Anyone with some Amtrak experience? - The Orange Mane

Meck77 · 11-29-2006, 01:56 PM

I was reading the travel section of my local paper talking about the deals on amtrak. The track basically splits Colorado and goes to Chicago/Denver/Oakland. Anyhow any of you guys taken an amtrak trip lately? Was it enjoyable or a pain in the ass?

I did Greyhound once at it was a complete nightmare. I spent 11 hrs in a bus which should have been a 4hr trip. Never again.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...mtrak/HomePage

I know train travel is slow. I worked the www.skitrain.com out of Denver years ago. Fun and enjoyable but slow.

Thanks in advance

smalltowngrll · 11-29-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meck77

I was reading the travel section of my local paper talking about the deals on amtrak. The track basically splits Colorado and goes to Chicago/Denver/Oakland. Anyhow any of you guys taken an amtrak trip lately? Was it enjoyable or a pain in the ass?

I did Greyhound once at it was a complete nightmare. I spent 11 hrs in a bus which should have been a 4hr trip. Never again.

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...mtrak/HomePage

I know train travel is slow. I worked the www.skitrain.com out of Denver years ago. Fun and enjoyable but slow.

Thanks in advance

My dad swears by it...and my daughter has done a couple trips before. If you do a lengthy trip, make sure you get a room, not just a seat! They can be enjoyable if you explore the whole length of the train...the dining car can be fun, too. If you do it, make a trip out of it...meaning do it and enjoy the stops (some of them longer than just a few minutes) and enjoy the scenery and the time you spend.

alkemical · 11-29-2006, 03:56 PM

I love the train, i do mostly north eastern service, but i did go to seattle and back on the train.

I dug it.

heydensmom · 11-29-2006, 06:22 PM

Nope not for me. Took it once from Portland to Bakersfield, my parents had nice seats, but I was stuck sitting next to someone who follows the Greatful Dead as there career.

I would imagine if you had your own little room it wouldn't be that bad, but I didn't have a good experience.

Hogan11 · 11-29-2006, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heydensmom

Nope not for me. Took it once from Portland to Bakersfield, my parents had nice seats, but I was stuck sitting next to someone who follows the Greatful Dead as there career.

So, you sat next to either Jake or Garcia, right?

I've never travelled by train but have flirted with it a few times. My Dad always wanted to take the train across Canada from Quebec to B.C., but didn't live long enough to do it.....I'd like to do that for him sometime.

DomCasual · 11-30-2006, 03:40 AM

When I was a kid (about 10), I travelled via Amtrak with an aunt that was afraid to fly - New York to Denver. We had our own cabin. Then, it was a total adventure, and I have pretty good memories of it. I have also wanted to do it from SLC back to Denver sometime. I drive that at least twice a year, and I thought it would be fun for the family to try a different approach.

The only thing I would say would be to concur with what everyone else is saying about getting your own room. I have no idea how much that is, relative to just getting a seat - but it seems like a much better option.

Meck77 · 11-30-2006, 03:54 PM

sounds like paying the extra dough for a room is the way to go! I'll report with pics at a later date! Thanks

rbackfactory80 · 11-30-2006, 06:44 PM

I did New York to Cali several years back and had a sleeper car. It was really nice if you have the time to suck in the scenery and definitely go sleeper car, it made it enjoyable.

NYBronco · 11-30-2006, 09:27 PM

The extra cash for a room is well worth it.

My wife and I went from Iowa to LA and back. We were on the southern route that took us through southern Colorado and New Mexico.
The scenery is great. I enjoyed riding through the small towns.

It was interesting riding through LA. The train traveled through some rough areas.

It was a good experience.

missingnumber7 · 12-01-2006, 11:49 AM

portable dvd player is a must

alkemical · 12-01-2006, 12:27 PM

I didn't have a DVD player, i had a discman back then -

I went from PA to Seattle in like 3.5 days - no sleeper car (you pussies!) - i slept in the viewing car, or the smoking car though. Most of the time i didn't have anyone next to me.

I loved it though

11-29-2006, 01:56 PM	#1
Meck77 Ring of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 16,307	Anyone with some Amtrak experience? I was reading the travel section of my local paper talking about the deals on amtrak. The track basically splits Colorado and goes to Chicago/Denver/Oakland. Anyhow any of you guys taken an amtrak trip lately? Was it enjoyable or a pain in the ass? I did Greyhound once at it was a complete nightmare. I spent 11 hrs in a bus which should have been a 4hr trip. Never again. http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/Conten...mtrak/HomePage I know train travel is slow. I worked the www.skitrain.com out of Denver years ago. Fun and enjoyable but slow. Thanks in advance

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11-29-2006, 03:56 PM	#3
alkemical Guerrilla Ontologist rorrim\|mirror Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Future Posts: 42,691 Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia	I love the train, i do mostly north eastern service, but i did go to seattle and back on the train. I dug it.

11-29-2006, 06:22 PM	#4
heydensmom I'm Jack Bauer! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,577	Nope not for me. Took it once from Portland to Bakersfield, my parents had nice seats, but I was stuck sitting next to someone who follows the Greatful Dead as there career. I would imagine if you had your own little room it wouldn't be that bad, but I didn't have a good experience.

11-30-2006, 03:40 AM	#6
DomCasual The Dude abides. Shameless Homer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cocytus Posts: 13,166 Adopt-a-Bronco: Gus Frerotte	When I was a kid (about 10), I travelled via Amtrak with an aunt that was afraid to fly - New York to Denver. We had our own cabin. Then, it was a total adventure, and I have pretty good memories of it. I have also wanted to do it from SLC back to Denver sometime. I drive that at least twice a year, and I thought it would be fun for the family to try a different approach. The only thing I would say would be to concur with what everyone else is saying about getting your own room. I have no idea how much that is, relative to just getting a seat - but it seems like a much better option.

11-30-2006, 03:54 PM	#7
Meck77 Ring of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 16,307	sounds like paying the extra dough for a room is the way to go! I'll report with pics at a later date! Thanks

11-30-2006, 06:44 PM	#8
rbackfactory80 Ring of Famer Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: New York Posts: 4,606	I did New York to Cali several years back and had a sleeper car. It was really nice if you have the time to suck in the scenery and definitely go sleeper car, it made it enjoyable.

11-30-2006, 09:27 PM	#9
NYBronco Ring of Famer Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 2,994	The extra cash for a room is well worth it. My wife and I went from Iowa to LA and back. We were on the southern route that took us through southern Colorado and New Mexico. The scenery is great. I enjoyed riding through the small towns. It was interesting riding through LA. The train traveled through some rough areas. It was a good experience.

12-01-2006, 11:49 AM	#10
missingnumber7 Vote Joe Mays to Pro Bowl Joe 4 Pro Bowl ST's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bismarck Posts: 4,760 Adopt-a-Bronco: Joe Mays	portable dvd player is a must

12-01-2006, 12:27 PM	#11
alkemical Guerrilla Ontologist rorrim\|mirror Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Future Posts: 42,691 Adopt-a-Bronco: Prima Materia	I didn't have a DVD player, i had a discman back then - I went from PA to Seattle in like 3.5 days - no sleeper car (you pussies!) - i slept in the viewing car, or the smoking car though. Most of the time i didn't have anyone next to me. I loved it though