How scenic was Sunset Ltd. East route?

[colobok]

I am wondering - how scenic was Sunset Ltd. East route?

I realize that most of the time it was like other Florida trains - nothing special,

but still - did it have something interesting to see?

 

[Caesar La Rock]

I am wondering - how scenic was Sunset Ltd. East route?

I realize that most of the time it was like other Florida trains - nothing special,

but still - did it have something interesting to see?

Well you did see the ocean from the train in the Panhandle of Florida. There are also various bayous that the train passes through on that route especially in Alabama. I found this video and it's not mine.

 

[the_traveler]

Most of the SL--East route was during the night, except for parts of northern FL. The remainder of FL from JAX south was the same as the Silvers take now.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Having ridden, driven, and flown across the entire Sunset Route numerous times I can assure you that you're not missing anything all that spectacular. Interesting stuff here and there, certainly, but mostly just dull and boring terrain in my view. That being said there's no reason not to watch Danny Harmon's video above and reminisce about what once was common before everything went to hell in a budget basket. This route would make sense if it could be traversed quickly, but unfortunately it can't. Unless you go by plane. Or car. Or moped. Maybe some day they'll bring this route back from the brink. Maybe.

 

[pennyk]

I am wondering - how scenic was Sunset Ltd. East route?

I realize that most of the time it was like other Florida trains - nothing special,

but still - did it have something interesting to see?

Well you did see the ocean from the train in the Panhandle of Florida. There are also various bayous that the train passes through on that route especially in Alabama. I found this video and it's not mine.

Thanks for posting the video. I loved it. Even though I have lived in Florida all my life, I have never traveled on the Sunset Limited.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I heard from someone else that it can feel very weird when staring out the rear end of the train through Panhandle Florida when there is fog.

 

[Dovecote]

I am wondering - how scenic was Sunset Ltd. East route?

I realize that most of the time it was like other Florida trains - nothing special,

but still - did it have something interesting to see?

I sure miss the Sunset East route. Tallahassee (TLH) was my starting point heading both west and east. I probably did around six round trips a year when it was in operation. The route east from TLH was pretty boring scenic wise but allowed connecting train service for me north from Jacksonville. The route west had its fair share of Kodak moments and allowed connecting train service north from New Orleans (NOL) to Chicago and my ultimate destination, Minneapolis.

Heading west from TLH began in darkness. Sunrise was evident around Biloxi (my favorite destination) and the view of the Gulf of Mexico coupled with the colorful neon signs of Casino Row was quite a sight. The route after Biloxi remained very scenic hugging the Gulf quite often.

The eastbound route from NOL began in darkness also and sunrise usually took place around Pensacola. The daylight route was uneventful hugging US Highway 90 for a fair share of the ride. On one particular spot the train rode in the middle of 90 in a small town in the FL Panhandle. I still vividly recall the long line of Crepe Myrtle trees. During the bloom season they were as pretty as can be.

As I said, I sure miss this route!

 

[TimePeace]

I never had the pleasure; maybe in some unforeseeable future I will.

But always, the bleakest and least-loved train landscapes are wonderful to me, because they are the real country we live in - not some "reality" TV version, and not the interstate highway suburban mall views (Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried, countless petroleum retailers) one gets when driving.

Back yards and clothes lines, junk yards, trackless wastes through swamps and marshes and cut-over forests, rusted abandoned mills and factories, flat plains with many thousands of acres of corn or soybeans, small shacks with funky residents - they are all real, and tell a bigger and truer story, by far, than television or YouTube, of what this country really is.

So no, we don't have the opportunity now to take the SL East of New Orleans. But take any other train. See for yourself.

 

[jb64]

I never had the pleasure; maybe in some unforeseeable future I will.

But always, the bleakest and least-loved train landscapes are wonderful to me, because they are the real country we live in - not some "reality" TV version, and not the interstate highway suburban mall views (Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried, countless petroleum retailers) one gets when driving.

Back yards and clothes lines, junk yards, trackless wastes through swamps and marshes and cut-over forests, rusted abandoned mills and factories, flat plains with many thousands of acres of corn or soybeans, small shacks with funky residents - they are all real, and tell a bigger and truer story, by far, than television or YouTube, of what this country really is.

So no, we don't have the opportunity now to take the SL East of New Orleans. But take any other train. See for yourself.

