RAILforum: Texas Eagle

This is topic Texas Eagle in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.railforum.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/11/502.html

Posted by CatherineH (Member # 1620) on :

Has anyone taken the Texas Eagle (Route 422) from LA to CHI? If so, any positive or negative comments would be appriciated. Thanks

Posted by graynt (Member # 17) on :

As you probably know, the Texas Eagle fom LA to Chicago is not the fastest way to go. You ll spend three nights onthe train, instead of two on the Southwest Chief. That being said, it's an interesting ride going through southern Arizona and New Mexico and western Texas. Theres a long stopover in San Antonio where the train splits in two. The Sunset Limited cars go on to Orlando and the Texas Eagle heads north to Chicago.

The train is usually late in both directions.but moreso heading to LA. If price is a concern...its usually cheaper than the SW Chief..coach and sleepers, but for a train lover its one more day on the train for less money.

You llhave a long stopover in Fort Worth, a service stop and in St Louis the next morning. If time is important,take the SW Chief, if not enjoy the unique scenery and the ride on the Eagle.

Posted by mho357 (Member # 1204) on :

Catherine,

I have been tracking the Eagle's on-time performance for about a month because we will be connecting there in June. Currently, the average is about 4 hours late arriving in CHI. The average is skewed a bit by a 19+ hour delay due to a freight derailment a few weeks back. I think that without that long delay the average would be more like 3 hours. There have been several instances of 5 or more hours.

For some reason, the southbound train seems to do better.

We have ridden the train between Fort Worth and San Antonio round trip. We did find the trip to be totally enjoyable but it was our first and only train ride to date. However, based on that experience, we booked our upcoming trip which will take us to Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and back home to Texas - all by Amtrak.

Cheers,

Mark

Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :

I rode this train in November, all the way from LA to Chicago, but in three segments. LA to San Antonio was on time, San Ant to Dallas was about 3 hours late (mostly waiting just past Austin for ages), Fort Worth (yes, I doubled back here!) to Chicago started off almost on time but got to Chicago about an hour late.

Nevertheless, it is still enjoyable to go by train. Time is not of importance to me (well, within reason). Crew were generally pleasant, nothing superb, nothing bad. I went in sleeper for the overnight segments, coach for San Ant - Dallas.

In terms of scenery, not spectacular, but enjoyable. Just to the west of El Paso is scenic, but the rest of the route is mostly flat.

Geoff M.

Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :

I'll be traveling to Chicago from LAX on Friday the 10th on 422. I'll be in a standard bedroom & will connect, I hope, with the Lake Shore Ltd. in Chicago on the 13th. I'm really looking forward to the trip & have always had a great experience on this train. Last time was a couple of years ago.
Reggie

------------------

[This message has been edited by reggierail (edited 05-07-2002).]

Posted by mho357 (Member # 1204) on :

quote:
Originally posted by reggierail:
I'll be traveling to Chicago from LAX on Friday the 10th on 422. I'll be in a standard bedroom & will connect, I hope, with the Lake Shore Ltd. in Chicago on the 13th. I'm really looking forward to the trip & have always had a great experience on this train. Last time was a couple of years ago.
Reggie

Reggie,

Would you give us a report when you return? My family and I will be leaving on the 8th of June on the Eagle connecting in Chicago with the LSL bound for Boston.

Cheers,

Mark

[This message has been edited by mho357 (edited 05-07-2002).]

Posted by mho357 (Member # 1204) on :

quote:
Originally posted by geoffm:
... Time is not of importance to me (well, within reason).
Geoff M.

Geoff,

Time is not really that important to me (or I wouldn't be riding the train) except that we have a connection in Chicago with the LSL that I wouldn't want to miss. That's why I've been tracking the on-time performance of this train.

Cheers,

Mark

Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :

I'll be in New York on 5-14 & if I can get to a computer, I'll let everyone know how the Chicago transfer went. It should be OK, God willing & the creek don't rise. Sorry, I regress a little just before I do a train trip. Who said only kids can enjoy the train?

