My thought, on opening the discussion, was to address the routings, and let accommodations come in later.The Bay Area to Chicago run is the California Zephyr. It's timetable is designed to let you see the Sierra Nevada in daylight on Day 1, and the Rocky Mountains in daylight on day 2. Frankly, I do not mind taking it for a round trip...
But since you asked...
You basically have 4 West Coast to East Coast options. 3 hook up in Chicago with trains to the east...
The Empire Builder, running from Seattle to Chicago
The CZ, mentioned above
... and the Southwest Chief, running LA to Chicago.
In addition, the Sunset Limited runs the southern route, Los Angeles to New Orleans (and on to FL? I've never worried about this routing... way off my beaten track... someone else weigh in here).
Unless you choose the California Zephyr for the backhaul of your trip, you will have to transit from either Seattle or LA to the Bay Area. It'll be the same train: The Coast Starlight. I grew up in LA and spent my summers vacationing in State beaches along the route; it's fantastic scenery.
I've also been, once, on the Seattle-Oakland leg. It has great scenery as well, but more of it is inland.
You've not asked about accommodations, so I'll let that *** lie for a while.
Enjoy the planning, and enjoy the trip.
John
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The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
John
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The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
I see you have run into the D-O-G problem I had.
As for scenery, there's a lot to be said for going through the same places in the opposite direction. You actually do get a different persepctive, and you'll get to see the really cool stuff twice. And some parts you travel in darkness one way may be in daylight in the other direction. I don't think you really see a route until you've seen it both ways.
And, dear God, I wonder what happens if you spell *** backwards.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
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I mentioned the Sunset, but I've not ridden it,... so I asked for help
The Texas Eagle is really one of the few pieces of ladder connections still available ... and I know only one scenic segment on the route (and that only from Oct 15-Nov 10 or so) ... the Ozarks between SL and Texas line.
Of course, if I had my way, we'd be riding Sherman Hill in Armour Yellow and Harbormist Gray...
John
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The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
There's much to be said for taking one route outbound, and a different route when you return. Nonetheless, I'm always conscious of how much scenery I actually miss while on a train.
The fact is, your train will pass through hundred of miles of interesting country that you'll never see. It's unavoidable. Sometimes you'll be asleep, or talking with passengers at dinner, or washing up in the rest rooms. At other times, you'll be walking through the train, or rummaging through your luggage, or simply looking out the window on one side of the car, rather than the other.
So even if you take the same route both ways, it won't be the same trip. You'll see many things on the return journey that you didn't see the first time around.
But whenever you decide to go, and whatever route you take, you'll have a fine time.
[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 01-13-2003).]
John Pullman, I've taken the Crescent from NYC to New Orleans, then connected with the Sunset Ltd. to get back home to Texas. That's a nice ride.
Efin98, I agree with the Late, er, Lake Shore Ltd., from Chicago-to-Boston. That's a nice ride. And of course the Zephyr zips through beautiful country.
How old is your daughter Diana? If between 6 and 26, getting first class bedrooms will be a vacation she'll never forget. Rotsa ruck.
- - The Chief
I guess I should state that I am not affiliated or connected whatever with Amtrak - I'm a CPA residing and practicing in Suburban Chicago. As an aside; I like trains.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, unless there are severe financial constraints the only way to do this coast to coast trip is in a sleeper. In fact, and speaking only for myself, if there were not funds available to do this trip by sleeper, I would either fly or stay at home.
Are sleepers pricey? you bet they are. Are they full? at least during peak travel periods that be the case.
While I believe it imprudent to report specific fares at a message board (in fact I prohibit it as a Forum Moderator elsewhere), you can figure roundly off peak $200 per night for a small room (Standard) with two beds, $300 during peak. For a larger room (Deluxe) double those numbers. Exact fares as well as a graphic description of the rooms are available at www.amtrak.com, or through a travel agent such as Mr. Atwell, that specializes in rail travel. Any travel agent can issue an Amtrak ticket through their airline ticketing system, but knowledge and/or interest? that is something else.
Now what I don't know is your daughter's age (don't worry, although single, I'm 62 - too old). If she is a child you and she will do fine "doubled up' in a $200/night Standard. She may even enjoy the Upper bunk. If she is an adult, likely she will want her own quarters, and in that a Standard for each. If an adolescent, I would "think twice about" one Standard, and either go the two Stds or in this case maybe a Deluxe.
I realize I may just have "quadrupled' the cost of your transportation, but these are simply my thoughts (I think I can consider myself to be an "experienced" rail traveler). I know that other Members at this Forum think that coach travel, or some combination of coach and sleeper is quite alright, and I ask that you give their views the same consideration that you choose to give mine.
Thanks My thought, on opening the discussion, was to address the routings, and let accommodations come in later.
Here's my two cents:
- On longer trips, such as a transcontinental, going First Class is the least stressful on the body (if not the pocketbook.
- First Class feeds me well
- First Class gives me a bed.
- First Class even keeps me clean.
I, personally, if I can afford it, prefer the deluxe bedroom for three reasons:
The upper berth is bigger than the upper of a standard.
