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Hi all! New here. Decided to take 25th anniversary train trip to Las Vegas from PA. We never have been on a train before, so hope some of my question don't sound stupid. I'm going from PA to Chicago, then from Chicago to Needles, CA, then by bus to Las Vegas. (1) Do they make other stops along the way? (2) When we are in Chicago, do they transfer our luggage to the next train for us? (we will be in Chicago for approximately 7 hours until the next train). (3) We are also country bumpkins, is Chicago a safe place to stay for 7 hours? (4)What happens when you arrive in Needles and the train is late? Will there be a bus there? We are to arrive at 1 am. Any helpful information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Posts: 3 | From: PA | Registered: Sep 2003
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(1) Do they make other stops along the way? A. If you mean ont he train on the way to Chicago and "YES!" there will eb several stops along the way to pic up and discharge other passengers..You are allowed off the train to smoke etc.
(2) When we are in Chicago, do they transfer our luggage to the next train for us? (we will be in Chicago for approximately 7 hours until the next train). A. No, Most likely not fi your catchign the Southwest cheif I am guessign you did not mention that is quite a long wait..I would put you luggage in a storage locker its not to expensive.
(3) We are also country bumpkins, is Chicago a safe place to stay for 7 hours? A. Im the same with you, If you have read my other posts people think I think all area are ghetto..Chicago I would not say so at all! there are several restarunts and a museum not far away..Dont be frightened!
(4)What happens when you arrive in Needles and the train is late? Will there be a bus A. Yes!, But Needles is an Un-Staffed station no amtrak ticketing machines, No staff, and if you get there at midnight the bus will wait because it knows alot of people on that train are coming on the bus..So yes there will always be a bus...
HOPE THAT THIS HELPS!!!!!! -Anton
Posts: 1082 | From: Los Angeles, CA. USA | Registered: Aug 2003
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(3) We are also country bumpkins, is Chicago a safe place to stay for 7 hours? A. Im the same with you, If you have read my other posts people think I think all area are ghetto..Chicago I would not say so at all! there are several restarunts and a museum not far away..Dont be frightened!
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Since the Chief leaves during mid day and you most likely arrive in Chicago in the morning it should be pretty safe. The area around the station isnt bad at all really, from what I remember in the 7 times ive been there
Posts: 547 | From: St. Louis, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 2002
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quote:Originally posted by nants99: Hi all! New here. Decided to take 25th anniversary train trip to Las Vegas from PA. We never have been on a train before, so hope some of my question don't sound stupid. I'm going from PA to Chicago, then from Chicago to Needles, CA, then by bus to Las Vegas. (1) Do they make other stops along the way? (2) When we are in Chicago, do they transfer our luggage to the next train for us? (we will be in Chicago for approximately 7 hours until the next train). (3) We are also country bumpkins, is Chicago a safe place to stay for 7 hours? (4)What happens when you arrive in Needles and the train is late? Will there be a bus there? We are to arrive at 1 am. Any helpful information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Hi again! I wasn't sure if I should start a new thread or just add to this one. You all are being very helpful. Here is a few more questions. When traveling from Chicago to CA, is there any way to tell which state you are in along the way?
Is it easy to find your way around the Chicago station?
How do you know which car you are supposed to get on is there certain ones for sleepers and certain ones for passengers? ok thats it for now, if I get to be a pain let me know. We are not going until March but are trying get as much info as possible ahead of time. Thanks so much for all your help.
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make sure you have a timetable for your train. they list the city and state and scheduled arrival time . you should be able to figure it out. dont be afraid to ask fellow passengers or amtrak attendants where you are. they will be glad to help. chicago union station can be overwhelming the first time. the signage is adequate but there are plenty of people to ask. i have walked all over the area around c.u.s. and you need not be nervous.
when boarding the train usually the sleeping passengers are boarded first. if you are going coach as you are walking the lenght of the train the attendants or conductor will direct you the proper car. this is deter5mined by your final destination. hope this helps.
