Eastbound (CA to Chicago): We left Needles, CA, one hour late - 2:30 am and travelled via the SW Chief to Chicago. What a great trip! We were booked into a family room and it was much more spacious than I had ever imagined! The train trip was relaxing and the service was very good. The train itself appeared to be newer and very clean and well kept! The staff seemed to go out of their way to accodomate us. However, the dining room magager ran the dining car like she was in the army...she was very orderly and was always barking orders at the staff and guests - her name was Rosemarie, FYI.

We arrived in Chicago one hour late (not a problem). The Lake Shore to NY was four hours late in leaving (equipment problems). The Metropolitan lounge was a godsend! However, once on board the Lake Shore it was a different story...what a dump! The train was old and it looked like it had not been well cared for. However, our room (a deluxe)was clean and seemed to be in working order. Our car attendant was very attentive and went way out of his way to ensure our comfort - he earned himself an extra big Christmas tip! - His name was Ainsely. Half way to NY, all the water in the dining car froze so our meals were served on paper plates and there was not any water for coffee or other drinks. In addition, the toilets in some of the coach cars and a few of the sleepers were frozen and backed up (thank goodness not ours!). The snow was building up between the cars and while passing from car to car oftentimes it was like walking through a blizzard. I would think that trains travelling in the east would be prepared to cold weather and snow! The tracks in the east also appeared to be rougher and bumpier when compared to the tracks in the west.

We arrived in Albany, NY 5 hours late. We didn't mind because Albany was our destination. However, most everyone on board missed their connections and it was very obvious they were not happy about it!

Westbound: Plattsburgh NY to Albany via the Adirondack: Albany to Chicago via the LSL: Chicago to CA via the SW Chief.

The trip from Plattsburgh to Albany was very scenic. However, it took almost 5 hours(it takes only 2.5 by car) and we had to pull over often for north bound trains to pass. Arrived in Albany two hours late (not a problem). However, only half of the Lake Shore was ready in Albany and we waited another four hours for the rest of the train to arrive from NYC. Unfortunately, our sleeping car was the one that was delayed, so we sat in the station with two very tired children until after 11:30 pm. The westbound Lake Shore was still a dump! We were running four hours late into Chicago and the dining car ran out of food. They were only prepared to serve breakfast so we ate lunch out of the snack car(however, amtrak gave us a code word to use so the sleeping car passangers would not be charged when ordering food.) It wasn't first class service but at least we didn't starve. We arrived in Chicago just in the nick of time to catch the SWC to CA. It was boarding when we pulled in. Again the SWC was clean and comfortable and the service was outstanding!