posted
Here is my first travelog so please bare with me. I had an enjoyable rail trip to Lamy NM. I won't post the train#s but will post the train route names
On Monday Feb.7th I woke up about 4 A.M. to get my last minute packing done.As you can imagine I'm in a daze but am excited to hit the rails. So around 6:00 my father drives me to the San Jose Cahill St. Amtrak Station where I board the Thruway Bus to Stockton.
As I have read on trainweb.com and heard from Amtrak track work was to be done on the lines until Feb 6th. Well that was not the case so I had anotehr bus from Stockton-Fresno which I will describe later.
So I was amazed that I was the only one on this Thruway bus to Tracy. But after Tracy only one person got on very light considering it's a Monday. The scenery over the Altamont Pass was nice while relaxing in this motorcoach.
When we arrived Stockton I waited for about 10 minutes before my next bus to Fresno was to depart. Going down the 99 by bus only took about an hour. I have never been on the 99 so this was a new route to add to my travel miles.
Upon arriving Fresno the San Juaqin train was waiting for us to depart. After the cleaning crews and new crew boarded we were allowed on. I went upstairs to the table. I was the only person at the table for the whole trip to Bakersfield. I relaxed and had a warm pizza,cookie,soda and later a coffee with free refills. I was amazed at the quality of the food quite good to say none the less.
After arriving in Bakersfield I made the connection on the Bakersfield Express bus as I was connecting to the Southwest Chief. The trip over the Grapevine was beautiful. I caught a glimpse of the lake off to the right about midway up.
The traffic held up and we arrived to LA about 4:30 P.M. on time at Union Station. I was waiting in the waiting room and there was a crew filimg a television show. A great way to pass the time. At a bout 5:30 I decided to line up in the coach line next to the Surfliner boarding area. I happened to be the first in line. Not many people were waiting in line.
At 5:45 the Amtrak Agent let us go to track 12. I got to the 311 car and got a nice seat in the middle of the car so it would not interfere with the doors between cars,and people going down the stairs. Train 3 departed at 6:45 on time.
As we were a light load there were no dinner reservations. So at about 7:30 I went to the dinner and had the Amtrak special for $11.50 . Tonights special was the half chicken with mashed potatoes,a mix of corn,and brocoli. I had some ice cream for dessert.
After the meal,I headded to the lounge car and relaxed watching the Southern California Scenery pass by. We made stops at Fullerton,San Bernardino,Riverside before hitting the Tejon Pass. At about 9:00 P.M. I went to the restroom to get ready to sleep.
Coach is very comfortable. I like the fact that you can recline your seat and the footrest deploys to make a comfortable seat for the night. I bring my own blanket. I slept off and on until about 6:30 when I headed to the dinenr for breakfast. I ordered the Railroad French Toast($6.75) which came with orange juice and coffee. They give you three pieces of toast and a chocie of strawbery or regular syrup.
After breakfast I went back to the Lounge Car to see Arizona. By The Way when I woke up about 5:45 we were in Williams Jct.where snow was on the ground. You see this is the reason why I like going by train.
As lunctime approached we arrived into ABQ where we arrived early. So I had the chance to try the Jamblayia very tasty. After lunch I got off the train and walked around. We departed ontime at about 1:30. We arrived Lamy 6 minutes early at 2:10 P.M. feeling relaxed and ready to take a hot shower.
I returned on Monday Feb.14th. I arrived to Lamy at 1:30 wanting to see the Eastbound Southwest Cheif arrive and depart. It was pulled by a Superliner 1 Consist.
My train departed 10 minutes late at 2:46 P.M.This time I was assigned the bulkhead seat behind the staris. Very comfortable .I had a seatmate who did not sit in his seat. Instead he was either in the Loungecar or in the Cafe Car watching a DVD palyer. He was going to Needles where he was welcomed by police. Apperently he stole the DVD plyer from another passenger who later got it back. I overheard on the radio that the conductor dealt with the police before. The lead conductor woek me up by mistake not knowing where my seatmate went. But lets backup for dinner I had the same chicken with bread and a salad. My dining mates were nice. We talked and enjoyed the meal. I even got a bit more chciken since one of them could not finish it.
