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Post by mrsocal on Apr 19, 2015 8:09:20 GMT -8
I posted this same thread over on ProtoModeler the more help the better. Well it's like this, My 25th wedding anniversary is coming in next Feb. I want to plan a trip by rail from San Diego up the coast to the Canadian border and back. I have not ridden a train in 39 yrs. Does Amtrak still offer Births or State rooms? I want to pamper the mrs. on the train so any thoughts you railroading vets might have would be greatly appreciated. Do I need to talk to a travel agency or do my own booking with Amtrak? I need to get started as Feb. will be here before I know it!! Thank you for helping in any way you can.
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Post by mlehman on Apr 20, 2015 7:26:41 GMT -8
Scotty, The Amtrak website gives a quick and dirty result for $689 for the cheapest roommette between LA and Seattle, while the high-end choice is the Superliner bedroom at $1268. This is for 2 adults on the 34 hour Coast Starlight, one way. I didn't check to confirm, but I suspect no sleepers south of LA to San Diego? www.amtrak.com/homeA cheaper option if you want to spend the time traveling in Canada would be to fly to St Sault Marie, Michigan or SSM, Ontario, if there's a direct flight there. Then buy two tickets on the "Tour of the Line" on the Algoma Central. You get a day-long trip to Hearst through the Canadian woods. You can stay in a motel right next to the track, order pizza (speaking French helps, but they'll figure it out), and return to SSM the next day. That's what me and the wife did for our honeymoon  Coach seats only, but there's so few people on the train once you're halfway to Hearst you can spend the time chatting with the conductor. Not exactly as luxurious at Amtrak's sleeping accommodations, but it the sort of long train ride that is getting pretty hard to find. It's a flagstop local that services the needs of all sort of cabin residents and backwoods folks. Not sure if it runs in Feb, but should be even fewer people than when we rode it in May. And you won't want to miss the Bush Plane Museum in SSM, ON. Great stuff, even if the planes are drooling  |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2015 13:58:21 GMT -8
I posted this same thread over on ProtoModeler the more help the better. Well it's like this, My 25th wedding anniversary is coming in next Feb. I want to plan a trip by rail from San Diego up the coast to the Canadian border and back. I have not ridden a train in 39 yrs. Does Amtrak still offer Births or State rooms? I want to pamper the mrs. on the train so any thoughts you railroading vets might have would be greatly appreciated. Do I need to talk to a travel agency or do my own booking with Amtrak? I need to get started as Feb. will be here before I know it!! Thank you for helping in any way you can. Amtrak's Coast Starlight page: www.amtrak.com/coast-starlight-trainA Route Guide and links to the types of accommodations are on the right side of the page. The Starlight (#14) operates between Los Angeles and Seattle. Between San Diego and Los Angeles you'll be on a connecting Pacific Surfliner. Between Seattle and Vancouver B.C, a Cascades, but you'll need to lay-over one night in Seattle. Berths haven't been offered for two generations. On the Starlight, you can choose between coach, roomette, and several bedroom option$. The Surfliner and Cascades are coach only, though you can opt for an upgrade to Business Class, the main benefit which is physical separation from the masses. You can book yourself or use an agent. Same price. This is the most scenic long distance train(s) in North America. You'll be right along the Pacific coast and Puget Sound for a total of about 200 miles. |
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Post by mrsocal on Apr 22, 2015 4:27:38 GMT -8
Thank you gentleman, I will use this info and do some homework on this.
