I just wanted to give a heads-up in case you are interested in riding the Coast Starlight as it detours through Tehachapi and Altamont Pass. Here is the blurb from Amtrak: ______
Train 14 Operates Nonstop Los Angeles - Oakland: February 1 - 8, 2012 From February 1 through February 8, Train 14 will travel on an alternate route from Los Angeles to Oakland and will not stop at any intermediate stations. Passengers may contact Amtrak for other trains or Thruway motorcoaches serving stations between Los Angeles to Oakland. ______
They have detoured via Tehachapi in the past, but this time they are FINALLY playing it smart by not bypassing all of the Bay Area stops. In the past, they have run non-stop from Los Angeles to Sacramento, but now they will be coming into the Bay Area via Altamont Pass which will take the train through Livermore, Pleasanton (my town!), Fremont, and up into Oakland that way. This sounds like a pretty fun trip.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
I know at least one sometime poster here who has booked this trip!
There are also a huge number of changes to the Surfliner schedules north of Los Angeles in the next three or four weeks. If you have any trips booked during that time it would be well worth it to double check your train's status. Many of them will terminate or originate at Oxnard.
Frank in sunny but cool SBA
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
I don't understand what's going on with the Coast Starlight. Looking at the new timetable, I see the Starlight now leaves LA 2 hours later, at 12:15 PM. That means it gets into Emeryville, and the Bay Area, around midnight.
To board in Martinez, the stop closest to me, would mean a 12:49 AM boarding. That just about eliminates the possibilty, to my thinking, of a trip on the CS up to Portland or Seattle. The arrival time, in Seattle, is now 10:45 PM. Maybe it would be easier to drive up to Dunsmuir and pick up the train at 7:00 AM. ***************************************
PS- I see the posted schedule is temporary...until Jan 29th. Hopefully it will change back to the old schedule with the Starlight leaving LA at 10:15 AM.
Richard
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I was just going to let you know that it was temporary, but I see in your PS that you found their service advisory. It's only temporary from what I understand, and will revert back to it's normal schedule after the work is completed.
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
The Train Travel Group from Fullerton is going north on Feb 4th, join us if you want. Here is the link:
I wanted to this but my wife and I have too much on the docket at present. Maybe next time.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I've booked the trip and will be in a sleeper all the way to Seattle. I'm giving Amtrak another shot after 3.5 years of not riding them. That's the longest AmGap in my life (riding since age 12).
Posted by RR4me (Member # 6052) on :
Ay yi yi. Too much already scheduled on my calendar, so I can't make the Train Travel Group trip - thought I might finally make one! But I am really going to enjoy reading your trip report, Smitty.
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
Chris,
I am likely going, but if i do, i wont be staying at the jack london inn, per where your group is staying. ive seen the reviews online--i think ill pass on staying at the 2nd dirtiest hostel in america! Should be a fun train ride though. Jim
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Jim---DO NOT STAY at the Jack London Inn. If your budget can handle it, you should absolutely stay elsewhere. That place is horrible and dangerous. Even Amtrak pulled their crews from there it was so bad.
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
I have stayed there many times with no problems.
Chris
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I have a friend who used to work the Zephyr, and he told me stories about what went on there (drug dealers, prostitutes, and gangs). When I checked on Trip Advisor, people say the same thing. I guess you've been lucky!
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
I know I've been lucly and we will see if the hotel has changed at all. If anyone else wants to come Saturday please join us.
Chris
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I hope it runs---yesterday's detour didn't happen! And they had two PV's on the rear too. Whooops! (Not Amtrak's fault of course, just one of those things that happens).
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
The problem in the Valley has supposedly been taken care of. I feel sorry for the folks who paid for those special excursions though yesterday. A friend is riding it tomorrow -- hopefully I won't be going down to the Santa Barbara station to do a meet and greet!
