SL to TE--LCH to CHI

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

margo

Lead Service Attendant
Joined
Sep 2, 2009
Messages
279
Location
Louisiana
We want to go from Lake Charles to Chicago via the Texas Eagle round trip. We usually ride coach from LCH to SAS, but we will need a room on to CHI. Will we have to get off the train and sit in the SAS station from midnight to 7 am? What if we get a room from LCH to CHI?
 
I've only traveled through SAS on the TE (422/421) from/to Los Angeles where you can stay in the sleeper while it is switched from the SL to the TE. Traveling in your direction, there is no such car on the SL so at the very least you would have to de-train and reboard the other train which may lead to waiting in the station. Perhaps the conductor or your SCA could work something out regarding immediately boarding the other train.
 
It looks like you'll have a somewhat different problem on the return.

The TE arrives at SAS from CHI daily at 9:55 pm.

The eastbound SL only leaves SAS on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday (6:25 AM). At best that would be the next morning.

At worst, if you arrive in SAS on the TE on a Friday, Wednesday, or Sunday evening you have to stay 2 nights to travel eastbound on the SL the next time it departs SAS.
 
We want to go from Lake Charles to Chicago via the Texas Eagle round trip. We usually ride coach from LCH to SAS, but we will need a room on to CHI. Will we have to get off the train and sit in the SAS station from midnight to 7 am? What if we get a room from LCH to CHI?
If the price is good, I recommend a roomette SAS-LCH, as it would get you two free meals. And especially when arriving in SAS at 9:55 PM and boarding at 6:25 A.M., a room would allow for some much-needed rest. No matter what, you’ll have to detrain and spend the night in San Antonio. ☹️ Whether you do that in the station or in a hotel is up to you.
 
The boarding on the TE going to Chicago is between 6:30 - 6:45, presuming the car switching for the TE has been completed. You will not be able to board until the TE is pulled back into the station after switching the cars from the SL to the TE. Coming from Chicago, you could arrived as early as 8:45 in the evening if the train is on time out of San Marcos. The east bound SL until after 4 so you positively have a long wait going home. You may want to walk over to the Staybridge a couple blocks from the station to rest in a room for the 7-8 hours or more.
 
Consider an alternative to spending a less than pleasant night in the SA Amshack or booking a Hotel room close to the Station.

Book the #2 Sunset Ltd. In Coach from LCH to Alpine on Wed, arrive into Alpine on Thurs morning. ( you'd have to pay for Diner and Breakfast in the Diner or eat a late Dinner @ Dennys close to the SAS Station during the switching layover).

Enjoy a day in this pleasant small Mountain Village, then catch the Texas Eagle #422 that evening about 8pm and travel to Chicago in a Roomette which will include 6 meals in the Diner.
 
From LCH to/from CHI there isn't a good connection either way, SAS or NOL.

You might want to plan to spend a full day in San Antonio since the TE to/from Chicago is daily. The city has a great downtown with lots to do.
 
Consider an alternative to spending a less than pleasant night in the SA Amshack or booking a Hotel room close to the Station.

Book the #2 Sunset Ltd. In Coach from LCH to Alpine on Wed, arrive into Alpine on Thurs morning. ( you'd have to pay for Diner and Breakfast in the Diner or eat a late Dinner @ Dennys close to the SAS Station during the switching layover).

Enjoy a day in this pleasant small Mountain Village, then catch the Texas Eagle #422 that evening about 8pm and travel to Chicago in a Roomette which will include 6 meals in the Diner.
You say it's six meals on the TE if boarding at Alpine, will they still serve someone who boarded at 8PM? Otherwise wouldn't it be five meals, all in the CCC?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Consider an alternative to spending a less than pleasant night in the SA Amshack or booking a Hotel room close to the Station.

Book the #2 Sunset Ltd. In Coach from LCH to Alpine on Wed, arrive into Alpine on Thurs morning. ( you'd have to pay for Diner and Breakfast in the Diner or eat a late Dinner @ Dennys close to the SAS Station during the switching layover).

Enjoy a day in this pleasant small Mountain Village, then catch the Texas Eagle #422 that evening about 8pm and travel to Chicago in a Roomette which will include 6 meals in the Diner.
You say it's six meals on the TE if boarding at Alpine, will they still serve someone who boarded at 8PM? Otherwise wouldn't it be five meals, all in the CCC?
On the Sunset Limited portion (Alpine, TX), its a full diner, not a CCC. Eight pm, probably no dinner.
 
Alpine is last call for Dinner in the Diner ( if the Train is not too Late)on #2 since the Time changes @ Sierra Blanca from Mountain to Central Time, and the Diner serves on Mountain time for Lunch and Dinner on this train.
 
Consider an alternative to spending a less than pleasant night in the SA Amshack or booking a Hotel room close to the Station.

Book the #2 Sunset Ltd. In Coach from LCH to Alpine on Wed, arrive into Alpine on Thurs morning. ( you'd have to pay for Diner and Breakfast in the Diner or eat a late Dinner @ Dennys close to the SAS Station during the switching layover).

Enjoy a day in this pleasant small Mountain Village, then catch the Texas Eagle #422 that evening about 8pm and travel to Chicago in a Roomette which will include 6 meals in the Diner.
You say it's six meals on the TE if boarding at Alpine, will they still serve someone who boarded at 8PM? Otherwise wouldn't it be five meals, all in the CCC?
On the Sunset Limited portion (Alpine, TX), its a full diner, not a CCC. Eight pm, probably no dinner.
I know. I was on it two weeks ago.
 
Apparently some of the respondents are confused about the route the OP will be taking. She will be traveling Westbound on the Sunset Limited to SAS and will have to detrain and wait several hours for the Texas Eagle to depart at 7 AM. Depending on the day of the week, the Eastbound Sunset/Eagle will drop a coach and sleeper for the Texas Eagle to take to Chicago (listed train 422). The procedure is reversed going the other way, and it's necessary to arrive on the Texas Eagle at a time that coincides with an Eastbound Sunset Limited arriving several hours later.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Apparently some of the respondents are confused about the route the OP will be taking. She will be traveling Westbound on the Sunset Limited to SAS and will have to detrain and wait several hours for the Texas Eagle to depart at 7 AM. Depending on the day of the week, the Eastbound Sunset/Eagle will drop a coach and sleeper for the Texas Eagle to take to Chicago (listed train 422). The procedure is reversed going the other way, and it's necessary to arrive on the Texas Eagle at a time that coincides with an Eastbound Sunset Limited arriving several hours later.
We all know that much. Bob Dylan's suggestion was to go to Alpine so as not to have an overnight in SAS.
 
Back
Top