The Prep

This dream started about 15 years ago after 2 trips to NYC on the Acela. Just when it seemed I was solidly ensconced into said trip, it was over. There had to be more. I took a trip back and forth on the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago. I met several wonderful people, 2 of which I am still in touch with occasionally. The passing of life and America outside my window convinced me this long-haul, cross-country trip was a bucket list item…

When starting this particular plan 3 years ago, my attention to detail was typically tireless and meshed with day dreams as I pored over timetables, other blogs, YouTube video’s and photographs. The travel tips included in many of the accounts have been priceless, especially when a video captures a conductors announcement for a certain area or stop. So, a date has been set 4 times, delayed thrice, scrapped once,
modified endlessly, and finally in the last 6 months, as my savings grew with my desire, been altered into a working plan just weeks from fruition, departing on May 6, 2019. There were 4 main itinerary versions that exist based on minimal overnights and inclusions within the 8-segment/15-day Rail Pass window. Up until only a month ago, a 12-pass/30-day pass was seriously considered.

In the end, here is my FINAL V4.2 itinerary as chosen. The numbers assigned are: Leg order, Leg number (on the map below), Train name and Amtrak number, date of departure for that train, time of departure and arrival and “Nite” as the number overnights on that train. There are 4 ‘∆’ line items which are Air BnB overnights. A sleeper/”Roomette” is planned for Leg #3 on the SW Chief to Chicago. The one asterisk relates to a connection in San Antonio midway thru the Texas Eagle, Leg 2, because it only operates 3 days a week from there to LAX.

The map below depicts most of the major Amtrak routes by number (Letters were added as alternates on the first version). The number in the “Map” column above relates to the route on the map. The order of the numbers below were the first version of my trip. By comparing column 1 and 2 above, you can see the differences and the new order: 1, 6, 5, 2, 3, 4, N, B and 8. I altered the order after more research discerning when daylight occurs along which route in the most scenic area’s.

Here is a timetable for one of the legs (6), the renowned California Zephyr from Emeryville (Oakland) to Chicago, which is read from the bottom up in the right column. Note it goes thru the most scenic portion of the Rockies (Utah/Ruby Canyon thru Glenwood Canyon, CO), during daylight of the middle day as it heads East. I will post the timetable with each appropriate blog post for that leg:

Along the way all but 2 trains will NOT have WiFi but I will be able to access the internet by tethering my phone to my laptop to upload pre-written blog posts and photo’s as well as gather information like the screen shot of the “live” map below. The map below is a sample view of all Amtrak trains nation-wide. While it may look foreboding with lots of red status markers, that usually “only” means 1-2 hours late… not uncommon given that many Amtrak trains must yield to other freight trains on the system because of rail ownership.

It should also be noted in the left column that expected arrival times often reflect recovery of the lost time by a segments end, given anticipated freight train movement. Trains 3 & 4 are the Southwest Chief. 5 & 6 are the Zephyr and 7 & 8 represent the Empire Builder. Odd numbers are going west.

* The color code (To schedule): Green: On Time/under 20 minutes late; Yellow: 20m to 60m late; Red: 1-3 hours late; Black: Over 3 hours late; Gray: Stopped, “Service Disruption” (Yielding to other traffic). The two black indicators, for north-bound and south-bound Coast Starlight trains was due to major police activity on the tracks in Redding, CA.

So there is my Prep agenda. I have always been a planner and a keeper of detail. Most of the goodies above are basically very small. My biggest thing I do (Except for the clothes) is having this stuff packed for a week and work out of them at home the last 3 days. That way I can put my finger on anything right away when I’m on the road. “Documenting” this trip is important but socializing, friend-making and absorbing where I am and what I am seeing and feeling is paramount to it all. Memories… I hope I can flavor all of it somewhat in this blog as I go along.

Finally: The man in the engineers hat below is Jake (2008). We are just pulling out of South Station on the 9:30 pm NE Regional to DC. He had come up in the afternoon from Baltimore for a ride and now was heading back… without a single possession. I myself was heading to DC and returning right away myself, for no good reason. Two railfan geeks just taking a ride to nowhere…