RAILforum: #3 NOL to CHI

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Posted by Edith (Member # 3100) on :

Because of the "eratic" performance of #1, I am thinking of taking my yearly trip from JAX to SAC by:

Leave JAX on #1 to NOL
Connect to #3 at NOL to CHI
Connect at CHI to SAc

Anyone have any information on #3. Is it usually on time?

At this time it looks like I can get the rooms that I want, and I don't want to delay too long.

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

Substitute #5, California Zephys, for #3 and you are "in like Flynn" with that itinerary.

1-NOL-58 is a perfectly "safe' connection, as is 58-CHI-5.

#3, Southwest Chief, does not serve Sacramento.

Posted by Edith (Member # 3100) on :

Thank, you I must have gotten my numbers mixed up.

I want to go from Jax to NOL, NOL to CHI, then CHI to SAC.

Comfortably, safely, and on time.

Edith

Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :

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.

Posted by jp1822 (Member # 2596) on :

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....

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

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..

Posted by SilverStar092 (Member # 2652) on :

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.