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I've only taken the Zephyr once eastbound (EMY to CHI) and I'm doing it again for the first time in years in January. I don't remember - is Reno a smoke stop? I have a friend that just moved there and would love to see her even if it's only for a few minutes on the platform - she's the type of...

It's been 7 years since I took the Pennsylvanian from PGH to New York and back - and I will be making that trip again this June. Anyone been to the PGH station lately? The website says there's long term parking there, but I don't remember there being long term parking there before - I had to...

Will be on several trains over the next two weeks and I want to have my SCA bring my breakfast to me in my room, which I've never done before. Is it customary to tip the SCA when a meal is brought to you? Or covered by the tip you give at the end of your trip?

Just got back a little over a week ago from a round-trip, CLE to LAX and back. I took the Texas Eagle out and the Southwest Chief back. Roomettes both ways. When boarding in Chicago, there was a mix-up in the room across from me. I rode out to the train with an elderly woman via the Redcap...

I'm headed from CLE - LAX and back again in one week. Couldn't afford to go home to CA last year. Wanted to use AGR points for the trip home this year and was able to do so once beyond the blackout dates. I'm finally taking the Texas Eagle for the first time, headed westbound. This will make...

I was hoping someone here who knows the schedules a lot better than I do can explain why both the Capitol Limited and the Lakeshore Limited all arrive and depart from Cleveland between 1am and 5am? I miss having the Pennsylvanian coming into Cleveland at 6pm. It was PERFECT for hopping on...

After a comedy of errors where our bus driver from the CS in Klamath Falls got lost in Portland for 40 minutes, making the Eastbound Empire Builder 45 minutes late leaving, we got into the Portland Sleeper. Our SCA, Angie, was VERY helpful the first hour, but after that? All downhill. She...

Sitting in the station at SLO. Northbound Coast Starlight should have arrived 90 minutes ago. Was told that ALL trains in California have been stopped due to signal problems. I will be very ticked if we are bussed from Klamath Falls to Pasco to make our connection to the Empire Builder!

I just looked back on one of my favorite memories - my Mom's parents lived in Kennewick (WA) and we spent every Summer there. My grandfather's best friend lived across the Columbia River in Pasco and he was an engineer for Amtrak. My older sisters and I got a special treat once when my...

I've been managing to take Amtrak home to CA from Cleveland every Christmas for the past two years. This year, I'm flying out and taking Amtrak back. I'll have a friend with me who has never been on Amtrak before (let alone out West). We will be leaving from SLO on New Year's Eve, connecting...

Am on the Southwest Chief right now heading toward Trinidad and New Mexico. Bedroom is on the left side of the train (if you are facing the engine). Will there be better views out the left or right side of the train thru New Mexico?

Sitting in the Metropolitan Lounge at Chicago Union. Both the Zephyr and the Empire Builder have delayed their boarding - the EB for at least 45 minutes. No reason given. What would so delay a train leaving its origin?

They just broke into our morning news program to let us know there is a fire on an Amtrak train in Elyria, OH, outside of Cleveland. Not much info, but they showed an aerial shot and it looked like the last car had a couple windows burned out. No mention as to whether it's the Capitol Limited...

I have converted a friend to become one of our "cult" (sorry, but that still cracks me up!). After talking about all my train trips, instead of flying back from a cross-Atlantic cruise she went on with her husband back in October, she booked an Amtrak trip from New York City back to their car...

I will be taking a trip from Cleveland (yes, I'm one of the Ohio train cult "cook" kooks) to L.A. next week and although I've taken several long distance Amtrak trips before, I didn't really utilize this forum until this year. And I would like to know, what is considered the proper amount to...

Article today in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. ODOT asked Amtrak to do a study to see if ridership has increased within Ohio on Amtrak - and sure enough, it's gone up 14% in the past year! They're using that to try and stymie Kasich before he takes office. Full article here.

News article just came out five minutes ago - U.S. announces $2.4 Billion for High Speed Rail http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69R3PK20101028

Has anyone put together a "dictionary" of all the anagrams/abbreviations used here in the forum? I know a lot of them as many are anagrams for the different trains, such as EB for The Empire Builder (although some people also use it for Eastbound!) but some anagrams I haven't figured out yet...

The article doesn't really go into the logistics of how this was set up in the first place. It does say it was an Amtrak engine pulling six vintage cars. Wish I could have gone for the ride! Short Scenic Mojave Tour Train Was A Long Time Coming

Am hoping go the "long" way to a family reunion next Summer, Cleveland to Guadalupe, CA (Santa Maria), but taking either the LSL or CL to Chicago, EB west, then CS south. Would you recommend I go via Seattle or Portland? I have been all over the Northwest because my Mom's side of the family is...