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Pete

Pete

Joined
Mar 29, 2024
Messages
6
Location
UK
Introducing myself, as requested...

I'm from the UK, and will be visiting the US this summer to meet some long-time "internet friends" in a few different locations - New York, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Denver. I'm going to be travelling from Pittsburgh to Denver on the Capitol Limited and California Zephyr. This trip was originally planned for 2020, but was cancelled then for the obvious reason and has taken a couple of years to get back on track. The final destination has also shifted from Austin to Denver in that time as friends have moved around - I'm actually a little sad to be spending only 19 hours on the Zephyr instead of 29 on the Texas Eagle, because a couple of lazy days on the train is an experience I'm looking forward to. I'll have a roomette to myself, in both cases number 5 in the car closest to the diner.

I've watched a lot of videos of other people's trips and browsed this forum for a while before joining, so I think I mostly know what to expect, but I've joined up here in case of any remaining questions and maybe a trip report.

Pete
 
Pete said:
Introducing myself, as requested...

I'm from the UK, and will be visiting the US this summer to meet some long-time "internet friends" in a few different locations - New York, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Denver. I'm going to be travelling from Pittsburgh to Denver on the Capitol Limited and California Zephyr. This trip was originally planned for 2020, but was cancelled then for the obvious reason and has taken a couple of years to get back on track. The final destination has also shifted from Austin to Denver in that time as friends have moved around - I'm actually a little sad to be spending only 19 hours on the Zephyr instead of 29 on the Texas Eagle, because a couple of lazy days on the train is an experience I'm looking forward to. I'll have a roomette to myself, in both cases number 5 in the car closest to the diner.

I've watched a lot of videos of other people's trips and browsed this forum for a while before joining, so I think I mostly know what to expect, but I've joined up here in case of any remaining questions and maybe a trip report.

Pete
Click to expand...
Enjoy your trip and enjoy visiting Denver. Union Station is close to the 105th parallel and it used to be about 5188 feet above sea level. The California Zephyr usually comes in on Track 4, but sometimes usesTrack 5. Now you know some trivia that your friends may not know!

2014 May - June 075.jpg

P1030854.JPG

In the night, the Zephyr serves small cities that have little or no intercity bus or air service. Most passengers sleep through these scenes.

McCook, Nebraska. Train 6 dropped an elderly couple and me, picked up a passenger, and was on its way.

2016 Summer 123k.jpg
 
Last edited:
Pete said:
I've watched a lot of videos of other people's trips and browsed this forum for a while before joining, so I think I mostly know what to expect, but I've joined up here in case of any remaining questions and maybe a trip report.
Click to expand...
In my experience many travel channels on youtube tend to sugarcoat Amtrak service standards compared to what I've seen on my own trips. To me Amtrak staff interaction reminds me of something like Easyjet. If you want good service you may have to coax it out of them. That being said riding Amtrak remains a unique experience I've encountered nowhere else on the planet, so hopefully you enjoy it.
 
I realize that there are time constraints and other considerations in planning a trip and it sounds like you have done considerable homework. However I hope you realize that the scenery on the California Zephyr between Chicago and Denver is nothing special compared to the magnificent scenery west of Denver. If you can do so, I suggest that you reconsider your plans to include a trip on the Zephyr from Denver to its western terminus. Of course this is your trip and not mine. If you are unable to do it this time, plan to do it another time.

This is no April Fool's joke. I hope you have a great trip and have great train rides.
 

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