Desert Wind

[sunchaser]

Many years ago, my Mom took Amtrak from San Bernardino, Ca (SNB) to Salt Lake City, Ut (SLC). She said she thought it went through Las Vegas. Would that have been the 'Desert Wind'? I know the route is gone, anybody know why or if Amtrak will ever bring it back?

 

[MrFSS]

 

[dart330]

If they do restore service, I really hope they run twice daily, they need a train leaving between 4 - 6 PM from Vegas into LA so people can leave after work.

I work across the tracks from the old Las Vegas train station. It is just used as a break room by the casino employees now.

Looks like it would need a lot of work to get it back in shape on the inside.

 

[printman2000]

Nice pics! Thanks for sharing.

Is that a maglev train painted on the lower right of that picture?

 

[dart330]

Looking at that schedule, I am surprised they offered checked baggage in Vegas. But I guess it makes sense with people coming here from all over the country.

The mural is in a narrow hallway leading from the front desk to the old train station which is for employees only (haven't been able to get any inside pictures yet). The other train on the right is supposed to be the Las Vegas monorail I think.

 

[sunchaser]

Thanks! that's the one! She rode coach, said it was ok, but noisy. She didn't get a sleeper, but she said they were available. She didn't want to pay extra, because she had already retired and thought it was too much to spend.

I for one would like to see this one come back. Those are great pics of the waiting room! Love the monorail! Reminds me of the on at Dizzyland!!!! I know I'm going to have to fly there in the near future (hopefully not before our train trip) to say good bye for the last time to my brother.

 

[printman2000]

While bringing back this train would be great, I think I would prefer having some new routes first. Lets face it, a lot of that route is already covered by other trains. If Las Vegas is important, they should create an LA-LV train.

 

[sunchaser]

While bringing back this train would be great, I think I would prefer having some new routes first. Lets face it, a lot of that route is already covered by other trains. If Las Vegas is important, they should create an LA-LV train.

For me, the part of the run that would be important would be SLC to SNB. My choices right now are:

1. Fly

2. Drive

3. Train- SLC-SAC SAC-LAX- then fly (?) to SNB

4. Fly to ALB or Flagstaff or Tuscon-to SNB.

If & when they do the Mag-Lev from Vegas to Anaheim (playground to playground), I would still need to fly to Vegas, then train to Dizzyland, then fly or take train to SNB.

At this point, other than spending large sums on #3, or less on #4, I'm going to be stuck flying.

 

[Rumpled]

I took that once in about '89 or '90. For what we did it worked out great. I thought we got on in Santa Ana, but maybe it was Fullerton.

We took it to Salt Lake for a skiing weekend. Amtrak was trying to take our business from Greyhound and gave 20 or so of us a free FAM trip to check it out.

We used to run ~1500 college students to Colorado every Xmas break for a week of skiing. Amtrak wanted some of that business, but it wouldn't have been feasible. They couldn't or wouldn't take us all at once; and taking 200 or so a day just wouldn't work.

We did use it once more for a small trip to Salt Lake.

We also considered the CS to Whistler, but again it didn't pan out.

IMHO this route is not a duplication of existing service. As of now; there is no LAX to Vegas, Salt Lake or Denver service.

 

[printman2000]

IMHO this route is not a duplication of existing service. As of now; there is no LAX to Vegas, Salt Lake or Denver service.

Well, not one train service, but you can certainly get there from LAX.

It would just seem a waste to me to duplicate practically a whole route just to add LAX-SLC. Lets get service to other areas first.

 

[amtrakwolverine]

amtrak could add a split. add some cars to X train then those cars get taken off at X station and go to Vegas.

 

[sunchaser]

IMHO this route is not a duplication of existing service. As of now; there is no LAX to Vegas, Salt Lake or Denver service.

Well, not one train service, but you can certainly get there from LAX.

It would just seem a waste to me to duplicate practically a whole route just to add LAX-SLC. Lets get service to other areas first.

I realize that it would not be a priority at this point-but it would increase ridership.

I know, it's just the SLC leg I'd be interested in. But I guess there used to be a 'pioneer' run that went from Ogden (north of SLC) to Seattle. Maybe if they combined that one with the SLC-SNB and made a new one at some point. Call it Pioneer Desert Wind! I think that could rake in some cash. If they did that, I would take it to Seattle, or south sw to SNB. That would be fun!!!

I know there is alot of people in SLC who like to gamble & make regular trips to do just that.

 

[sunchaser]

amtrak could add a split. add some cars to X train then those cars get taken off at X station and go to Vegas.

Maybe a split from the Zephyr in SLC! That would work!

 

[dart330]

I don't think it is necessary to restore the Desert Wind go all the way to Chicago right now.

They just need some type of service, even if it is just coach and a cafe car going from SLC - LVS - LAX.

Have Vegas be the split for the trains, only run from SLC - LVS and LVS - LAX. Two trains each way on each leg daily.

This would be similar to the trains going from KCY to CHI through STL.

Anything beats driving that I-15 !!!

 

[RailFanLNK]

I and some others would love to see this route brought back. Currently, Brenda's son is stationed in Las Vegas and will be deploying to the Middle East soon. Yes we can fly, but to get from LNK to Vegas we have to drive to KCY and then have a 3 hour van ride in the middle of the night to Vegas. I would love to hop on here in LNK and get to Vegas or LA.

