Circle trip TE; CZ; CS; TE

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zetharion

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Dallas
EDIT: Got my answer to the where to post question.

Decided I didn't want to wait until my DC trip next April so made one that will start on Oct 28 and ends back in Dallas the following Friday. It will be a circle trip.

Eagle - Dallas to Chicago
Zephyr - Chicago to Emeryville
Coast Starlight - Emeryville to LAX
Eagle LAX back to Dallas

Not sure what the scenery will be like on the Zephyr around Halloween but hope it isn't too barren. No clue what to expect on the others.
All roomettes and came out to $1833. Still need to get overnight accommodations in Chicago and Emeryville though that are between $100 - $200.
My one area of concern is Starlight to Eagle at LAX has like a 45 minutish connection window. What are the chance I actually make it?
 
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Colorado Rockies, Western Slope canyons, and Donner Pass over the Sierra are magnificent any time of year. It won't be barren (the barren parts are in western Utah and Nevada at night). Even the desert west of Grand Junction is good, doesn't look much different any time of year and the Book Cliffs are visible north of the tracks all along that stretch.

In Emeryville, the Hyatt is most convenient, right across the tracks from the station and accessible by a pedestrian overpass. Not sure of the price but the location cannot be beat. Am not that familiar with Chicago, someone else needs to weigh in there.

As to the 14-2 connection, don't worry about that too much. The fact that Amtrak maintains the guarantee despite the less than 60 minute connection now says something. Amtrak is loathe to lay people over 2 or 3 days for the next Sunset/Eagle, and almost never gets in a position that they have to do it. Some form of connection is almost always made, plus the Starlight has like a 30 minute pad going into LA and runs detrain only from Santa Barbara on, so doesn't have to "hold for time" at any of the stops south of there into LA. I've been as early as 8:25 pm into LA on it. However, it is always not always done by holding the train, or at least holding it very long. The following methods are used on to protect that connection.
1. If a delay is encountered south of the Sacramento so the connection will not be made, Amtrak will take Sunset/Eagle passengers off the train at Oxnard and bus them to meet the Sunset/Eagle at Ontario or Palm Springs. The bus can make that much faster than the train (the bus won't even go through downtown LA, but passes north via Pasadena on the 134 and the 210).
2. If a delay is encountered north of the Bay Area, such that the connection cannot be reasonably made (it would be a pretty severe delay) Sunset/Eagle passengers are re-routed onto the much faster San Joaquin/Thruway bus connection to Los Angeles. Since you are at Emeryville, you would be just reticketed from there. Passengers already onboard are generally taken off at Sacramento, Martinez or Emeryville, usually Sacramento. If that is the case, which is thankfully rare these days, you'll miss the coast run on the Starlight, but you will make the Sunset/Eagle.

To further assuage your concerns, from Sacramento south you should not experience much freight congestion. The "Cal-P" between Sacramento and Emeryville is largely a passenger railroad these days, CalTrans has elected to pay far above Amtrak rates for its Capitol Corridor and San Joaquin trains and UP has diverted most of their freight traffic off the line. South of San Jose, the UP Coast Line has very little freight traffic, no through freight at all, only some locals. Most of the rail traffic from San Luis Obispo south are Pacific Surfliners, not freight trains. The only real dispatching issue is from Camarillo on into LA is that stretch is owned and dispatched by SCRRA (Metrolink) and they favor their commuter trains but that really isn't a big deal.

That is a quite a good fare for 4 roomettes, Eagle/Zephyr/Starlight/Eagle, congratulations. You couldn't get much, if any, lower.
 
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A Travelodge and LaQuinta are a ten minute walk from CUS. Probably run about $150. I am staying at the Jack London Inn in Oakland when I do my circle trip in late August.Under $100. Catching the CS North that evening. Ill probably stash my bags at the Oakland station and take the ferry into San Francisco during the day.

Nice itinerary.I Got low buckets on all my sleepers for my trips. Coast Starlight from OKJ to PDX roomettes were close to $500 way overpriced so I opted for BC on the CS with the hope of getting both seats to myself.
 
A Travelodge and LaQuinta are a ten minute walk from CUS. Probably run about $150. I am staying at the Jack London Inn in Oakland when I do my circle trip in late August.Under $100. Catching the CS North that evening. Ill probably stash my bags at the Oakland station and take the ferry into San Francisco during the day.

Nice itinerary.I Got low buckets on all my sleepers for my trips. Coast Starlight from OKJ to PDX roomettes were close to $500 way overpriced so I opted for BC on the CS with the hope of getting both seats to myself.
I have been warned against the Jack London Inn in Oakland which has a rather seedy reputation. I suggest you do more research on this.

