Train Questions....Calling Tomfuller
 

Was chatting with a friend today, and she mentioned that her husband was wanting to take a train trip for their 10th anniversary... Apparently he had heard of one from Idaho to the Grand Canyon? Looking for that one plus any other interesting trips.

Thinking perhaps they might be able to start the trip from where they live. She lives in the Seattle area. Don't think they want a coastal trip, as they've spent a fair amount of time in that area. Seems they are wanting to do something new.

Paging tomfuller....

Pending tom's input... You might spend some time here: http://www.seat61.com/UnitedStates.htm

And the Amtrak route maps are here: http://www.amtrak.com/interactive-route-atlas

I did the California Zephyr route, not the Grand Canyon one, but was quite pleased with Amtrak's sleeper class.

I know about the trip but since you feel Mr. Fuller has better information I'll leave it at that.

I'm sure tom will chime in . . . But AFAIK the only rail tours from Idaho/Montana/Wyoming to the Grand Canyon are actually mainly bus tours w/ only small segments on trains.

Good morning all. The only rails anywhere near the Grand Canyon are from Williams Junction AZ up to the South Rim.
The Amtrak Southwest Chief has a stop there in the middle of the night. The better option IMO is to continue on to Flagstaff and either rent a car or take a bus tour.
The other way would be to take the San Joaquin to Bakersfield and the Amtrak bus to Las Vegas and take a tour from there.
The Amtrak route that goes through Idaho during the night leaves Spokane after midnight and arrives in Whitefish in the morning. This is the Empire Builder which has had a very poor on time record in the past year because of the 400% increase in oil trains from North Dakota.
Only 23 more days until I start my next rail journey from Chemult Oregon to Galesburg Illinois.
If janis would like to meet me in Sacramento about 6:30AM 3/16, she can PM me. I have the breakfast place picked out.

Thanks, tom and all - that's about what I was thinking. I will circle back to her and see if I can learn what the main interest was - a train journey or that specific region.

Have a great trip!

>>If janis would like to meet me in Sacramento about 6:30AM 3/16, she can PM me. I have the breakfast place picked out.<<

Would love to tom . . . except for two things 1) Amtrak will probably be late ;) . . . but a bigger problem is 2) I get back to town later that morning from a short trip to LA. Maybe next time you pass through SacTown.

Train 11 was in SAC 35 minutes early this morning (5:40AM).
I'll be around until the CZ leaves at 11:15AM.
Can someone tell me about the Fox & Goose? My other favorite Jim Dennys is closed on Mondays.

Fox & Goose is great - quite a walk from Amtrak though.

Unlike Europe and Japan, in the US (as I'm informed) freight trains have priority. Jansj is right -- probably late.

Personally any journey from Idaho via the Great Basin (desert) across Nevada is boring.

Suggest Canada : http://www.vacationsbyrail.com/canada/
It has been on my 'bucket' list for a decade.

Vaga

The latest train that I was ever on was the ViaRail Canadian. It was 16 hours late getting into Winnipeg. It was scheduled into Winnipeg about 4 PM. I and many other people slept on the floor of the station until it arrived about 8AM the next morning.
I consider the cost of the Rocky Mountaineer to be a bit exorbitant.
Freight trains often delay passenger trains in Canada.
My late train arrived in Jasper about 4AM and I got a taxi ride out to the HI hostel. On the way out I saw the most beautiful Northern Lights of my life. The people at the hostel missed the sight. The staff left me a flashlight and a hand drawn map to my dorm bunk.

Checked this morning- 6 mornings in a row train 11 the southbound Coast Starlight has arrived in Sacramento more than 20 minutes early. Last Tuesday it was 59 minutes early.

And . . . IF we ever get snow again in the Cascades . . . It could be 3 or 4 hours late . . .