Al

 

[printman2000]

I and some others would love to see this route brought back. Currently, Brenda's son is stationed in Las Vegas and will be deploying to the Middle East soon. Yes we can fly, but to get from LNK to Vegas we have to drive to KCY and then have a 3 hour van ride in the middle of the night to Vegas. I would love to hop on here in LNK and get to Vegas or LA.
Al

I would love to hop on a train here in Amarillo and go ANYWHERE!!! :lol: Be thankful you have something.

Still hoping for a SWC reroute.

 

[Shawn]

I would LOVE to see them do a combined Pioneer/Desert Wind...

SEA --> PDX --> SLC --> Vegas --> LAX

MAYBE, have a thru coach and sleeper to Denver or beyond...

More of a "comma" route

 

[Shawn]

So, here's a very ROUGH draft schedule for a train like that...with a made up name...

Western Continental

Amtrak Train #25

Southbound

Dep Seattle 745AM

Arv Portland 1145AM

Dep Portland 12PM

Arv Boise 11PM

Dep Boise 1130PM

Arv Salt Lake City 7AM

Dep Salt Lake City 730AM

Arv Las Vegas 230PM

Dep Las Vegas 300PM

Arv LAX 10PM

Amtrak Train #26

Northbound

Dep LAX 8AM

Arv Las Vegas 3PM

Dep Las Vegas 330PM

Arv Salt Lake City 1030PM

Dep Salt Lake City 11PM

Arv Boise 630AM

Dep Boise 7AM

Arv Portland 6PM

Dep Portland 630PM

Arv Seattle 1030PM

 

[Everydaymatters]

Hi Sunchaser. Looks like we have the same avatar. Wonder how that happened???

I rode the Desert Wind from Chicago to LasVegas and wish they'd bring it back. Visiting my niece now involves taking a shuttle from Kingman, AZ to the airport in LasVegas.

The depot was the back door of the Union Plaza Hotel. Maybe they discontinued a route because they had to leave too many passengers behind. Once they got involved in the slots, they never saw them again. :angry:

 

[Rafi]

If the DW did ever come back, and the Pioneer was also back in place taking the UP overland route west of Denver to Portland, I'd like to see the DW extend up Ogden to at least provide a connection for Pioneer folks to/from Salt Lake City and other points like Provo, Helper, Green River, etc. Not sure if the timetables would support such a connection, but it'd be nice!

Rafi

EDIT: Whoops--as I was typing that, it sounds like some other folks would rather it just combine with the Pioneer! Not a bad idea.

 

[sunchaser]

Hi Sunchaser. Looks like we have the same avatar. Wonder how that happened???
I rode the Desert Wind from Chicago to LasVegas and wish they'd bring it back. Visiting my niece now involves taking a shuttle from Kingman, AZ to the airport in LasVegas.

The depot was the back door of the Union Plaza Hotel. Maybe they discontinued a route because they had to leave too many passengers behind. Once they got involved in the slots, they never saw them again. :angry:

Hi back! Used a stock avatar- no macaw pictures to choose from, so I chose water instead. Not talented enough to find a Blue & Gold Macaw pic.

Gave me a giggle about losing passengers- I'm sure that happens alot!!!Probably happen alot with the mag-lev.

 

[p&sr]

3. Train- SLC-SAC SAC-LAX- then fly (?) to SNB

From (either) LAX to SNB, you can go by Train.

If LAX is Union Station, just take the MetroLink Train.

If LAX is the Airport, then get to Union Station by the Flyaway Bus, or by MetroRail... Green Line to Blue Line to Red Line to the other LAX.

 

[p&sr]

Not talented enough to find a Blue & Gold Macaw pic.

 

[sunchaser]

3. Train- SLC-SAC SAC-LAX- then fly (?) to SNB

From (either) LAX to SNB, you can go by Train.

If LAX is Union Station, just take the MetroLink Train.

If LAX is the Airport, then get to Union Station by the Flyaway Bus, or by MetroRail... Green Line to Blue Line to Red Line to the other LAX.

Yeah, but the route SLC->SAC, SAC->LAX ->SNB is out of my price range currently. If I go alone, I would at least want a roomette for each train. If it is hubby & me, definitely bedrooms. That's also a long trip. We are taking a longer trip in June, our first one, but if I have to go soon, I'd prefer a straighter shot. My big brother has pancreatic cancer, & I'm hoping he will still be around in July, but if he continues to get worse, I'll be flying out to see him before June.

 

[sunchaser]

So, here's a very ROUGH draft schedule for a train like that...with a made up name...
Western Continental

Amtrak Train #25

Southbound

Dep Seattle 745AM

Arv Portland 1145AM

Dep Portland 12PM

Arv Boise 11PM

Dep Boise 1130PM

Arv Salt Lake City 7AM

Dep Salt Lake City 730AM

Arv Las Vegas 230PM

Dep Las Vegas 300PM

Arv LAX 10PM

Amtrak Train #26

Northbound

Dep LAX 8AM

Arv Las Vegas 3PM

Dep Las Vegas 330PM

Arv Salt Lake City 1030PM

Dep Salt Lake City 11PM

Arv Boise 630AM

Dep Boise 7AM

Arv Portland 6PM

Dep Portland 630PM

Arv Seattle 1030PM

LOVE IT!!! I would like a slice of that pie!!!! We could visit hubby's relatives up north, mine down south!!!!Or maybe include the Coast Starlight & make a big loop!