There used to be two very similar sounding places in Oakland - the Jack London Inn and the Inn at Jack London Square. The former was not viewed as a good place to stay whereas the latter was (and I believe some Amtrak crews stayed there). We stayed at the Inn at Jack London Square 8 years ago and it was fine. I believe it has since changed its name. Corrections and more current information would be welcome.
 
Thanks for the heads up. Glad I had free cancelation. I booked the Civic Center Lodge,while not great,got better reviews than the Jack London Inn and is a short walk from the Amtrak station.
 
Thanks for the heads up. Glad I had free cancelation. I booked the Civic Center Lodge,while not great,got better reviews than the Jack London Inn and is a short walk from the Amtrak station.
With some research, I discovered that the Inn at Jack London Square (the good place to stay) has been re-named the Z Hotel Jack London Square. It is a bit more expensive than when we stayed there but gets very good reviews. It is easy walking distance from the Amtrak station at Oakland and the ferry to San Francisco. The Buttercup restaurant is virtually right outside the front door of the Z Hotel and is a great place to eat.

We too were about to book at the Jack London Inn back in 2014 until we received a warning from those in the know.
 
With some research, I discovered that the Inn at Jack London Square (the good place to stay) has been re-named the Z Hotel Jack London Square. It is a bit more expensive than when we stayed there but gets very good reviews. It is easy walking distance from the Amtrak station at Oakland and the ferry to San Francisco. The Buttercup restaurant is virtually right outside the front door of the Z Hotel and is a great place to eat.

We too were about to book at the Jack London Inn back in 2014 until we received a warning from those in the know.
I've stayed at all three of the Jack London Square lodgings and the Z Hotel and the Buttercup is good value in the middle price range. I like the Waterfront, but it's pricey whenever there's a Coliseum event or generally high demand.

A couple of blocks east of the Z Hotel there were wonderful breakfasts in the produce wholesale district.

In addition to the Oakland/Alameda <> San Francisco ferries there are a few trips that run Oakland/Alameda <> South San Francisco for commutes. I suspect that the current 0820 departure from Oakland deadheads from South San Francisco to the Ferry Building or Pier 41. A friend and I rode it and enjoyed the panorama of the deadhead. There was (and is?) a mid-afternoon deadhead from San Francisco to South San Francisco, but it's harder to pick up.

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In addition to the Oakland/Alameda <> San Francisco ferries there are a few trips that run Oakland/Alameda <> South San Francisco for commutes. I suspect that the current 0820 departure from Oakland deadheads from South San Francisco to the Ferry Building or Pier 41. A friend and I rode it and enjoyed the panorama of the deadhead. There was (and is?) a mid-afternoon deadhead from San Francisco to South San Francisco, but it's harder to pick up.
I thought a deadhead, by definition, is a trip without passengers?
 
I thought a deadhead, by definition, is a trip without passengers?
Not necessarily if the purpose of the "deadhead" is a positioning move and there are crew onboard to staff the plane/train/ship when it returns. I've benefited from this with airlines in the past and in fact am booked in a few months as a passenger on a route not normally flown because the plane and crew are required in my destination.
 
Not necessarily if the purpose of the "deadhead" is a positioning move and there are crew onboard to staff the plane/train/ship when it returns. I've benefited from this with airlines in the past and in fact am booked in a few months as a passenger on a route not normally flown because the plane and crew are required in my destination.
Strictly speaking a deadhead is an individual who is traveling free of charge, typically a company person traveling to or from duty. A plane is usually positioned. A positioning flight may or may not carry revenue passengers. Sometimes a positioning move with no passengers may be referred to as a deadhead move. As usual - as clear as mud. :eek:
 
Strictly speaking a deadhead is an individual who is traveling free of charge, typically a company person traveling to or from duty. A plane is usually positioned. A positioning flight may or may not carry revenue passengers. Sometimes a positioning move with no passengers may be referred to as a deadhead move. As usual - as clear as mud. :eek:
I was only vaguely aware of the meaning being a traveling off-duty crew member.

When I was a bus driver, we spoke of "deadheading" to the start of our first run, or "deadheading" to the overnight parking area or maintenance facility at the end of the day. I see from a quick web search that that is an alternate meaning which is more commonly used for bus transportation than for other modes.
 
I thought a deadhead, by definition, is a trip without passengers?
Deadheading in public transportation just refers to a trip that is meant to be a non-revenue move that isn't shown in public information. While I thought of using the term "positioning cruise" that seemed a bit overblown for a commuter ferry.

Some systems don't permit passengers to ride deadheads, some do, and then there are operating personnel who try to keep passengers off of deadheads. My mother taught us how to flag deadheads on Portland Traction's Sandy Blvd. trolley coach line in the 1950's. Some operators heading to the garage would try to pass us up, though the rule was that deadheads should accommodate customers.

In the SF ferries case the crew was pleasant and there were a couple of other tourists that they also allowed on the run.
 
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