RAILforum: Amtrak's Most Scenic Routes

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Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :

For shear beauty and diversity, what is Amtrak's most scenic and spectacular route? I have heard it is the California Zephyr between Sacramento and Denver. Any others? Any 'regional' inputs for best short haul scenic routes? And what is the best time to travel on these routes? Spring or Fall? In the cold Winter snows?

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

You probably are correct, Mr. Walker.

However, allow me to list a few "runners up":

NY-Albany (Empire Service and Lake Shore)
New River Gorge (Cardinal)
New Haven-Stonington, CT (Regional and Acela)
LA-San Diego (Surfliners)
LA-Seattle (Starlight; numerous and many scheduled by night; but with that train's stellar timekeeping, anything goes)
Seattle-Vancouver (Cascade Talgo)

[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 10-29-2003).]

Posted by CK (Member # 589) on :

I agree, #1 is the Zephyr between Sac & Denver during the winter season!
A close #2, the Empire Builder from Seattle, Cascades thru Glacier National Park also in the winter.

Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :

Does anyone know what is the highest bridge trestle is that Amtrak crosses?

Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :

I find that staring out the train window at "nothing" (i.e. most of Montana) is just as interesting as staring at "something." Which is why I never travel with books or magazines.

But for scenic variation (which isn't necessarily the same as scenic beauty), my favorite segments are:

L.A. to Oakland (Coast Starlight)

N.Y. to Albany (Lake Shore Limited, Empire Service, Adirondack)

Raton to Flagstaff (Southwest Chief)

Schenectady to Montreal (Adirondack)

Springfield to St. Albans (Vermonter)

Whitefish to Wolf Point (Empire Builder)

Portland to Seattle (Cascades, Coast Starlight)

Philadelphia to Pittsburgh (Pennsylvanian, Three Rivers)

With that said, my favorite route segment of all is Albany to Cleveland on the Lake Shore Limited.

Some people see the abandoned, weed-grown factories and the grim "rust belt" towns and cities along that section of the route as eyesores from a long-dead industrial era.

But to me, they're more beautiful and interesting -- in their ruined state -- than any mountain range.

[This message has been edited by dilly (edited 10-29-2003).]

Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :

Dilly, I agree. A few weeks ago I took a 'test' train trip to see how it was and rode from Salisbury NC to Washington D.C. Definitely not in the Top 100 scenic routes but just looking out the windows at peoples back yards, abandoned factories, and small Virginia towns and hills was more fun than reading a book or newspaper. It was mesmerizing. I can only imagine what is in store for me on the 9 day cross country marathon trip I am about to endeavor in to...

Posted by JonA (Member # 2690) on :

man, how many times am I going to say this but.....I agree with dilly. Every route I have been on has interesting things out the window. I don't care if it is natural or industrial or urban. Either way, the train gives you a most unique perspective of our country.

I luckily live on the Hudson river and take that train to NYC quite a bit.

Of course some only are interested in nature. If that is the case the trip from NYC to Albany and then Plattsburgh is stunning.

When I did my CZ trip this summer I brought a bunch of books and never touched one. All 3 days I was hypnotized.

Jon

Posted by TBlack (Member # 181) on :

quote:
Originally posted by dmwnc1959:
Does anyone know what is the highest bridge trestle is that Amtrak crosses?

Nobody answered this question - I'm not sure of the answer, but #1/2 goes over the Pecos River pretty high up.

Posted by BNSF 1088 (Member # 2400) on :

quote:
Originally posted by TBlack:
Nobody answered this question - I'm not sure of the answer, but #1/2 goes over the Pecos River pretty high up.

I think it is the Huey P Long Bridge in NOLA

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LOOK LISTEN LIVE
BEFORE CROSSING RR TRACKS

Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :

I've only been on the California Zephyr and Coast Starlight, but of those I'd vote for the Zephyr. Those canyons in the Rockies are mesmerizing. I want to take that trip again. We're toying (no pun intended) with the idea of taking my mother in law on the CZ. She took us to Hawaii last year.

