I will be traveling to the Midwest soon & have the option of taking the Zephyr from Emeryville to Omaha or the Chief from LA to Kansas City. Apart from the Zephyr's superior scenery, which train would you choose & why?
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You do not inform us of criteria that may or may not be important to you, and whomever you may be traveling with, like: 1. Omaha & KC are 180 +/- miles apart so where is your destination? 2. LA and Emeryville present the same type question, how far must you travel to board? 3. How important is being close to on time at your destination? Discussions at this site indicate that the SWC is more reliable regarding schedule compliance. Also, we are told that the Zephyr will be going through Wyoming instead of the Colorado Rockies for some period this year so the opportunity to see the scenery between Salt Lake and Denver may not be available, depending upon your schedule.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Two points to consider; first if an EB Zephyr is late, the best scenery, the Colorado Rockies descent will be at best dusk at worst after dark.
Secondly, if you are traveling Sleeper (which I for one hope you are), the 715AM Kansas City arrival of #4 is a bit more palatable than the 530A arrival at Omaha of #6.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Thanks to those who have responded. Perhaps a little more info would be helpful.
My eventual destination is eastern Ohio. Once I get off the train I will be renting a car to arrive at my final destination.
RRChina, time is important so I want to arrive at either location as close as possible to the scheduled arrival time. I need to be there by no later than late Friday night and plan on departing from either EMY or LA on Wednesday. Since I know that most EB trains experience some kind of delay, I can absorb a minor delay of an hour or two but not as long as five or six hours or more.
Mr. Norman, one of the reasons why I don't have a problem with the scheduled early arrival in Omaha is because I can pick up a rental car @ 6am and arrive at my destination faster than if I were to take the Zephyr all the way to Chicago and drive from there. One of my goals is to minimize travel costs so I won't be paying for a sleeper.
Thanks again for the helpful advice. Any other comments?
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If you take #6 and #30, you can make it to Cleveland by 1:00 Saturday morning. Otherwise...the drive to eastern ohio from way over in Nebraska or Missouri will be nuts.
It may look close to you guys way over on the left coast, but it is a beastly drive through lots of nothing.
Posts: 42 | From: Akron, Ohio USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Omaha-Cleveland (without checking my Rand McNally) is 820 miles; "good time' would be 14hrs over the road - 15hours "on the watch".
And you are going to do this after having spent two restless nights on a Coach?
Too much for me, my friend.
Lastly, one piece of advice, if you plan on using a "local" auto rental concern (Enterprise et al), check carefully to ensure your Rental Agreement permits interstate use of the vehicle. With the "majors", not a problem, but others check carefully.
I think this is a "back to the drawing board", if I may be permitted to say.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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How about being a little more specific for origin and destination? If you do not want to be so specific as to say from West Cowpath, California to East Podunk, Ohio, you could at least tell us within 50 miles of Mediumsizenutzcity, California to within 50 miles of Midsizerustcity, Ohio.
I agree with all concerned that to plan to get in a car and be a 12 to 15 hour road warrior after two nights in coach is somewhere between insane and dangerous to both yourself and others on the road. Please rethink that. However, if you persist, Kansas City would be better because it reduces your driving distance by about 120 miles. Not knowing your destination, I picked Columbus as the Ohio end of a search in Mapquest since it is about in the middle of the state, and I do not know whether your eastern Ohio means close to Cleveland or Zanesville or Portsmouth. Anyhow, you get
Omaha to Columbus, 780 miles on I-80, 74, 70 by way of Davenport and Indianapolis
Kansas City to Columbus 660 miles on I-70 by way of St. Louis and Indianapolis.
Your California end: Where are you? Since it seems that Oakland at 9:35am is equal to Los Angeles at 6:45pm, can we assume that you are closer to SF? Since time is a factor, could you make the Chief at Barstow at 10:43 Tuesday night? If you are in the valley, that should be about as reasonable as Emeryville on Wednesday morning. That should take out your time crunch.
Still do not understand Omaha instead of all the way into Chicago. Stay on the train and 500 miles and 10 hours later you are in Chicago. Yes, you could save a little time by driving fast, but not enough to make any difference. Or, if on Chief, and you want to avoid Chicago, check on car rentals at Galesburg, IL. Chief scheduled arrival at 11:46am. Why not get as close as you can?
Both Chief and CZ connect at Chicago with all these trains listed below, and if you can get the Chief on Tuesday night at Barstow these will be Thursday night / Friday morning times. With a Wednesday departure, these are Friday nigth / Saturday morning times, and train 50 does not run, but you can get to Indianapolis at 12:20am.
There is Train 30, lv Chi 5:35pm, arr Cleveland 12:59am Train 48, lv Chi 7:20pm, arr Cleveland 3:31am Train 40, lv Chi 10:30pm, arr Youngstown 7:10am Train 50, lv Chi 7:30pm(TuThSa), arr Cincinatti 4:40am(WeFrSu), arr So Portsmouth KY 7:04am(WeFrSu)
I promise that you will feel a lot better after the trip if you do not attempt the long drive.
