Hey, good job I like that!
I think after an Empire Builder trip coming up at the end of this month I'll get some commentary and photos up about the current state of dining car service and wine tasting on the Empire Builder.
I'm trying to put together a trip next August, eastbound from Seattle. Still looking for the magic combination of rooms and buckets.
Good report.
I'm already booked for late June/early July. Winona, MN-PDX, PDX-SEA, SEA-Winona, MN. I'll be anxious to hear what you find on the Empire Builder.
Good job, but there is one typo in there: "The westbound trains depart together and travel the rest of their journey to Chicago, Illinois."
Good luck on your trip. I recently did our 1st long distance train trip with my handicapped son in the accessible room. Check out the 3 part trip report (Pennsylvanian-CL-SWC) for our comments about the H room. Esepcially 3rd part for general observations re H rooms.
Another mistake: The extra coach (807/808) is added and removed in St. Paul, not Minneapolis. The Empire Builder doesn't stop in Minneapolis.
Thank you very much for the 3 part trip report. The general observations regarding the H room are very helpful.
Glad you found the info helpful.
Relax! I took my first Amtrak trip 3 yrs. ago and had the same feelings as you do. I had such a great experience on that first trip that I've since ridden over 20,000 miles on Amtrak and each one is better than the last. This was before I found out about this discussion board where you can find out all kinds of info. If you haven't already, go into the section titled "Amtrak Faos & First Timer Rider Info" which is right below the general discussion section.
I was so incredibly excited and anxious before my first Amtrak trip. I found the best way to feed my anticipation was to read some trip reports before I left. The stories allowed me to imagine myself on such a trip as well as manage my expectations of the experience.
Thank you for that catch! That was extracted from a 2006 Trip report that also had the error. I hope I've fixed it appropriately at both locations.
I have corrected Minneapolis to St. Paul - Minneapolis, just as Amtrak lists the stop in the timetable. It is referred to as Midway Station.
Completely normal. I didn't 'relax' until about an hour after I got on the train.
I was excited, but not too excited before departing on the Empire Builder to Seattle last Memorial Day weekend. Was anxious, though. What helped me enormously throughout the trip was having read so many trip reports and bringing along a detailed guide of the route so I knew what to expect along the way. I brought along, also, my laptop computer with a GPS feature and it was so useful. My pre-trip preparation allowed me - a first timer - to explain to people I was sitting with in the Diner just where we were, what to expect next, etc.
Yeah I was on the Builder two weeks ago and it ran with two Cross Country cafes instead of a sightseer lounge and a full diner. The crew was not too happy about it. The conducter said two sightseer lounges were sitting at Portland bad-ordered. The next days Builder had the normal consist.
Thanks for posting that entry. It makes it a little easier knowing what to expect. My sleeper is in car #2730, so this means I'll be at the tail end, right? And have to trapse about 5 cars to the diner? Who says you can't get exercise on the train! :lol:
