RAILforum: q 4, re a good stop on the SW Chief

This is topic q 4, re a good stop on the SW Chief in forum Amtrak at RAILforum.

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Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :

I am using point to go by sleeper to Lamy/Santa and then (per advice here) paying cash to go on to Flagstaff. On my return trip I am again paying cash to go coach back into Zone 2 from Zone 3, and then using my points from Zone 2 east. I figure I can sit up as far as Dodge City, 17 hours, but that's pretty long. So . . . is there anyplace else between Albuquerque and Dodge City that you recommend my stopping? I already know about Las Vegas, NM, but I likely will see that when I'm in Lamy/Santa Fe on the trip out. Is La Junta Colorado worth visiting? Anyplace else on that line? Is Dodge City really neat and worth sitting up 17 hours in coach for???

Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :

What are your primary interests?

Bent's old fort is 10 miles +/- from La Junta
and is a famous location on the Santa Fe Trail.

Petrified National Forest is located about 100 miles east of Flagstaff or 75 miles west of Gallup. Walnut Canyon National monument is about 10 miles from Flagstaff.

Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :

I would be interested in history, old buildings, gardens, music, crafts, seeing a rodeo, Native American culture, boat rides, nice restaurants, nice views. I am a big walker but not a hiker or climber. My primary interest is to stop in an interesting place where I can easily get to the hotel and some good sites without a car. I know Las Vegas, NM, might be my best bet but I'm thinking I may get there from Santa Fe on the trip out to Flagstaff, and if so, I may want to stop in another place going back.

Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :

OK, and thanks for the insight.

At La Junta there is the Koshare Museum. The Koshare's are a famouus Boy Scout Explorer troop that travels nation wide for exhibitions of Native American dances.

Their museum is filled with a wonderful collection of various artifacts and is certainly worthwhile fo a three hour , or more, visit.

Dodge City is more of a tourist trap with replications of past events but not any authentic locations or artifacts.

I hope this is of assistance.

Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :

If you are interested in Native American culture, you need to be in the Sightseer Lounge between Albuquerque and Gallup, since they generally have a Native American guide in that car who gives an interesting travelogue program about the various features the train passes between those stops.

Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :

My Wife and I spent a day in Trinidad, CO about three years ago and found it interesting. There is a restored house and museum about 8-10 blocks from the Amtrak station. We also saw a movie in a fascinating 1920's downtown theatre that was still open (albeit only Thu, Fri, Sat evenings) at that time. It would be a place worth looking into.

Drawbacks are that the Amtrak station is unmanned so there is no assurance of assistance once you step off the train should you need it. The place was a bit 'dusty' too.......not decrepit, just not looked after as well as one would like.

I'm also not certain what the hotel situation is. Given that I-25 passes right by the edge of town (a mere couple of blocks from the train station) I would think that there would be something close......just not sure if it would all be walking distance.

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David Pressley

Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :

Thanks very much. I will look further into La Junta and Trinidad further; they both sound like good ideas. If anyone has any other info on Trinidad hotels, you're welcome to let me know!

I have a question about the Native American guide, though: What happens if the sightseer car is full when I get on the train? I'll probably be getting on in Lamy going west and in Flagstaff going east . . . is that likely to happen?

Posted by Brian Keefer (Member # 2916) on :

When I rode the SWC eastbound in late May there were not very many people in the lounge car. I think that I would rather stay over in Trinidad as opposed to La Junta. At least in Trinidad you are on the edge of the mountains, there is really nothing in La Junta. In Trinidad there is a Best Western on Interstate 25 on the east side of the road. I believe that it is up the "hill" from the train station.

Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :

I've traveled on the westbound Southwest Chief several times and have yet to see a single Native American guide, even during high summer. Apparently, if the train reaches Albuquerque more than three hours late (which it has every time I've taken it), there's simply not enough daylight left to allow the guides to do their thing. As a result, their in-car "cultural presentation" is often unceremoniously cancelled.

Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :

I meant to ask, is there a good side (left, right?) or part of the train (front? back? sleeper car?) to book a sleeper on
(a) the Lakeshore Limited to Chicago (or is this all at night?);
(b) the SW Chief from Chicago to Flagstaff
(c) (nonsleeper seat) the SW Chief from Flagstaff to Lamy
(d) the SW Chief from Lamy to Chicago
(e) the Lakeshore Limited to Albany

In general, I prefer to sleep on the right side facing front, but I would be willing to do something else if the views are nicer, certain parts of the train are a lot quieter or more comfortable, etc etc.

Thanks!!!

Posted by MOKSRail (Member # 3163) on :

Click on the SW Chief page to see some pictures of the route. The site has lots of pics of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.
http://www.trainweb.org/amtrakphotos/

This link has information on the SW Chief route, and links to route guides, etc.
http://www.trainweb.org/moksrail/swchief.htm

This page has links to the various cities en route, such as La Junta and the fort...
http://users.mo-net.com/nixit/AMTRAK.html

Raton or Trinidad would be a great place to visit. I agree with others than La Junta, while a nice small town, wouldn't have as much to offer as Raton or Trinidad. Dodge City isn't much either. Plus there's a long time a Dodge between trains.

The previous post about the Best Western in Trinidad is right. I've stayed there. A decent hotel.

The scenery: what can I say. It's breathtaking.

[This message has been edited by MOKSRail (edited 09-22-2004).]

Posted by MOKSRail (Member # 3163) on :

quote:
Originally posted by sojourner:
I meant to ask, is there a good side (left, right?) or part of the train (front? back? sleeper car?) to book a sleeper on
(b) the SW Chief from Chicago to Flagstaff
(c) (nonsleeper seat) the SW Chief from Flagstaff to Lamy
(d) the SW Chief from Lamy to Chicago

Being on the R side facing front should be okay on the SW Chief.

I can't think of any area where being on one side of the train will be better than others.

The scenery in NM and AZ is great on either side of the train. It doesn't really matter in the plains, though the John Martin reservoir, a lake the WB chief follows for quite some time in the morning near LAMAR, Colorado, is on the NORTH side of the tracks, so the R side would be best going WB. It will be dark EB.

Arriving into Kansas City, the best views will be on the Left side - North side - of the train since the train follows the Kansas - or Kaw - River from Topeka to KC.

I'd recommend buying the book, USA BY RAIL by John Pitt.
http://website.lineone.net/~johnpitt/html/usa_by_rail_guidebook.htm

The book gives great detail on scenic highlights of every Amtrak route.

The book tells you how many minutes from the last stop a scenic highlight will be seen.

In the case of Raton Pass, for example, it will be XX minutes from Trinidad.

ALL ABOARD, by Loomis, is also good.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0761510877/104-7739636-5244726?v=glance

I have the first. Instead of bringing the entire book on board, I make copies of the sections I'm traveling and highlight via marker improtant areas.

The book also provides tourist info on the various cities, such as CHI, the train travels through.

ALL ABOARD is invaluable for train travel.

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[This message has been edited by MOKSRail (edited 09-22-2004).]

Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :

Thanks, MOKS. I have one question, though. When you said

>i<Arriving into Kansas City, the best views will be on the Left side - North side - of the train since the train follows the Kansas - or Kaw - River from Topeka to KC.>i<

Did you mean heading east? I thought it was dark in Kansas City then. Or is it a night view of lit-up bridges etc that you meant?

Thanks

Posted by MOKSRail (Member # 3163) on :

Oops. I meant EB, since that's in the morning.

Otherwise, either side is fine since it's mostly Missouri farmland and corn fields into the CHI suburbs.

Do check out those books. They are great resources for the rail traveler.