------------------ The Copper Country Limited [Milwaukee Road] and the Peninsula 400 [CNW} still my favorites
Posts: 175 | From: FENCE WI USA | Registered: Oct 2000
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nants99, I'm not clear on whether you are traveling in coach or in a sleeper. I'm assuming you've chosen a sleeper for the SW Chief.
The cars are labeled on the outside as to what type they are. Generally speaking, sleepers are towards the front of the train, and coaches are at the rear, with the diner and lounge in between. Occasionally you will find a train with the coaches at the front and sleepers at the rear.
Each car has two numbers. One is a five digit number painted on the car at each end. These indicate the number of the car in Amtrak's roster. Its sort of the railroad equivalent of a license plate. You need not concern yourself with it.
By the door to each car you will find another number on a small readerboard. It has either three or four digits and indicates the position of the car in the train. The last two digits indicate the car's number. The first one or two digits are the train number (in the case of the Chief it is either a 3 or 4 depending on the train's direction).
If you are traveling in a sleeper your ticket will indicate your car number along with your assigned room number. Look for that car number by the door and you'll know where to board. Of course, as others have noted, the attendants will be at the doors to help you as well.
Now its time for my standard advice to Amtrak first-timers. Expect to have fun, but don't expect perfection. Every Amtrak trip seems to involve a few glitches.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
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Be sure to venture outside of your coach or sleeping car and explore the train's consist. On my long distance train trips, I usually bring a book or the laptop to the Lounge Car and camp out for the day. Three Rivers (the PA to Chicago train I assume you are taking) is single level equipment that does not really offer a great lounge for sightseeing. If you are traveling by sleeper, the Viewliners are nice with the double deck windows. But on the Southwest Chief you will have a Superliner (double decker equipment) Sightseer Lounge with wrap-around windows (floor to ceiling), which allow for great viewing. The second day aboard the Southwest Chief (heading west) is very scenic. Food is generally good on the train. Three Rivers does not have a full diner, just a cafe car, but you'll get a modified meal service if travelling by sleeper.
Visit the Amrak website and you can explore amenities that are common on most trains (www.amtrak.com). You can even call Amtrak Vacations (1-800-321-8684)and ask a sales representative for an Amtrak Vacations Guide. Regarding the Amtrak Vacations Guide, ask them for the one that explores all the train routes and onboard amenities as there's an Amtrak Guide and Amtrak Planner that the reps often get mixed up - or ask for both. They can mail you the National Amtrak Timetable in addition to the Amtrak Vacations Guide.
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"When traveling from Chicago to CA, is there any way to tell which state you are in along the way?" -The timetable will list the state along with the city name for each stop, but these may be as much as 2 hours apart. There is usually a travel guide for the Southwest Chief on the train at each seat that will list interesting things about places you pass. I like to carry state maps and figure out where I am by the names of the towns we pass through.
To be real specific: you pass from Illinois into a little tip of Iowa when you cross the Mississippi. After less than an hour in Iowa you are in Missouri until Kansas City, where you cross into Kansas shortly after the station. If you watch the signs out the north window on U.S. 50 you can see the Colorado sign. Can't miss the entry into New Mexico -it is inside the Raton Pass Tunnel. Arizona starts shortly after the Gallup stop. California is right at Needles.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:Originally posted by TwinStarRocket: I like to carry state maps and figure out where I am by the names of the towns we pass through.
I second this suggestion. Since there will be roads near the train tracks for much of your trip, a road atlas should give you enough information that you'll be able to figure out where you are pretty well.
And if you want to splurge, you can get something along the lines of this map of railroads, which I was very happy to have on a big Amtrak trip I took last year. It really came in handy when one of my trains had to take an unexpected detour (don't worry about this happening to you, since it's a fairly rare event, and Amtrak does make sure all the passengers get where they were going somehow).
[This message has been edited by trainman1 (edited 09-16-2003).]
Posts: 112 | From: North Hollywood, California | Registered: Mar 2002
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