Frank in sunny and warm SBA
Posted by ColdRain&Snow (Member # 15381) on :
14(2) took the detour today under very clear skies. We're approaching Fresno now and have the very personable Phil Sloan as our conductor this afternoon.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
My friend who is scheduled to ride tomorrow is currently sitting on a plane at DEN with a mechanical delay and a major snow storm coming in. Hopefully he will get out. Tomorrow will be ugly there.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
ColdRain&Snow: Have a great trip! Your engineer right now (as of 8:45PM) is a good friend of mine. He came from the freights, but now runs the San Joaquins out of Bakersfield. He should be giving you a smooth ride. If not, let me know and I'll bug him!
Frank: Oh boy, I hope your friend gets out of Denver okay. I can't imagine being stuck there with that storm that's coming. Fingers are crossed for him!
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
He got out -- and hour and some late.
The "New" United has already pre-cancelled flights for tomorrow to/from DEN and has tried to get as many aircraft as possible under cover or out of town. Pax are being given lots of change options without fee.
Frank in dark and cool SBA
Posted by ColdRain&Snow (Member # 15381) on :
Thanks Smitty, we had a very nice ride up California today...kudos to your friend!
Tomorrow should be another fabulous day on #14!
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
Neat pictures. As you can see, we need some rain!
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
I can't wait for the trip tomorrow!
Chris
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Thanks for the pics, C,R&S. And yes, we need rain! We drove over San Marcos Pass to the Chumash Casino and were struck by how dry everything is. Lake Cachuma, or major domestic water supply, is still quite high from last year, though.
Frank in sunny and cool SBA
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I finally got to see the Coast Starlight in Pleasanton! I had a conductor friend on-board last night (as a passenger), and he kept me updated with text messages as to where the train was. It finally came through my fine city at around 2115 last night. The gorgeous PV "Bella Vista" (Rail Ventures--dome car) was bringing up the markers. I took video of it, but I don't know how to post it here. Maybe I'll put it on YouTube and then post a link.
I have to wonder, when the crossing gates came down and all of the cars were stopped for the Starlight to cross Main Street,did anyone get excited about seeing a long-distance train in a location where we don't have them? Or did they just sit there, totally unaware of anything unusual going on??
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Well, today is the day. My first return to Amtrak after my personal ban on them after the failed "relaunch" of the Coast Starlight in 2008. I arrived in Los Angeles last night on my favorite airline, Virgin America, after a bump-up to first class at the last minute. It was a beautiful flight down here and I took photos of the amazing sunset over the ocean. I wish I knew how to put pictures up here.
I'm at my favorite downtown LA hotel (Omni), and the hotel has undergone a major refurbishment since my last visit--it's really nice now. I noticed on the drive in on the FlyAway bus that there is a new Ritz Carlton high-rise and JW Marriott near Staples Center. I'm glad to see that, because I always felt it was odd for such a major city to not have any fancy hotels in the downtown area--you had to go fairly far away from downtown in order to find a true 5 star property. On my next trip down here, I'll have to give the Ritz a try.
I saw that "my" trainset (which departed LA on Thursday) had a Parlour Car, so I'm hoping my luck holds out and that the 8th Street yard did not remove it from the consist last night or this morning before sending it back out on the road. I'm traveling with a buddy who has never seen that car before--I hope he gets to experience it. I'm also wondering if they still do the wine tasting on-board the Starlight, and if so, do they still allow coach passengers in? (I never liked that idea, since a sleeping car ticket includes the PPC).
I'll try to give an update from the road sometime later today or tomorrow.
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
Great photos as always Chris. It was almost like being aboard for the ride.
Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :
Chris, thank you for the great pictures. They were greatly enhanced by your descriptions with very complete knowledge of the sites and of the railroad operations. Your devotion to Amtrak and to the railroads over which Amtrak operates lets you tell the story of your travels in a way seldom , if ever, duplicated.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
Great photos and trip report, Chris. Do you ever take video clips for youtube? Looks like you were sitting towards the rear of the train. Were you in Tioga Pass or get a chance to check it out?
