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Well, I wouldn't say *perfectly* safe! The westbound SL has been known to arrive in NOL several hours late, especially after a particularly late arrival of the eastbound into Florida. I'd overnight it in NOL and enjoy it!
The City of New Orleans (the train) is very pleasant. In the days before standardised menus, the chefs used to excel on this route. Even now they add their own spices to the regular foods. Definitely one of the best catered Amtrak routes! You may get a local New Orleans guide on board too, telling you about the parks.
Arrival into Chicago on the City is usually on-time or thereabouts. Again, one of Amtrak's better trains!
And the Zephyr... where do you start? Stunning scenery west of Denver (get on the right hand side in the lounge car initially). Often late though.
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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I think you may be better off taking the Silver Meteor or Silver Star from JAX to WAS, then connect in WAS to the Capitol Limited (#29), then connect in Chicago to the CA Zephyr (#5). I think it is the same amount of time, and you may be safer with the connections. I wouldn't count on the Sunset Limited from JAX to NOL at all. I don't know how Amtrak even sells this train any more....
Posts: 337 | Registered: Jun 2003
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On one hand, I have done 1-NOL-58 twice in as many years without incident, but on the other, there is a report over at another rail message board (TO) of a recent 12hr late arrival, which obviously missed #58.
If New Orleans' "contrived bacchanal" is of interest, then you would want to overnight it there. But for my two recent journeys, on one I hoofed it over to the D-Day Museum (the only place worth my time in that dump), the other, simply stayed in the depot watching soaps or chatting with people in the Magnolia (sleeper) Lounge..
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Don't count on the #1 to #58 connection...it is now very shaky.
We have made that trip a few times through the years without problem but our June 19 trip left our home town 4 hours late and was 10 hours late by Mobile. We were put on a very cramped minibus for a bumpy 5 hour nonstop drive to Jackson, MS. We made # 58 with about 30 minutes to spare. I had to urge the driver not to make stops despite protests from smokers. It was awful.
Our return on #2 was very late (see other post) and we met #1 at Pascagoula, MS...#1 was over 8 hours late. It was to be annulled at NOL and later was stalled by a stuck drawbridge at Gulfport.
I hate to steer people off the Sunset but it is likely to mess you up. By the way, #1 was cancelled from FL this Tuesday and from LAX this Wednesday.
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