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Post by calzephyr on Apr 22, 2015 9:57:39 GMT -8
I posted this same thread over on ProtoModeler the more help the better. Well it's like this, My 25th wedding anniversary is coming in next Feb. I want to plan a trip by rail from San Diego up the coast to the Canadian border and back. I have not ridden a train in 39 yrs. Does Amtrak still offer Births or State rooms? I want to pamper the mrs. on the train so any thoughts you railroading vets might have would be greatly appreciated. Do I need to talk to a travel agency or do my own booking with Amtrak? I need to get started as Feb. will be here before I know it!! Thank you for helping in any way you can. The coast line is fun to ride and just watching the scenes and waves of the Pacific. We rode from Simi Valley to San Barbara many times on the weekend and caught the south bound train later in the day after having lunch near the beach. We also rode to San Jose one weekend and rented a car for two days before returning. The late evening pictures from the train South bound while watching the Sunset from the dome lounge car in the winter time was really great. larry |
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Post by mrsocal on Apr 23, 2015 4:11:12 GMT -8
Thanks Larry for chiming in.
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Post by jaygee on Apr 28, 2015 10:57:15 GMT -8
And if Canada is your thing...Go to Vancouver, and jump on the Canadian ! Budd Stainless all the way, and if you like berths, the Chateau Salaberry is calling your name...eh !
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Post by mrsocal on Apr 29, 2015 4:28:36 GMT -8
Thanks jaygee but Seattle is as far No. as we are going for this trip. Never been there and Im told there is a lot to do and see there.
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Post by emd16645 on Apr 29, 2015 14:43:09 GMT -8
Seattle is a nice city, I got to visit a few years back. Lots of train action too.
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Post by valenciajim on Apr 29, 2015 15:09:57 GMT -8
I used to ride the train from LA to Santa Barbara quite frequently and caught the Coast Starlight several times on the way back. It is a great ride. You have to catch it in LA though. The Coast Starlight does not go to San Diego, but there is great Amtrak service between LA and San Diego.
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Post by valenciajim on Apr 29, 2015 15:10:22 GMT -8
I used to ride the train from LA to Santa Barbara quite frequently and caught the Coast Starlight several times on the way back. It is a great ride. You have to catch it in LA though. The Coast Starlight does not go to San Diego, but there is great Amtrak service between LA and San Diego.
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Post by mrsocal on Apr 30, 2015 4:17:03 GMT -8
You are correct, S.D. to L.A. is on the Surfliner. It is a 2 1/2 hr trip up the coast and we will sit in business class for that first leg.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2015 10:22:30 GMT -8
You are correct, S.D. to L.A. is on the Surfliner. It is a 2 1/2 hr trip up the coast and we will sit in business class for that first leg. Good choice business class. I'd take Surfliner 763 from SAN all the way to Santa Barbara. Arrives 1140a. That gives you three hours to explore the beautiful seaside town and have lunch before Starlight #14 departs. |
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Post by mrsocal on May 1, 2015 4:03:01 GMT -8
That's a thought to look into, do they transfer bags for you as they would in L.A.? Thanks!
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Post by mrsocal on Aug 16, 2015 6:28:25 GMT -8
Well it is official now.... This anniv. trip is booked and the wife still doesn't know about it. I did my homework and with the much appreciated help from you all we are going on a train ride. My daughter will drive us down to the ol Santa Fe Station in S.D., need to be there at 5am to board the 763 Surfliner to LA (Business class) just under 3 hr trip up the coast pull into Union Station right next to 14 Coast Starlight to Seattle. Bedroom suite. this leg is just under 35 hrs. We will arrive in Seattle oh about 9:15pm then I have chosen the Inn at the Market as our Hotel. 4 solid days to enjoy the sights, sounds and food then on the 5th morning boards the 11 Coast Starlihgt Roomette and return home ending a great vacation back in L.A. Thank you again for your help and suggestions.
Is it February yet!!!!! ;-)'
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Post by mrsocal on Aug 23, 2015 7:45:16 GMT -8
I have a question, never have ridden a train as an adult is it proper to dress for dinner as was back in the day of the luxury liners?
Suit n tie, dress slacks and golf shirt or does it not matter anymore? Note: this is in 1st class.
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Post by okiebob on Aug 23, 2015 18:16:15 GMT -8
I think it is like the mall. no shoes, no shirt, no eat. I think I dress better to work in the yard than some people do to go on a trip. Dress nice for your wife, but you don't need a suit and tie.