I'd love to take a trip on this route, but I suspect the coast route is more scenic?
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Chris,
How are conditions at the Jack London Inn these days?
I stayed there once about 7 or 8 years ago and found it to be a little seedy at that point. Nothing like the various online reviews it gets nowadays.....
Still, all things considered, next time I'm on the west coast I would probably try to arrange the trip so that I would use the Vagabond Inn in Sacramento instead.
Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :
Our room was fine. No drinking glasses. extra small towels and a smaller one. no bath mat, interesting light switches and interesting Oakland sounds out the east windows. Every trip or hotel room is an adventure!
Chris
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Hello from Emeryville on board the Starlight!
Just a super quickie report:
I am happy to say that we are having a wonderful trip. All equipment is cleaan and in very good working order. Both sleepers are Superliner I with the complter refurb. This one must have been done very recently as it has that "new car smell" to it.
I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but the food has been outstanding. I have NEVER--ever---had "great" food on Amtrak. The last time I rode in 2008, the food vendor was Gate Gourmet and I have no problem saying that the food was awful. But it is not like that any more. The new vendor is producing some really great food. For lunch, I had a ham and pepperjack sandwich on pretzel roll bread and it came with chips and fresh strawberries. The berries were large, fresh, and very sweet and juicy. For dinner, I had the beef selection but I can't remember what they call it. It's a very tender beef selection that almost has the consistency that you would find in beef stew. It came with rice pilaf and fresh vegetables. My dessert at lunch was chocolate mousse cake, and for dinner I had a VERY delicious chocolate-peanut butter ice cream scoop. I now have absolutely no problem recommnding the food on Amtrak to people. The difference between now and 3 years ago can't even be compared---they are world's apart.
The PPC is actually using the movie theater, and the movie at 3PM was some kids thing (Smurfs). The 8PM movie was Cowboys and Aliens.
I give Amtrak two big thumbs up so far. I don't have a single complaint.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
PS: Sorry for the typos. I'm on my iPad and it's difficult not to make mistakes with this bluetooth keyboard I'm using.
Posted by MDRR (Member # 2992) on :
Wow, Smitty, are you sure you are feeling alright?...LOL...Seriously, I am glad that Amtrak is back to meeting your expectations. Please enjoy the rest of your trip!
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Smitty -
From Swearing AT Amtrak to swearing OFF Amtrak to swearing BY Amtrak.
Now would be a good time to float a HSR proposal in DC because there are some strange things going on!
Seriously - I'm glad that you are having a good trip.
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
I have been eagerly awaiting your report. And I am really pleased to hear that you are having a great time. And the food! As you know that is my biggest criticism of Amtrak. Very glad to hear this news.
Keep us posted and have fun.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Things are still moving along beautifully. We departed KFS about 20 minutes ago---on time. We left SAC 90 minutets late, but made up all of that time overnight wiith the schedule padding.
The only bummer so far (and it is minor and not Amtrak's fault) is that I went to the diner for breakfast becuase I wanted to eat off of their menu, as opposed to the PPC menu. I really wanted my grits! They sat me down next to a guy who STUNK very badyl of marijuana. For those who know my background, I ain't about to sit there and chit-chat with someone who is stoned. And he was VERY stoned. He obviously smoked it at KFS because we had just left the station. So I am now in the PPC eating a very good breakfast. It is a toasted bagel filled with scrambled eggs and a spicy chicken thing and pepperjack cheese. It sounds weird, but it actually works---it's very tasty!!!! As for the grits, I told the attendant what happened and asked if he could deviate from policy and go in and grab me a bowl of grits--and he did! This guy is getting a great tip. The Amtrak of the past would have given me a rude "We can't do that!".