I also like the Starlight in the Cascades, particularly on the west side of the Summit Tunnel. The only drawback is the monochrome green the entire way.

And if you happen to be lucky enough to be on #14 when it is running late, AND you can get your sleepy head off the pillow at sunrise, the view of the upper Sacramento River gorge between Lake Shasta and Dunsmuir is a real treat. The train follows the meandering river through a lush forest with red volcanic earth. On the other side of the train, just before Dunsmuir, you can see the snow dusted rocky peaks of Castle Crags. Interstate 5 follows the same route, but higher up the hill and you can't see much of the river from there.

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

The Del Monte Club Car

Posted by espeefoamer (Member # 2815) on :

Favorite for scenery; Long distance:Zephyr. Regional:Adirondak.

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Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.

Posted by UncleBuck44 (Member # 2049) on :

I tell you what if you ever get on the train that goes from STL to CHI, man thats quite the scenary, I tell you what.
Never knew there could be so much crops and corn in one state.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

UB44

Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :

Probably the most boring part of Amtrak is the STL to CHI route, with some minor scenic exceptions around STL and CHI and Joliet.

Posted by dnsommer (Member # 2825) on :

I like when the train crosses the St. Lawrence and creeps into Central Station.

The dead navy ships you see from the bridge after Martinez is interesting too.

Leaning out the Superliner's dutch door after dark on the the SP line is cool too. You can see all the signal lights ahead. The air is cooler after sunset. The wind races over my bald spot.

Posted by ShaLeah (Member # 2856) on :

I have never had the priviledge to go west on the train (past Chicago) but here are some of the best views I have found:

The Three Rivers - dawn going west into Chicago, the Horseshoe curve, pulling into Pittsburgh over the bridge and catching the first view of the city.
The Lake Shore limited along the hudson river. *sigh*
The Acela Express - from the Delaware River to all along the eastern shoreline... Connecticut, Rhode Island... beautiful.

I'm sure there's lots more and I'm positive a lot of nice scenery gets killed by the onset of night on the longhauls.

Posted by dmwnc1959 (Member # 2803) on :

What a GREAT listing everyone has made. This post is a 'keeper' for planning my future Amtrak vacations. I wonder how many of these routes I could tie together in another 9-day marathon jaunt across the United States!?!

Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :

quote:
Originally posted by dmwnc1959:
I wonder how many of these routes I could tie together in another 9-day marathon jaunt across the United States!?!

The idea of hopping from one train to the next for an extended period sounds appealing in theory.

But even in the sleepers, few people seem to sleep really soundly. And sitting for hour after hour can actually be pretty exhausting. It can turn you into a zombie fairly quickly.

During my own longer trips, I've found that "train lag" sets in after two consecutive days of rail travel. On a journey that involves multiple long distance routes, I usually try to spend a night or two in a hotel between trains. Enjoying the next leg of your trip is much easier when you're not completely fried.

Posted by coronado (Member # 2395) on :

quote:
Originally posted by dmwnc1959:
Does anyone know what is the highest bridge trestle is that Amtrak crosses?

The rails across the Pecos River High Bridge on the Sunset Route southeast of Langtry, Texas are 265 feet above the river. Although an impounded reservoir downstream has the river backed up, reducing the original height above the river from 321 feet, I believe this is still the highest mainline railroad bridge in the United States.

Posted by Amtrak207 (Member # 1307) on :

More runners up include my favorite local highlights- ALB-Utica along the Mohawk River and SYR-Rochester along the Erie Canal (I'm biased here)
As well as the Sunset Limited anywhere west of San Antonio, around dusk, in August... Where are my pictures of that???
As for high bridges, don't forget the bridge the Builder crosses (Montana-ish?) up high and in the wind.
I'm also the kind of person who thinks most any train ride is scenic because you see the country how it really is instead of noise isolation walls, clear cut and fences on the interstates or no detail from an airplane (out a pinhole window).