We live in Chicago and have been to the Northeast part of the US many times. As a family, we have never been to the Western or Pacific Northwest parts of the country.

Our goal would be to find the best trip considering scenery and train equipment. We would book two deluxe sleeper compartments that connect.

I have done some research here and on other sites, but wonder what your suggestions would be. It seems we could choose between the Empire Builder, the California Zephyr, or the Lake Shore Limited. Price is not an issue.

That you plan to make this journey during a peak period and desire to have two Deluxe rooms en-suite means that no time is too early to firm up your plans and book. Also may I advise that Amtrak does offer an "air-rail' plan partnered with United, which may result in the most economical one-way air fares available for your return.

Although the web site is a good device for "exploring' and for checking general space availability, you will have to book your space by telephone since you desire en-suite accomodations. Also, air-rail, should you desire to use, is only handled by telephone.

As for auto rentals, Amtrak "partners" with Hertz, which I believe results in "10% off' for whatever that may mean. Very few Amtrak stations actually have auto rental counters within, although I have found access to Hertz downtown facilities quite convenient (usually by reimbursed taxicab). Within a given market, an airport return can be made without surcharge. If you have special auto requirements, such as Mini-Van or SUV, be sure to book with sufficient "lead time" for the auto rental concern to locate the vehicle and move it to your downtown location. Nothing is more annoying to have to be transported to the airport (even if gratis) just to pick up your auto.

Lastly, be mindful that the Zephyr terminates in the East Bay area at Emeryville. No Amtrak train has ever terminated in San Francisco.

After you pass through the six-mile Moffatt Tunnel, you'll have all day in the mountains of Colorado. About 20 years ago, I made this trip with my wife (who is not a railfan). After lunch she decided to retire to our room to read, only to come right back to the lounge car when we entered Ruby Canyon!

The only loss westbound is that it will be dark when you cross the Wasatch Range into Salt Lake City.

The second morning out you'll be in Reno, NV and at the beginning of an all-day trip through the Sierra Nevada mountains to Sacramento.

The train terminates at Emeryville, and there is a bus to downtown San Francisco via the Oakland Bay Bridge. Alternatively, there is a Woodfin Suites hotel adjacent to the Emeryville station, should you want to spend the night in a "real" bed before heading across the bay.

Another alternative is to get off at Richmond and take BART (same station) to San Francisco. This could be tough if you have a lot of luggage.

The S. W. Chief, OTOH, goes to Los Angeles, through some very picturesque countryside. The route follows the old Sante Fe wagon trail. You'd be able to spend o few days in "la-la land," and then you would have to strap yourselves into a flying pop can ( oops, meant to type "airplane" -- silly me ) for the ride back home.

I should have mentioned that we would be going at the end of March. I know this year is out; we are already planning for next year. You might find that odd, but half the fun of travel is in the planning.

We've spent time in Washington, DC, so we didn't look at the Capitol Limited or the Cardinal.

Based on your responses and doing some other research, we are thinking about the California Zephyr out of Chicago, three nights in San Fransisco, fly to Los Angeles, three nights in LA, then fly home.

Also, from San Fransisco, take the Coast Starlight to LA and enjoy several hours hugging the Pacific Ocean coastline and the desolate Edwards Air Force base, with it's shuttle launch pads.

By the way I am doing a fly rail to NYC this spring with my 6 year old. Train in via deluxe bedroom over one weekend. Week in NY and surrounds, then fly home the next Saturday evening.

Hope that adds worthwhile fuel to your decision process. I live in Denver now but used to live in Grand Junction so I am partial.

I have a travelogue with photos from our trip on the CZ in August 2000 here: http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/MPtoybox2/CZ_aug_2001_p1.html

As for equipment, it can be hit or miss. Like most long-distance trains the Zephyr uses a mixture of Superliner I and Superliner II equipment. The differences are minor, but the S-II cars are newer and tend to be in better shape. But several refurbished S-Is are getting back into service and they are probably as good or better.

For the best of Amtrak equipment you need to ride the Coast Starlight, which uses S-II sleepers exclusively. Plus they have the exclusive Pacific Parlour Car, which no other train has. The Parlour Car is much like the luxurious old style lounges of the streamliner era. But, alas, the Starlight doesn't pass through Chicago.

Finally, I will offer my standard advice to Amtrak first-timers. Expect to have a good time, but don't expect perfection. Most Amtrak trips involve a few glitches, mostly with timekeeping, occasionally with other things. Amtrak is, after all, an underfunded public transportation system, not the Orient Express.

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

I had a day to kill in LA last May, so I took the train to San Diego....

I can recall my 1962 first trip to the West Coast as a college student who had just been "dealt his blackjack". Other than Pullman sleeping accomodations for all overnight segments, the trip was pretty much done the way any college student would do a trip - on the cheap!

When I prepared the itinerary (Mom and Dad still had that, if not legal, a "strong moral" right to know my whereabouts), I alotted only one full day in SF, but two full days in LA.

If it were not for a free "side" trip to San Diego, and a visit to the rodent's then-only shrine, the time elapsed in connecting from the Daylight to the Super at LAUPT (now LAUS)would have quite sufficed.