Trip report - Southwest Chief #4 / Lake Shore Limited #448 LAX-SPG

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I begin my trip at my last lunch of my vacation at California Pizza Kitchen in Hollywood after dropping my bags off at the LAX Metro Lounge.
 

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Just boarded. View from red cap ride, train pulling up, my cabin E in 430 car and well what everyone wants to see.. the table settings in the diner.
 

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Here you go folks the moment you’ve been waiting for. Photos of dinner.
 

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Was communal seating in effect? And how was the food (and service)?
Yes it was communal seating. They are reserving a few tables for people that don’t wish to do so. We sat with strangers. Food was tasty and service was good. And the presentation was the best I’ve seen on Amtrak. I ordered the steak medium and it came out a little bit more done than I’d like but I believe this was this crews first run so I’ll give the chef a break on that.
 
I see your train is stopped at Riverside.

From Amtrak Alerts Twitter
"Southwest Chiefs Train 4 which departed from Los Angeles (LAX) on 6/26 is currently stopped at Riverside (RIV) due to medical emergency personnel activity. We will update when more information is available."

Everything alright?
 
What were those yellowish-white things piled on top of the steak?

And that looks like a very generous slice of cheesecake. I wonder whether that was just the OBS being in a celebratory mood.

And is that real china? Sure looks like it.
 
What were those yellowish-white things piled on top of the steak?

And that looks like a very generous slice of cheesecake. I wonder whether that was just the OBS being in a celebratory mood.

And is that real china? Sure looks like it.
Nah, that's not real china. But who cares? You don't eat the plate.
 
I see your train is stopped at Riverside.

From Amtrak Alerts Twitter
"Southwest Chiefs Train 4 which departed from Los Angeles (LAX) on 6/26 is currently stopped at Riverside (RIV) due to medical emergency personnel activity. We will update when more information is available."

Everything alright?
Sadly we found out later a passenger passed away. Don’t know any more details than that. But took a while for things to be investigated
 
It looks like they are not only bringing back traditional dining, but also bringing back elegant touches. The flowers, which everyone is talking about, are of course wonderful.

But also my favorite—the paper dinner reservation card in your roomette when you board. Just like the flowers, I never thought to see that again. In fact, I kept the last one I had from just before traditional dining went away and put it in my “memories” box.

I am amazed, but delighted, that anyone still cares about, and wants to provide, classy small details.😊👏
 
Nah, that's not real china. But who cares? You don't eat the plate.
After a real fork went through the fake plate and dressing began spilling into my roomette I started caring. I do not expect (and have never seen) real porcelain on Amtrak but a return to a utensil resistant dinnerware will be nice.
 
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Real China is coming, according to Amtrak.
They are using real glassware currently, correct?

edit: Also no tablecloth at breakfast?
 
Nah, that's not real china. But who cares? You don't eat the plate.

I’ve always appreciated the “plastic” Railroad China touch. Many times when going through old photos I can’t tell the difference between the plastic and real china that amtrak used.

I’m also glad that “real” glassware is back and that real China is returning!
 
Real China is coming, according to Amtrak.
I’m also glad that “real” glassware is back and that real China is returning!
Real china is also called porcelain. Amtrak is not bringing porcelain back to dining cars. Most likely they intend to bring some form of Corelle glass-based tableware back as was used just before the change to plastic. This is a massive improvement over cheap plastic plates but it is not "real china" anymore than stainless steel is "real silverware."
 
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