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Frommer's website has named ten scenic North American train trips for less than $25. A pretty decent article, except for the mistake of describing the Cardinal as a "daily" train.
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So long as you want to ride Sun, Wed, or Fri, the Cardinal is daily!
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Was the Cardinal ever daily in Amtrak days? The phrase used is "once-daily" so do they mean it runs once a day, or once upon a time it ran daily? Both make sense, though I agree it could be misleading.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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I believe the Cardinal ran daily CHI-WAS for a while back in the 70's and 80's
Vincent206 Member # 15447
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The Mt. Rainier Scenic RR is a seasonal operation: Thursday through Sunday in the summer, weekends only in the fall. The Malahat is currently out of service, so I'll recommend 2 alternatives for cheap travel in the Pacific Northwest, based out of Seattle.
First, a day trip to Bellingham on the Cascades (from $22 each way). You'll see Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, the Skagit Valley and get a look at the San Juan Islands from the train. If you want a shorter version of this trip, just ride the train one way to or from Everett and make the return trip on a Sound Transit bus from or to the Everett train station to downtown Seattle. In the winter months, you can watch an Olympic Mt. sunset from a Sounder train ($4.50) and then catch a bus back to Seattle ($3.50).
Second, take the Empire Builder to Leavenworth (from $21). Because the train arrives at 800pm, you will have to plan for a night in Leavenworth, but it's a Bavarian themed town that loves tourists. Also, the return trip to Seattle leaves at 608am, so this is not a trip that you can do in one day, unless you want to party all night in Leavenworth (not likely).
notelvis Member # 3071
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Yes - the Cardinal ran daily until October 1981. It was discontinued briefly but, with the support of some influential West Virginians, enough money was found to restore the train on a tri-weekly basis. Service resumed, I believe, in January 1982.
Jerome Nicholson Member # 3116
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On behalf of the East Coast, let me suggest The Capitol Limited or the MARC commuter train From Washington Union Station to Harpers Ferry West Virginia. Harpers Ferry is a scenic little town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains at the headwaters of the Potomac River. It's also full of history, being the scene of John Brown's raid and a factor in the Civil War Battle of Antietam. Fare is the same on either system; listed $9 each way on MARC, $18 round trip on Amtrak. However the Capitol Limited may hold an advantage with its glass topped lounge car. One problem is the schedule only shows trains leaving Harpers Ferry in the morning and leaving Washington in the afternoon - obviously timed for commuters, so one may have to spend a night in Harpers Ferry. But I'm sure they have a pleasant little bed and breakfast place to stay in for not much.
rresor Member # 128
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Actually, B&Bs are quite scarce in "downtown" Harper's Ferry (much of it is a national park, and local zoning apparently makes setting up a B&B difficult). There is a hotel at the top of the hill on the main road, with a stunning view of the Potomac. It used to be called Hilltop House and was a bit run down, but I think it has changed hands and been renovated. But if you have luggage, you won't want to walk up the hill!
notelvis Member # 3071
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And unless I'm mistaken, there isn't a taxi in Harpers Ferry.
Might be a Comfort Inn on the outskirts of town that would pick you up at the rail station though.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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I would add Whitefish to East Glacier (seasonally) for $14.
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