Love this post! It is why I love the train and spend a great deal of time in the sighseer lounge so that I can see more of it.

 

[NE933]

I heard from someone else that it can feel very weird when staring out the rear end of the train through Panhandle Florida when there is fog.

Well, then I want Scottie to beam me up then over to the next freight train rolling on that territory, right now, so that I can wet my unexplained mysteries thing going on.

 

[Ocala Mike]

I am wondering - how scenic was Sunset Ltd. East route?

I realize that most of the time it was like other Florida trains - nothing special,

but still - did it have something interesting to see?

Well you did see the ocean from the train in the Panhandle of Florida.

Not unless you had super vision. What you saw was the Gulf of Mexico, of course, the "ocean" being the exclusive province of the (hopefully) soon to be resurrected FEC routing. I'm hopeful that we will someday be able to see the Gulf from the Sunset East in the Florida panhandle again. Hoping to take a trip from Lake City to Gulfport for some casino action.

Ocala Mike

 

[NE933]

But always, the bleakest and least-loved train landscapes are wonderful to me, because they are the real country we live in.....

...Back yards and clothes lines, junk yards, trackless wastes through swamps and marshes and cut-over forests, rusted abandoned mills and factories, flat plains with many thousands of acres of corn or soybeans, small shacks with funky residents - they are all real, and tell a bigger and truer story

I am the same way: passing through the backyards of Central Florida on the Silver Star/Meteor has always fascinated me, as is going by the factories. Abandoned factories makes me feel like someone died: a factory is the womb of where builders create things, and going by a decreped building causes me to thing of the many shifts of workers going in/leaving/a beehive of activity. Same for rusty train tracks; seeing those can start me ruminating on the people that rode or worked on it, all the things we used -- paper, wood, stone, coal, might have traversed that once thriving train track which now sits in rust, out of sight and buried in leaves and brush.

 

[jis]

I never had the pleasure; maybe in some unforeseeable future I will.

But always, the bleakest and least-loved train landscapes are wonderful to me, because they are the real country we live in - not some "reality" TV version, and not the interstate highway suburban mall views (Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried, countless petroleum retailers) one gets when driving.

Back yards and clothes lines, junk yards, trackless wastes through swamps and marshes and cut-over forests, rusted abandoned mills and factories, flat plains with many thousands of acres of corn or soybeans, small shacks with funky residents - they are all real, and tell a bigger and truer story, by far, than television or YouTube, of what this country really is.

I completely agree with that sentiment. Though I'd note that unfortunately trains do not go everywhere that is charming or bleak. I have found the use of an automobile quite convenient to get to experience the back country places that trains don't go to. For example, I spent last Saturday exploring the back roads along the Delaware River on the Pennsylvania side between New Hope PA and Delaware Water Gap. Beautiful area, and yet completely unreachable by trains at present, except at new Hope on the special days when they run the New Hope and Ivyland all the way to Warminster. And maybe someday Slateford to Stroudsburg if PA and NJ ever get around to completing the restoration of the Lackawanna Cutoff.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I never had the pleasure; maybe in some unforeseeable future I will.

But always, the bleakest and least-loved train landscapes are wonderful to me, because they are the real country we live in - not some "reality" TV version, and not the interstate highway suburban mall views (Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried, countless petroleum retailers) one gets when driving.

Back yards and clothes lines, junk yards, trackless wastes through swamps and marshes and cut-over forests, rusted abandoned mills and factories, flat plains with many thousands of acres of corn or soybeans, small shacks with funky residents - they are all real, and tell a bigger and truer story, by far, than television or YouTube, of what this country really is.

So no, we don't have the opportunity now to take the SL East of New Orleans. But take any other train. See for yourself.

Well put! Just like how so many people don't appreciate the TE/SL scenery or the Big Sky Country that the EB runs through.

 

[George Harris]

Well you did see the ocean from the train in the Panhandle of Florida.

Not unless you had super vision. What you saw was the Gulf of Mexico, of course, the "ocean" being the exclusive province of the (hopefully) soon to be resurrected FEC routing. I'm hopeful that we will someday be able to see the Gulf from the Sunset East in the Florida panhandle again. Hoping to take a trip from Lake City to Gulfport for some casino action.