So around 9P.M. I went to sleep. And at 3:30 the lead conductor wakes me up and I was in a daze. He asked me where I was going and I said LA. He was very nice and appologized as he was looking for my seat mate.
I again had the French Toast for Breakfast since we had an abbriveated menu due to the early arrival into LA.
We arrived into LA at 7:45 A.M. as opposed to 8:20 A.M. As we approched Fullerton I saw a domecar sititng on the right side of the tain. I thought about the Trainweb Staff and I wished I could have met Steve and the other crew but I guess they were busy.
I went into LA Union Station with two passengers I met who were going from Colorado to Bakersfield. One of them was a school administrator. We began talking for a couple of hours onboard the train. So we decided to wait in LA since we were on the 10:45 A.M. Bus to Bakersfield.
Our train was delayed until 2:15 due to the late arrival from Oakland. The reason for the delay was due to extra freight trains after the track work which finished on Feb 11th. While waiitng I basked in the Bakersfield sun as I knew Northern California would have light rain.
Once I got my table seat I went to the cafe car as I had not eaten since 5 A.M. I had another pizza,drink and cookie. Once again very good.
We lost time pulling into sidings and got into Stockton at 8:50 P.M. where I boarded my bus to San Jose. Since only one passenger was going to Fremont we made only one stop. We departed Stockton at 9;10 P.M. got into Fremont at 10:15 and arrived San Jose at 10:35 P.M. A very fast bus ride. At one point the driver said he got an engine light and stopped but it was nothing major and he restarted the bus and we were off.
I am upset that Bush wants to cut Amtrak. I enjoyed my experience. I want to be able to ride the trains for years to come. If I only rely on planes then how can I see the country ? I don't fare well on long car trips and don't want to go on Greyhound or Thruway busses for long trips.
I hope to go to www.saveamtrak.com and donate money because Amtrak really needs the money.The equipment needs updating. I hope to see a Superliner 3 series car one day.
Thanks for reading. I welcome any feedback as this can help me write further reports.
Posts: 259 | Registered: Jan 2005
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Thanks for the report--I really enjoyed it. How interesting about the petty thief too. On train trips I've been on lately, lots of people bring laptops and DVD players and just leave them on their seats when they go in to dine and they never seem to have this trouble. Still, I would take mine with me, or at least put it in a bag so it's not right out in the open tempting some sneak thief.
I do have a question: In the week between your two trips, did you stay in Lamy or go to Santa Fe or someplace else? If Santa Fe, did you take a shuttle from Lamy to Santa Fe or did you rent a car or did someone meet you? I am curious about any info you have on Santa Fe as well as Lamy. Thanks!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Good report, Travel Plus -- just a couple minor corrections. The SWC from LAX going east is Train no. 4, not no. 3, and the pass you go through between San Bernardino and Barstow is Cajon Pass, not Tejon Pass. Sorry to be so picky, but I enjoyed your report!!!
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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I can almost see you in the diner, eyeing the unfinished chicken on the plate of your fellow traveller.
"You gonna finish that?" you ask innocently. Every fiber of your being radiates cuteness at that moment.
"No. Go ahead," he says as he passes the plate to you.
Without wasting a moment, you pick the remaining meat on the chicken clean. And then, you crack open the chicken bones with your teeth and suck out the delicious marrow.
Your fellow travelers stare at you in shock, reach into their pockets and leave large tips. Meanwhile, you stare in longing at the other unfinished plates of food, pondering your next move.
Chucky
Oh yes, what exactly were you doing in New Mexico?
Posts: 324 | From: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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I stayed in Santa Fe and no I did not use the shuttle from Lamy. Chucky you'r so funny!!! Of course I am not that inconsiderate. The other perso said I could not finish it would you like it. I said thank you and ate it.
Posts: 259 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
Nice trip report, and sounds like the Southwest Chief portion was a good one. Glad to hear this.
-------------------- Matt Visit gallery for photos of our train layouts Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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