ehbowen
Engineer
On the California Zephyr, day 2, between Green River and Grand Junction: An oh-dark-thirty wake-up call yesterday as the Coast Starlight was an hour early into Sacramento. I tumbled out of bed and dressed without time to shave or brush my hair, barely had time to brush my teeth. Fortunately the station agents let us day - check our carry-ons with the red caps without charge since we were sleeper passengers.
We were at Perko's a block away when they opened at six. Breakfast was good; eggs and bacon for Dad, a spinach and cheese omelet for Mom, and I feasted on chicken-fried steak and eggs. After breakfast we returned to the small sleeper passenger waiting area. Construction in the station was very noisy; the station agents passed out ear plugs. We needed them!
Mom and I spent some time walking through Old Town Sacramento just down the street. Very little was open but the storefronts and riverfront were photogenic enough. The eastbound Zephyr was on time and we boarded without incident.
The scenic highlight of the day was, of course, the crossing of the Sierra Nevada. For all three of us it was our first time by rail. We secured seats on the left (north) side of the Sightseer Lounge. This was the wrong side for the approach to the pass, but once we passed the summit and the tunnel we were on the best side for views of Donner Lake.
A very rowdy group of coach passengers joined us in Truckee; the first thing they wanted to know was the location of the bar. I sensed they were already off to a good start....
Dinner was the steak for Dad and I and the crab cakes for Mom. I took a shower and went to bed early. Pictures are from the crossing of Donner Pass.
We were at Perko's a block away when they opened at six. Breakfast was good; eggs and bacon for Dad, a spinach and cheese omelet for Mom, and I feasted on chicken-fried steak and eggs. After breakfast we returned to the small sleeper passenger waiting area. Construction in the station was very noisy; the station agents passed out ear plugs. We needed them!
Mom and I spent some time walking through Old Town Sacramento just down the street. Very little was open but the storefronts and riverfront were photogenic enough. The eastbound Zephyr was on time and we boarded without incident.
The scenic highlight of the day was, of course, the crossing of the Sierra Nevada. For all three of us it was our first time by rail. We secured seats on the left (north) side of the Sightseer Lounge. This was the wrong side for the approach to the pass, but once we passed the summit and the tunnel we were on the best side for views of Donner Lake.
A very rowdy group of coach passengers joined us in Truckee; the first thing they wanted to know was the location of the bar. I sensed they were already off to a good start....
Dinner was the steak for Dad and I and the crab cakes for Mom. I took a shower and went to bed early. Pictures are from the crossing of Donner Pass.