Ocala Mike

Well, if you want ot nit-pick, you did not see the Gulf of Mexico, either. You saw, going from west to east, Mississippi Sound, Mobile Bay, and Escambia Bay. The high concrete bridge just east of Pensacola is across Escambia Bay, which is probably the most dramatic view of a salt water body.

However, in my understanding of all the bodies of water, those listed above are portions of the Gulf of Mexico, which is in turn part of the

Atlantic Ocean. So, whether you want to say you saw the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico or one of these other bays and inlets, depends on how specific you want to be and nothing more.

 

[colobok]

Well, if you want ot nit-pick, you did not see the Gulf of Mexico, either. You saw, going from west to east, Mississippi Sound, Mobile Bay, and Escambia Bay. The high concrete bridge just east of Pensacola is across Escambia Bay, which is probably the most dramatic view of a salt water body.

How could you see those if SL was running though them at night?

 

[cirdan]

Love this post! It is why I love the train and spend a great deal of time in the sighseer lounge so that I can see more of it.

+1

 

[Caesar La Rock]

Well, if you want ot nit-pick, you did not see the Gulf of Mexico, either. You saw, going from west to east, Mississippi Sound, Mobile Bay, and Escambia Bay. The high concrete bridge just east of Pensacola is across Escambia Bay, which is probably the most dramatic view of a salt water body.

How could you see those if SL was running though them at night?

You have to consider the fact that the train rarely ever was on time back then.

 

[Texas Gal]

My mother, children and I traveled this route to Disney World in the 90's. This route was my mother's favorite and she talks about it often. Mine is the popular California Zephyr route but my mother preferred the Sunset Limited over that. She liked the California Zephyr as well but she tends to talk about this one more. I did find it interesting, especially one of the very tall bridges that you cross over. I cannot remember where it was, maybe it was the one east of Pensacola as mentioned on here? I know it was so high that it was frightening and interesting at the same time. Everyone has different taste for scenery they like best.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

My mother, children and I traveled this route to Disney World in the 90's. This route was my mother's favorite and she talks about it often. Mine is the popular California Zephyr route but my mother preferred the Sunset Limited over that. She liked the California Zephyr as well but she tends to talk about this one more. I did find it interesting, especially one of the very tall bridges that you cross over. I cannot remember where it was, maybe it was the one east of Pensacola as mentioned on here? I know it was so high that it was frightening and interesting at the same time. Everyone has different taste for scenery they like best.

That must have been the Huey Long Bridgle west of NOL. For me, I like the EB best.

 

[Ocala Mike]

Not looking to nit pick. Just looking forward to someday being able to travel the Sunset Ltd. East route no matter what they call the train. Kind of on my "bucket list."

 

[Devil's Advocate]

So, whether you want to say you saw the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico or one of these other bays and inlets, depends on how specific you want to be and nothing more.

In all the years I've lived here I've never once heard anyone refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Atlantic Ocean.

 

[bay state bruce]

I never had the pleasure; maybe in some unforeseeable future I will.

But always, the bleakest and least-loved train landscapes are wonderful to me, because they are the real country we live in - not some "reality" TV version, and not the interstate highway suburban mall views (Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Kentucky Fried, countless petroleum retailers) one gets when driving.

Back yards and clothes lines, junk yards, trackless wastes through swamps and marshes and cut-over forests, rusted abandoned mills and factories, flat plains with many thousands of acres of corn or soybeans, small shacks with funky residents - they are all real, and tell a bigger and truer story, by far, than television or YouTube, of what this country really is.

So no, we don't have the opportunity now to take the SL East of New Orleans. But take any other train. See for yourself.

Must agree with Maine Rider re back yards and clothes lines.This real world landscape is such a big part of the trip.

 

[Dovecote]

My mother, children and I traveled this route to Disney World in the 90's. This route was my mother's favorite and she talks about it often. Mine is the popular California Zephyr route but my mother preferred the Sunset Limited over that. She liked the California Zephyr as well but she tends to talk about this one more. I did find it interesting, especially one of the very tall bridges that you cross over. I cannot remember where it was, maybe it was the one east of Pensacola as mentioned on here? I know it was so high that it was frightening and interesting at the same time. Everyone has different taste for scenery they like best.

You are probably referring to the bridge over Escambia Bay. That was a very picturesque view going over the Bay for about 3-4 miles. It hugged I-10 over the water. Often it would be during the daylight hours eastbound as the train was habitually late.