Coast Starlight - which direction?

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gmcguire

Train Attendant
Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
35
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
Hi all,

I'm going to be traveling from San Jose to LA and back on the Coast Starlight sometime next month. I'd like to experience the Pacific Parlor Car, but my budget being what it is, I can only justify upgrading to first class in one direction. Is there one direction which would be better to be in the PPC? Also, anyone who's ridden recently, what is it currently offering as far as amenities?

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
I would say go north since the CS leaves LA at 10:15 am. The train will definitely go along the ocean in daytime.

On a southbound trip, if the train arrives about 2 hours late at San Jose, you will see dark out there along the ocean south of San Luis Obispo.
 
You would get lunch and dinner both ways. Thus it wouldn't be a matter of 2 vs 3 meals.

Depending on the time of the year, the southbound trip may have you seeing the sunset over the Pacific along the coastline. (When I went in October, I had the sunset just north of Santa Barbara - while we were stopped next to a bay!) Going northbound, you will be along the coastline in the morning.
 
I'd choose the n/b leg in the sleeper so that I could use the Traxx lounge and get priority boarding at LAUS. Otherwise, it's pretty much a wash. :)
 
Actually the best direction to go is

...

go thru the car door and get on the train!
laugh.gif
 
I think north is preferable, but I've mostly ridden the Starlight between Oakland and Portland.

Going north, even in winter, you'll get to see the scenery through the pass between California and Oregon,

and if the train is running late, you might even get to see Mt. Shasta in the morning.

Going south in the summer you've got a good shot at scenery through the pass, but in the winter,

it's usually dark south of Eugene.
 
gmcguire said:
Hi all,

I'm going to be traveling from San Jose to LA and back on the Coast Starlight sometime next month. I'd like to experience the Pacific Parlor Car, but my budget being what it is, I can only justify upgrading to first class in one direction. Is there one direction which would be better to be in the PPC? Also, anyone who's ridden recently, what is it currently offering as far as amenities?

Thanks in advance for any help!
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You could argue for both southbound and northbound for the PPC.

The advantages out of LA are:

1. You start with a fresh train and fresh crew so your roomette and the PPC will be totally clean.

2. You start out on time as the train originates in LA.

3. You will have the entire coastline, from Ventura thru Vandenberg AFB, in daylight.

Southbound advantages for first-class are:

1. Possible sunset view between Santa Barbara and Oxnard if you are running a bit late.

2. Chance to have a nap/sleep in your own room if the train is running really late.

I've done both ways, both in sleeper and coach (between San Jose and Santa Barbara), and definitely prefer sleeper going north.
 
I don't think it matters. Go to the lounge car for a better view from bigger windows that don't have curtains. (Would you believe sometimes people close the curtains in the PPC or the diner so the low sun near sunset doesn't shine on them?!)

Wine-and-cheese happens between lunch and dinner both ways, generally takes up all the tables and sometimes the swivel seats. People partaking of that have priority, others get expelled if space is needed. Coach passengers are allowed in for $10 (sleeper passengers $5).

If you are only taking a sleeper for the PPC, you might compare costs of meals and wine-and-cheese, and find it is a better deal to ride coach both ways and buy your meals and your way into wine-and-cheese.

Other considerations: Northbound you'll be getting on at the beginning of the run and have a good shot at getting good coach seats; southbound you'll be boarding after lots of other people. Also, if you are a photographer, there are some curves where you'll want to be in the last car (coach).
 
inspiration100 said:
Do they kick you out after you are done eating cheese? Or do they let you stay in after the wine/cheese tasting?
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Do you mean coach passengers?
huh.gif


They do announce something like "... this concludes the wine tasting ...", but they don't physically force you out that minute! I think if you linger for a few minutes, it would be OK. But not if you linger for a few hours!
rolleyes.gif
(Also remember that the wine tasting is held between lunch and dinner, so they have to prepare the tables for dinner.)
 
gmcguire, I've done the ride both ways all the way from LA to Seattle and back a few times, and in my opinion, if you can only spring for a sleeper one way on the ride,I would make it going northbound. In L.A, you will get to wait in an exclusive for sleeper passengers only for the Starlight at the Traxx bar, where they will check you in, offer you complimentary beverages while you wait, and escort you ahead of the coach passengers into the train. Plus, if you get a room location where it gives you the view of the ocean on the beginning of the train's run, that's major bonus too. The PPC will be great, of course.