I continue to be very pleasantly surprised on this trip. I've been riding Amtrak LD trains since 1980 (I think) and I have to say that this is the best one yet. There is no way that this all happened magically and on it's own---someone at Amtrak made changes, and those changes are quite noticeable. They even have a really neat booklet in each room that describes the entire train, lists menus for the lounge, PPC, and diner--and the wine tasting. Oh---I almost forgot--the wine tasting! They eliminated two things, which are WONDERFUL: 1) Coach passengers are no longer allowed in the PPC for the wine tasting, and 2) They no longer charge a fee for the wine tasting.
Hooray Amtrak!!!
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
One thing that I have noticed on this forum over the past three years or so is that a number of our veteran riders have commented about service being 'better' in the dining cars.
Of course 'better' is relative and while I can't say that the outstanding service you're experiencing Smitty is the gold standard system-wide, it has been my experience that dining car service has been consistently competent and acceptable going back to about 2009 or so.
Compared to some trips before that, the 'absence' of outright rudeness qualifies as 'better'.
And yes, I agree that this has not been an accident. Someone somewhere has clearly made an effort to improve the product.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Well, the party's over.
It was a great trip. Arrived SEA 30 minutes early. Got a quick taxi ride to my hotel, and it's time to get some sleep. Long day tomorrow with a morning tour of the Boeing Factory in Everett, then the ferry system in the afternoon and maybe to a museum to check out the display of real Battlestar Gallactica props!
The Seattle train station (King Street) is still not completed yet. At this rate, I think I'll be in a rocking chair at Shady Acres by the time they finish. At least the false ceiling has been completely removed and you can see the gorgeous original ceiling (but it has all of the metal hooks hanging from it, as well as the fluorescent lights--yuck!). That building has so much potential.
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
Welcome to Seattle! We've just had 4 days of spectacular weather--sorry to say, things are returning to normal tomorrow. Enjoy your stay.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Thanks Vincent! I hate to say it, but every time I come here it's raining. I was joking with friends before I left, "You watch, the weather will turn once I arrive into town". In the 30+ years I've been visiting Seattle, I think the sun has made an appearance once.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Someone here, I believe it may be Vincent in Seattle, has suggested that the renovation of the Seattle station is moving forward as if it's being done by someone's uncle in his spare time in the evening and weekends.
Perhaps we need to mobilize a platoon of preservationists armed with hand tools to spend a week in Seattle and get that thing moving!
Posted by RR4me (Member # 6052) on :
Well although I could not make the trip, having a combination of Chris' picture report and Smitty's review was the next best thing. I was actually wondering how it all would turn out for you, Smitty, and am surprised and pleased you had a good experience. Oh well, anywhere from 6 to 10 years 'til retirement.
Posted by train lady (Member # 3920) on :
Smitty when my husband and I included Seattille our plans everyone warned us to take rain wear, We did and it didn't rain one drop the whole time. But when we drove down the coast from Tillimook to SF it rained everyday.Each time I got out of the car to take a picture the rain stopped and when I got back in it started again. Someone was watching over me!!
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Hello from on-board Virgin America flight 753! Heading back to SFO now---should be on the ground in about 45 minutes.
I took the light rail system for the first time from downtown Seattle to SeaTac Airport. It was very easy, and worked out great. The entrance to the downtown station is at Westlake Center. There is an entrance at Nordstrom's at street level. You just walk in, take the escalator down, and there you are. At first i thought I was in the wrong place because there were a bunch of buses coming and going. Then I saw the tracks and realized that the light rail shares the station with buses! I talked to the security person there, and he said they are the only setup like this in the world. Not sure if that's true, but I do know that I've never seen anything like it.
The fare is only $2.75. I also learned that there is a stop for the Amtrak/King Street station. It does not stop right 'at' the station, but it's close enough. I forget what the station name is called, but it's 2 or 3 stops after you depart the Westlake station. The trip out to the airport takes about 35 to 40 minutes. Once there, you just take a connecting walkway over to the airport. If you are disabled or have problems walking, then you will have trouble getting into the terminal because it's a good walk---at least 5 minutes or longer, depending on your airline. Virgin America is at ticket counter #3, so the walk from light rail station to ticket counter is 10 minutes.