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Post by valenciajim on Aug 23, 2015 22:01:57 GMT -8
I think the travel attire I similar to attire worn on air travel.
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Post by mrsocal on Sept 20, 2015 7:12:37 GMT -8
Well my daughter and I drove down to San Diego yesterday to locate the Santa Fe Depot where the wife and I will start this trip on Valentines day. We made it door to station in 3 hours. 9:45a - 12:48p now according to to ticket clerk we need to be at the station no later than 45 mins. before departure. Great, our train leaves at 6:10a so that means we are going to leave the house around 2-2:30am. Oh well, small price to pay for the fun we are going to have. While we were there a Surfliner train was sitting there. It was neat to see what to look forward to. 1 Loco, 1 Business Class car (that's us) 5 Coach cars and 1 Coach/Cafe car.  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2015 9:04:41 GMT -8
Well my daughter and I drove down to San Diego yesterday to locate the Santa Fe Depot where the wife and I will start this trip on Valentines day. We made it door to station in 3 hours. 9:45a - 12:48p now according to to ticket clerk we need to be at the station no later than 45 mins. before departure. Great, our train leaves at 6:10a so that means we are going to leave the house around 2-2:30am. Oh well, small price to pay for the fun we are going to have. While we were there a Surfliner train was sitting there. It was neat to see what to look forward to. 1 Loco, 1 Business Class car (that's us) 5 Coach cars and 1 Coach/Cafe car. You're going to have a great time. I show #763 Dp SAN at 6:00a. Do you show 6:10? If your not checking bags, you can show up a few minutes before departure time and get on. The train will never depart early. If the trains ran on time reliably and you only had carry-on bags, you could take the next Surfliner out of SAN and still make your connection with #14 which departs LAX at 10:10a. #565 Dp SAN Ar LAX 9:50a, but that 20 min pad is too risky for a anniversary trip. As it is you have a 1:24 layover, so there's time to wander around the depot. |
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Post by mrsocal on Sept 20, 2015 9:21:46 GMT -8
My bad, it is 6am straight up. And yes you can be sure that we will wounder around Union Station LA. It is a very beautiful architecture.
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Post by mrsocal on Jan 10, 2016 9:02:18 GMT -8
Well if that just don't get it. On this past Wed. 6th, I received an email from Amtrak informing me that the Pacific Parlor car is being pulled from all trains for (Routine Maintenance) from 1/6 - March. So this means there is no observation car going or coming back. Just my dumb luck I guess.
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Post by mlehman on Jan 10, 2016 15:08:36 GMT -8
Scotty,
Sad that it affects your trip. Glad that they're working on fixing things, even if only "routine."
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Post by atsfan on Jan 10, 2016 15:31:14 GMT -8
Typical Amtrak. Sadly.
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Post by mrsocal on Feb 7, 2016 9:13:45 GMT -8
Well I'm now inside of 1 week. This time next week we are about a hour out of Union station, L.A. What I would like to know is do you tip or give gratuity to your carmen and or any other personnel and how does this work? Thanks for any help you can give me.
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Post by mlehman on Feb 7, 2016 12:48:39 GMT -8
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Post by mrsocal on Feb 7, 2016 17:08:06 GMT -8
Thank you Mike.
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Post by mrsocal on Feb 13, 2016 5:16:06 GMT -8
Well there is no more planning, we leave in the morning. We should be boarding in about 24 hrs. from now. Thanks to each of you that helped me get this planned and put together. I'll post up some pic's when we get back.
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Post by mlehman on Feb 13, 2016 8:18:59 GMT -8
Scotty, Bon voyage to you and your sweetheart! Looking forward to the pics. It should be spectacular |
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Post by valenciajim on Feb 14, 2016 8:56:10 GMT -8
The weather in SoCal is terrific for this trip, although it might be crowded downtown because of the marathon being run today. All the best for a great vacation!
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