Note: Also agree with the warning on checking the rental contract. Other than the high priced "majors" a lot of the contracts include a provision that the vehicle not be taken out of state, or may limit it to adjacent state only or beyond a certain distance of the rental point.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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Perhaps you would wish to go as far as Galesburg IL. Both trains arrive there and the fare beyond OMA or KC would be insignificant You will be substantially closer to Ohio and the train will get you that far faster than you can drive, and less expensive.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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From my ride on the South West Chief, I wasnt to inpressed by it, guess it was because I was on board during the night only, Although I would say The California Zefer
------------------ JONATHON D. ORTIZ
Posts: 989 | From: DIAMOND BAR CA. U.S. | Registered: Nov 2003
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The Chief has terrible scenary, but serves excellent destinations and is a nice train I hear. But the Zephyr has excellent scenary! What about the Texas Eagle?
------------------ --Anton L. pillsbury09@excite.com AIM: pillsburyMN
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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The Chief has terrible scenary, but serves excellent destinations and is a nice train I hear. But the Zephyr has excellent scenary! What about the Texas Eagle?
------------------ --Anton L. pillsbury09@excite.com AIM: pillsburyMN
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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Yes, Galesburg should be better for both trains. Train time for easbound CZ and SWC is so close, Train 4, 11:46am Train 6, 12:06pm that if close to schedule it makes no difference which train you take on the east end, so go for the one that would give you the best scenery, if that is your priority or the one most likely to be on time, if that is your priority.
Per Mapquest, Galesburg IL to Columbus OH is 430 miles. Following mapquest directions from Omaha would have put you right through here, so why not do it by train? Mapquest fell down on finding car rental agencies in Galesburg, but finally at www.galesburg.org clicked on Business Directory, then Automotive, then Rentals and it gave me one, but only one:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car 165 S. Seminary Street Galesburg, IL 61401 Phone: 341-1000
None of the outfits on that web site seem to believe in putting the area code on their phone numbers, but from another location, it appears that the Galesburg area code is 309, so Enterprise would be: 1-309-341-1000. Since the Amtrak station is at 225 S. Seminary St., Enterprise should be close to the station.
For your return, the times are also similar: Train 5, 4:57pm Train 3, 5:52pm Since by now I think that with some prodding from others, I have given it my best shot, so I will shut up.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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To CoastStarlight99: The Sunset / Eagle would take almost another full day, so would not be practical for our a1. Plus, not to forget, the Sunset has lousy timekeeping.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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Another thing to consider: the Interstate speed limit in Iowa is only 65 mph and I-80 is extremely busy even in remote areas. Both the CZ and SWC travel at very high speed on the day they run into CHI.
Smaller city locations such as Galesburg may not offer unlimited miles on rentals.
Another thing to consider is how long it may take to get from your depot to your rental. This often involves a cab ride. You may be able to rent from Hertz in Chicago Union Station, and you can ask for an Amtrak discount.
[This message has been edited by TwinStarRocket (edited 04-25-2004).]
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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There is very little scenery on the Eagle route,also the timekeeping is terrible.The Chief has excellent timekeeping.I don't know about the Zephyr.Scenery is excellent over Donner Pass.You may be rerouted through Wyoming.Check on dates before you decide.
------------------ Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.
[This message has been edited by espeefoamer (edited 04-25-2004).]
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As the old yellow pages ad used to say, "Let your fingers do the walking!" Do not guess what the car rental options will be at Galesburg / Chicago / elsewhere: Call the places and find out, then get it set up ahead of time.
From my own perspective, unless there are some serious negatives in the car rent deal at Galesburg, I would far rather be getting in the car and trying to head out of Galesburg at noon to 1:00pm than trying to fight traffic out of downtown Chicago at 4:00pm or later. Chicago rush hours!
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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Someone here stated they thought the SW Chief wasn't a very scenic route. The train is one of Amtrak's most scenic, especially in southern Colorado and New Mexico.
The scenery, while not as dramatic as the Rockies, is still pretty, with many canyons, red bluffs, etc.
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We all hope we were helpful. Now that your choice has been made it would be appreciated if you would give this site a brief trip report after you return.
Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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My name is derived from my hobby. I collect authentic railroad dining car china and have an extensive collection on display in my home. I also collect related railroad dining car items like silver holoware, menus, calendars. Any of you interested in more communication about this hobby may contact me: jackelly@northlink.com Posts: 467 | From: Prescott, AZ USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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quote:Originally posted by RRCHINA: We all hope we were helpful. Now that your choice has been made it would be appreciated if you would give this site a brief trip report after you return.
But has A1 chosen his train?
Posts: 547 | From: St. Louis, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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From an economic stand point,assuming that you're about the same distance (give or take 100 miles or so) from EMY as you are from LAX, The Chief is usually cheaper and has greater availability. I considered a trip on #6 in late June. 2 months ahead and sleepers are already sold out!!!!! I've noticed that from Fresno to Chicago (Fresno would be about the 1/2 between EMY and LAX) the #4 is about $40.00 cheaper than the #6 in coach.
Also, my whole purpose for taking #6 was to see the Colorado Rockies. Thanks for the info on the re-route. I'll make other plans. I WAS going to check out Glenwood Springs.
Patrick
Posts: 387 | From: Bakersfield, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
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I read on another site that the CZ won't be getting an extra sleeper this summer. Instead, they will be selling rooms in the crew dorm. How will that work? Are they that short on sleepers? Seems like a shame given demand for the CZ in the summer.
Posts: 70 | Registered: Feb 2004
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