Reggie

------------------

Posted by mho357 (Member # 1204) on :

quote:
Originally posted by reggierail:
I'll be in New York on 5-14 & if I can get to a computer, I'll let everyone know how the Chicago transfer went. It should be OK, God willing & the creek don't rise. Sorry, I regress a little just before I do a train trip. Who said only kids can enjoy the train?

Reggie

Doesn't the Club Acela have computers? If you are first class doesn't that entitle you to the lounge?

Mark

Posted by mho357 (Member # 1204) on :

FYI

Further analysis of the on-time performance data reveals that the worst late days for the Eagle arriving in Chicago are Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday departures from Fort Worth (my starting point). If I'm not mistaken, this corresponds to the days that the Sunset Limited is part of the equation.
The Sunset Limited leaves LA on Sunday night and connects with the Eagle on Tuesday morning, etc.

It appears from my data that Saturday departures from FTW have the best Chicago on-time performance.

For what its worth...

Mark

Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :

I would imagine Saturday departures would have the best on time performance. Throughout the system there is probably less freight traffic on the weekends than during the week. Holidays are probably better still.
The days that the Sunset runs from LAX definitely affects the Eagle. The through cars from Sunset Ltd. switched to the Eagle can take some time. There's only about a 3 hour layover in San Antonio and if the Sunset is more than 3 hours late it would of course delay the Eagle departure.
If the Eagle is late departing San Antonio, it's been my experience that no time or little time can be made up. In fact a late departure usually dominoes as the train becomes later still.
Reggie

------------------

Posted by mho357 (Member # 1204) on :

quote:
Originally posted by reggierail:
I would imagine Saturday departures would have the best on time performance...Holidays are probably better still.

Reggie,

You are correct. We took the Eagle from Fort Worth to San Antonio on Thanksgiving day and arrived in SAS a little over an hour ahead of schedule. The return trip, on Sunday, was over 2 hours late. The Sunset Limited did not arrive in SAS until about the time the Eagle was supposed to depart.

Mark

Posted by CatherineH (Member # 1620) on :

Thanks to all for the great information provided. I have decided to take the scenic route. LA to Emeryville on the Coast Starlight. Then Emeryville to Chicago on the California Zephyr. I can't wait, this will be my first long distance train adventure. Again, thanks.

Posted by mho357 (Member # 1204) on :

quote:
Originally posted by CatherineH:
Thanks to all for the great information provided. I have decided to take the scenic route. LA to Emeryville on the Coast Starlight. Then Emeryville to Chicago on the California Zephyr. I can't wait, this will be my first long distance train adventure. Again, thanks.

Let us know how things went.

Mark

Posted by reggierail (Member # 26) on :

CatherineH,
There's not much to do or see in Emeryville, you might want to consider continuing on the Coast Starlight to Sacramento. The California State Rail museum is a couple of blocks from the station as is Old Town Sacramento. You'd have a couple of hours to do the tourist thing in Sacramento before boarding the Zephyr at 11:35 AM. The Vagabond Inn is right across the street from the station & the Holiday Inn a couple of blocks away. I've stayed at both & could recommend them to you.
Reggie

------------------

Posted by CatherineH (Member # 1620) on :

That idea just crossed my mind while I was looking at the Amtrak Travel Planner I received in the mail today. But I have already purchased my tickets with the transfer to the CA Zephyr in Emeryville. I won't have much time to sight see anyways since the train gets in latter in the evening and leaves in the morning. Just a place to catch a few hours of rest. Have you stayed at the Courtyard Hotel near the Amtrak station in Emeryville? This is where I have my overnight reservations.

Posted by Silver Star (Member # 1570) on :

Catherine,

You made a wise move. The scenery along the California coast is awesome and the Zephyr passes through fabulous mountains and canyons. I love trains and have logged over 200,000 miles but the Texas Eagle route leaves much to be desired. The desert scenery is barren compared to the red rock deserts on the SW Chief and the Sunset Limited segment is always very late. It is over 11 hours late tonight into Florida.

You did the right thing. Try the Eagle after the other routes.