Train from Sac'to to Truckee - where is the station?
 

We are looking into taking the train from Sacramento to Truckee. Cody is mad, mad, mad for trains and would love the adventure - Mom and Dad bet the scenery will be great. We plan a one day outing, going up the mtn in the morning, cruise around Truckee for a bit and head down before it gets dark. We need economy of time and money. Does anyone know where the train comes in? I haven't been to Truckee for years - is it still a cool downtown/wood sidewalks etc?

thanks

Do you mean Truckee's station or Sacramento's?

Truckee station is right in the middle of town - across the street from all the shops/restaurants.

Are you actually in Sacramento? If not the trains also stop at Roseville, Auburn, Colfax etc.

The only regular passenger train over the Donner Pass is the AMTRAK California Zephyr. Enroute from Emeryville, it departs Sacramento at 11:15am and arrives Truckee 2:43pm.

The westbound trains leaves Truckee at 10:15am and arrives Sacramento at 2:15pm <b>IF it's on-time</b>, a huge IF.

You can't do it as a day-trip.

Amtrak in Sacramento is at 401 I Street, according to their website, in downtown.

rkkwan: Thanks. I was thinking the same thing. I was going to ask if she was sure there was an afternoon train - but didn't take the time to check the Amtrak website before I posted. I just assumed the OP had checked the schedule and knew her plan was possible.

If the Amtrak to Truckee and back is not a possibility, I believe there is an excursion train out of Sacramento. I don't remember the details, but I bet they can be found through the railroad museum web site.

http://www.csrmf.org/default.asp

The excursion train is just a very short line from Old Sac that goes about 3 miles down river and back. They run from April through Sept weekends only.

What great train experts! I did check the Amtrak site and punched in some times for a random day. I've never ridden Amtrak so I wrongly assumed the unavailability of our return was because it was full - like a full flight! Rookie Move. I guess we'll have to figure a way to stay in Truckee overnight. Any hotel/BB recommendations?

Lucky Cody. This sounds like a fun excursion. I think I'll try it someday. Have fun!

Just so you aren't disappointed, codysmom, unlike some of the gold country towns and Virginia City in NV, Truckee does not have wooden sidewalks (not in the last 25 years anyway!). Only place to really stay w/in walking distance of the Amtrak station is the Truckee Hotel. How old is Cody? Truckee Variety Store is fun for kids of the plastic eyeball/rubber snake age.

Count on things being more upscale than when you were in Truckee years ago...

Train depot also houses a Chamber desk w/ lots of brochures and visitor info.

All train stations - exact address and more - listed on the Amtrak website.