the concern of the imminent demise brought me to parts of the USA and Canada (and also Mexico for that matter) that I might not have prioritized in travelling otherwise--some of them fascinating places to which I would like to return, so the concern ended up being a gift in its own way!

Thanks again for a great report. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the California Zephyr route, which I last saw now some 12 years ago, so brought back memories!

Daniel

You are welcome. I wish the future looked brighter but best to enjoy the opportunities, warts and all, while they still exist.

DS and LG (Lovely Girlfriend) would be permanent vagabonds in the absence of pesky things like their budding careers, grad school, and resources; no doubt they would enjoy Canada. :)

Vttraveler, thank you for the links.

The only "problem" with the trip across Canada between Toronto and Vancouver has become the cost. ViaRail has during parts of the year, designated the Park Car (the rear end "observation" or sorts car) as exclusive to those who pay for upgraded sleeping car accommodations (lower doubles with en suite showers inclusive of both meals and drinks). These accommodations are nice, for sure with enlarged windows and there are other dome cars besides the Park Car that people can use; the usual upper and lower doubles with toilet, roomettes with toilets (both regular roomettes and duplex style roomettes) along with the sections (upper and lower at night) with bathrooms nearby remain in service. Regular sleeping cars all have a shower for communal use.

Over time (I first took the trip back in 1989 when there was a severe threat that the service was to be permanently discontinued; fortunately, that didn't happen but what did happen was the route was altered: the Canadian National Super Transcontinental route was substituted for the old Canadian Pacific route (think Medicine Hat, Calgary, Lake Louise, Banff, Field, etc.).

I think it is worth at least one trip although a lot of folks seem to prefer the Rocky Mountaineer daylight-only services which do not include the ride across the Prairie Provinces much less the "forest primeval" stuff of out-in-THE-boonies Ontario.

I go very lucky on the price back when I did it in 2012. Booking in January for travel before the end of May I got a big discount. I think it was 50%, but could be wrong. Of course the Rocky Mountaineer is really pricey.

OK, here's an example.

Taking the Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver in July; two seniors in a non-"Prestige" double bedroom, the one-way fare is $4366 CAD (that's for two)

Taking the same train but in a "Prestige" double bedroom, the fare is $10,735 CAD Prestige gets you the Park Car and alcoholic drinks; meals are included in both of these sleeping car fares. Sorry, but getting into the Park Car and having an en suite shower (and believe me, it is small) is not worth the difference in prices