It's a great setup---I'll never pay the 32 bucks again for a taxi!
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
It's been great reading all of the reports and seeing Chrisg's pictures.
Thanks, Smitty, for the information on the light rail to SEA-TAC. It sounds much easier that the city bus that we've taken in the past.
How was your Boeing tour? And did you get in a ferry ride?
Frank in still warm SBA
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Yes, taking the new light rail is so much easier than the bus service. The light rail vehicles are extremely clean and bright, and I did not find any graffiti anywhere (and I was looking for it). It's usually carved in the plastic seats, in the plastic windows, and just about everywhere. But not these---they are still showroom new. The only drawback is that there are no luggage racks. But my train was only 1/4 full so it was no problem.
I did make it to both the Boeing factory and a ferry ride.
Boeing Factory: So very impressive---extremely impressive. I HIGHLY recommend this trip. I was on the assembly line (in an overhead viewing area) for the 747-8, 777, and 787. I could see the 767 line (and the new military 767 tanker line). I'm ready to go again. It was unbelievable.
Ferry: I took the "Wenatchee" which is one of three of the very largest ferries that they have. It was HUGE. Nice and smooth--you can't even tell when you start moving. Not a single bump or noise. If this is what a cruise is like, I'm ready to go. It was really nice. I did the Bainbridge Island ferry. Over at 3PM, arrive 3:35PM, get off, get right back in line, depart at 3:50PM, arrive Seattle at 4:25PM. I was out on the deck taking pictures in the rain! It was a lot of fun. The round-trip ticket was $7.25.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Well Mr. Smith, I guess you missed out on the "San Leandro" and her fleet mates; guess what, so did I.
My first trip to San Francisco in this life was during 1962. SP got out of the ferry business during 1958.
Finally, pleased to note you "took me up on" my recommendation of a sailing to Bainbridge - even if you had a rainout. I think the idea of such a pristine community so close, yet I'd dare say isolated, to a major city is unique.
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
Years ago, when I took the Boeing factory tour, we were told that the tour used to allow visitors to walk on the factory floor and get an up-close look at the manufacturing line. But Boeing found that some of the visitors were actually industrial spies who were collecting metal samples on the soles of their crepe shoes and sending the shards back to their motherlands for analysis.
One warning about taking light rail to the airport. The first train in the morning from downtown doesn't arrive at the airport until 544am, which may be too late for early departures. There are earlier trains that depart from the Stadium Station (one stop south of the International District/Chinatown/Amtrak Station), but you would have to find your own way to Stadium Station.
The ultimate and very rare highlight of any ferry trip is an Orca pod sighting. When the whales are spotted swimming anywhere near the ferry's path the boat will either stop or deviate from its route. The captain will also notify the passengers that there is a pod swimming somewhere nearby.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
They told us the same thing about spies wearing shoes to pick up "samples". Crazy stuff, but I suppose it sounds reasonable.
Orca sightings--now that would be cool. I was out on the back the deck on the return trip, and it was so funny watching the birds stay with the ferry for the entire trip. They do "drafting", just like Nascar race cars do during a race. The ferry creates a suction of air behind it, and the birds know exactly how to get a free ride! They swoop down low, then come up right into the air flow and just hang there, letting the air pull them across. It was hilarious to watch.
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
Bring your hardhats!
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
Vincent--
Thanks for the link. The picture with the prominent sign for "Aplets" reminds me of the vendors that used to go through the Coast Daylight selling both Aplets and Cotlets. They were a candy made from either Apples or Apricots. I think they may have been made in the Northwest but I know they were marketed by the Southern Pacific.
Frank in sunny and warm SBA
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
Aplets and Cotlets--never heard of 'em.
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
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