The lower is between a twin and a full bed in size.
The upper of a Superliner (and I live/travel on superliner only routes) standard has no windows ... not even the tiny upper berth windows of a Pullman "American" or "National" 6-6-4 sleeper of the 40 sand 50s.
A deluxe bedroom has its own washing facilities, including now a shower ... which was ONCE something only a Pullman "Master Room" offered.
(Rant mode ON)
Finally, I intensely dislike the engineering design of the Amtrak superliner standard bedroom. The Pullman Company, 70 years ago, had an excellent use of the space ... maximizing comfort. It was called either an open section or an enclosed section. The modern Amtrak standard bedroom has smaller seats, narrower bunks, and, when compared to the first enclosed section streamlined Pullman, Overland Trail, lacks in-room sink. It's a bad design. IMO.
(Rant mode OFF).
My two cents. Your fuel consumption per passenger mile may vary.
John
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The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
But someday (cross your fingers) there just might be a Superliner III rolled out, and perhaps that will offer an opportunity for improvement.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
Short version: Some industrial engineer, 20 years ago when superliners were designed, thought the standard section design was broke ... when it wasn't.
He fixed it ... again proving the adage.
My opinion. YMMV.
John
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The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
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Cory (o:}=
Add a small window to the top of the standard sleeper compartments for the upper bunk occupant. This could be as small as a 1 foot by 3 foot window with a pull shade.
Add video screens to each sleeper room and several in the coaches with headphone plug-ins (similar to the airline style headphones). The headphones would be a huge plus in the Sightseer/Lounge Car. The movies shown there are either too loud or too soft. I cannot remember any time when the sound level was just right. Add a camera to the front of each train and pipe it into the video system so we can see what’s coming up and be prepared for the photo opportunity.
Put a narrative on channel 3 throughout all the cars whenever we are traveling through scenic and/or historic land. Put the train crew on channel 4, so we can keep up with any delays, problems, interesting sites, and/or “sister” train meets. Channels 1 and 2 could continue to be train announcements. These audio channels should be accessible in sleepers, lounges, and coaches via headphones so no passenger is forced to listen to anything, and the passengers interested in these items can access them at any time by simply plugging into the nearest audio jack.
My wife came up with an excellent suggestion for the new Superliner III coaches. Some are coach-smokers, so why couldn’t some be coach-exercise cars? Have large windows with stationary bikes and stair climbers pointed at the windows so we can burn some calories between meals!
When the Superliner III’s are designed, bring back the push button in the restrooms! Unfortunately, during our May trip, I caught the bug that was running rampant through the employees and passengers on the May 9 & 10 Seattle to LAX train. This “virus” made itself known to me on the May 10-11 Sunset Limited part of my trip. Courtesy flushes are much easier with the push button as opposed to standing, shutting the lid, re-opening the lid, and sitting back down.
Also, if the design engineers can find an additional inch or two side to side in the sleeper restrooms and an additional inch or two front to back, that would make a huge difference in the maneuverability in the “room”.
First, Diana, I have noticed that nobody bothered to mention the tendency of the Southwest Chief to get hung up in Kansas City for extended periods of time,(I know of some 3 or 4 hour delays)to wait for freight traffic, and trust me, the scenery here gets old fast. This is my full, complete, and total only bit of helpful info I can give you..
Second, GBN, there's no need to cut people before you know where the logic came from.
I hope you both have a pleasant trip!! 
(and please let us see any cool pics you take during the trip)
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Cory (o:}=
[This message has been edited by Cthetrains (edited 01-31-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Cthetrains (edited 01-31-2003).]
quote:
Add a small window to the top of the standard sleeper compartments for the upper bunk occupant. This could be as small as a 1 foot by 3 foot window with a pull shade.
Mike, a lot of people have made that suggestion. I met a woman from Amtrak's Customer Advisory Committee on a train a few years ago. She asked me to submit a wish list for Superliner improvements. That was near the top of my list, along with roomier rest rooms.
Also, regarding the original question in this thread, I forgot to mention that San Francisco tends to have warmer and sunnier weather in the first half of October than in the summer. It can easily get into the low 80s in October, while summer highs tend to be more in the 65-70 range with a lot of fog.
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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy
Reggie
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Diana
Make sure your plans for Chicago are not etched in stone. If you search through threads here you will see more than one trip where a generous time slice between trains evaporated 
If you get it, fantastic 
If not, life happens.
Have fun when the trip happens
John
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The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
Pick up a Streetwise Chicago map (you can order them at amazon.com, or check your local bookstore). Streetwise maps are laminated, very detailed and easy to read, and fold nicely to stow in your bag. The Chicago map has many attractions marked on it.
FINALLY...HOPE YOU BOTH HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME ON YOUR TRIP!!!!!
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Cory (o:}=
[This message has been edited by Cthetrains (edited 02-18-2003).]
In the standard sleepers, you'd want 3, 4, 5, or 6. 7 & 8 aren't too bad, but the door opening can be heard fairly easy. 9 & 10 are to be avoided. 11, 12, 13, & 14 are downstairs, near the bathrooms, shower and luggage racks.
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Cory (o:}=