43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
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43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
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Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#2"enjoying comforts like ... the airport lounges."
Hah! The credit card rewards ruined these. Now they're all crowded and it's just as hard to find a seat as it is outside the lounge. Plus the food in them isn't that great anymore. The best benefit is usually a better view out the window. Real frequent fliers just get PreCheck+Clear and arrive at the airport closer to departure time.
I did this same train journey myself back in 2012. Great memories! I just wish 2 things:
1) Amtrak wouldn't recycle the air on train carriages, it gets really stuffy. The downstairs washroom smells get mixed in too.
2) Single riders should be given both seats on these journeys. I was like 19 when I did this journey and an unusual middle aged lady was placed next to me. She kept asking me for medicines and fell asleep on my shoulder.
Riding through the desert outside of Albuquerque during sunset was the highlight. Walk all the way to the back of the train, look at the back window, get a rare listen of the jointed (not welded) tracks. Here's my video of it -https://vimeo.com/57261056
Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#3I love the random conversations on the train. Really would love to see more investment in the train in the USA.
Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#4We can hear the Chief whistle in each direction every day that it passes through our part of New Mexico. But the author didn't even take a photograph of my station, Lamy NM (the get-off point for Santa Fe). Unbelievable! :)
We've only done the LamyChicago section of the Chief, but the timing is so great for that: depart both places mid-afternoon, arrive 25 hrs later (delays notwithstanding).
Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#5So, to summarize:
1. No beautiful woman in an adjoining cabin.
2. No high stakes poker games.
3. Not a single murder to solve.
4. No apparent spies. And given the menu had only three wine selections it would be very difficult to ferret out any spies using ones high class upbringing. So for all we know the train could be lousy with spies.
5. Nobody gets tossed off the train.
6. No fight on top of the train cars while the train is approaching a tunnel.
Amtrack is really going downhill.
Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#6We can hear the Chief whistle in each direction every day that it passes through our part of New Mexico. But the author didn't even take a photograph of my station, Lamy NM (the get-off point for Santa Fe). Unbelievable! :) We've only done the Lamy Chicago section of the Chief, but the timing is so great for that: depart both places mid-afternoon, arrive 25 hrs later (delays notwithstanding).
Ha, I believe I stepped out there for a few minutes though. :)
Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#7The best part of this was the malort, hands down.
-- All jokes aside: I discovered how great the long distance west bound trains are through the Empire Builder train. It's great, it s peaceful, and it's relaxing. Also, it's a heck of a lot better than the OBB nightjet trains.
Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#8My parents took me on a trip via the California Zephyr, Coastal Starlight, and Empire builder when I was 5 years old. I'm now in my 40s and that was one of the most memorable trips I've ever taken. I re-took the California Zephyr with my wife some years ago, and hope to take it again with my child some day.
Memorable travel, not just memorable destinations.
Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#9Having taken the Zephyr before, despite not being practical, Amtrak is really stupidly beautiful. There's something stunning in being in the middle of the mountains with nothing around.
Re: 43 Hours on the Amtrak Southwest Chief
#10So, to summarize: 1. No beautiful woman in an adjoining cabin. 2. No high stakes poker games. 3. Not a single murder to solve. 4. No apparent spies. And given the menu had only three wine selections it would be very difficult to ferret out any spies using ones high class upbringing. So for all we know the train could be lousy with spies. 5. Nobody gets tossed off the train. 6. No fight on top of the train cars while…
As discussed at https://www.theonion.com/murder-mystery-on-train-not-so-fun-...