Enjoy the trip, whichever way you will decide to spring for the sleeper.
 
I'd throw my $.02 for northbound as well. I just took a trip that ended with the northbound CS trip from Los Angeles to Seattle, and it doesn't get any better, IMHO, than to sit back and relax in the PPC while enjoying the scenery from Dunsmuir northward to Eugene. Southbound a lot of that is in darkness.
 
JayPea said:
I'd throw my $.02 for northbound as well. I just took a trip that ended with the northbound CS trip from Los Angeles to Seattle, and it doesn't get any better, IMHO, than to sit back and relax in the PPC while enjoying the scenery from Dunsmuir northward to Eugene. Southbound a lot of that is in darkness.
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If I'm not mistaken, the scenery that you are describing is just 'a bit' passed SJC (the OP was asking about SJC to LAX and back). ;)

I do want to do the n/b trip (from SJC) sometime soon for the very reason that you describe. I've been s/b from TAC to SJC (and will be again in about a month) but never the reverse. I think that I'll actually wait until there is snow in the mountains as well though. :)

I've actually even toyed with the idea of doing a SJC-EUG-SJC run (without an overnight but instead just a 4 1/2 layover in EUG) just for the hell of it. :cool:
 
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If you could only afford the upgrade one way, I'd do #14 the Northbround. That way you are guaranteed to get the ocean view during the day. Usually you will get it on #11, but I have been on the S/B several times and its been late and the sun set right when we got to the ocean and we missed out on some of the views. Why risk that?? Totally go N/B... that's what I usually do. When will you be on #14?? I'm leaving LAX on 9/1 and arriving in SEA on 9/2.
 
JayPea said:
I'd throw my $.02 for northbound as well. I just took a trip that ended with the northbound CS trip from Los Angeles to Seattle, and it doesn't get any better, IMHO, than to sit back and relax in the PPC while enjoying the scenery from Dunsmuir northward to Eugene. Southbound a lot of that is in darkness.
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I agree with you-I haven't had the opportunity to take the CS from LAX all the way up, but that stretch is one of my favorites. Make sure you have your camera handy to get some pics of Castle Crags which will be on your left past Dunsmuir, & Mount Shasta will be on your right as you head north. Enjoy your trip!
 
Hi all,

Thank you so much for the advice, I knew you'd all come through. I think I'll go with the consensus and get a roommette for the N/B route.

Thanks again!
 
LA Resident said:
Southbound advantages for first-class are:

2. Chance to have a nap/sleep in your own room if the train is running really late.
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For me this would be the overriding consideration. After all, you see the same scenery from the SSL and PCC.

It's amazing how lining up the pros and cons like LA Resident did help make a preferred solution pop right up.
 
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If I may extend this thread, which is the best season? I rode the CS n/b in the Summer. Is it significantly different in other seasons?
 
Gratt said:
If I may extend this thread, which is the best season? I rode the CS n/b in the Summer. Is it significantly different in other seasons?
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No easy answer. Some will posit that summer is best, with long daylight hours and (generally) sunny weather, esp. along California coast.

I've ridden the CS in all seasons and each offers something different. Winter gives you fine snowscapes through Northern California and Oregon Cascades, and there's something magical sitting in the PPC car along the Pacific Ocean as rain whips against the windows and the waves crash ashore below.

During spring the farm fields in central California offer nice vistas and fall features changing colors of the Oregon forests.

I suppose the best answer is that given by The Traveler to several questions along the lines of yours: the best season is when you're on the train! And in the case of the CS, that's doubly true!
 

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