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Thanks to you all I found this alternate route from Los Angeles to Sacramento. Takes only 8 hours instead of the 14 hours the CS takes and runs on time. I used the Quik Trak machine (only one of the two at LAUPT was functioning) after buying my tickets online and it did indeed spew out all ten tickets we needed. Waited on the nice patio until time to board our bus to Bakersfield which departed promptly at 1045. Would have liked to take the route that bused to Bakersfield and then train all the way to Sacramento but that leaves LA at 4:00 am or 4:00 pm. All other departures terminate in Oakland. Overhead storage is small, even our carry on had to be stowed below but that was easy.
A comfortable ride, stopped at Glendale to pick up a few people then non-stop the rest of the way. Upon arrival at BFD (I do love that abbreviation) our train awaited us. I found that this coach does not have the large overhead bins that the Starlight has so our 22" carry on had to go on a shelf at the end of the car which was no problem. The coach had seats with and without tables, electrical outlets at each seat, fairly clean windows and was quite comfortable.
For food we tried the burrito and the pizza. Each directed one to remove the wrapper before heating but of course they were heated in the wrapper. This made the burrito pretty difficult to get out of the wrapper as it was hot and floppy. Once out it was pretty moist but tasted OK. The pizza did a little better. Had genuine ice cream for dessert. It was a bit icy, had clearly been partially melted and refrozen. But not too bad. Why can't the SDS include ice cream? All you need is a freezer. The configuration of the snack car reminded me of the snack car on the Talgo train to Vancouver with some nice seating and a friendly employee. The food was not of the same caliber as the Talgo.
Scenery along the way is not great but it was still a pleasant ride. It was a Sunday so we began acquiring students returning to school as we went north. The coach was not full but had a fair amount of people in it. Many of the stations were charming Spanish style buildings. We had to pull over before Turlock to allow another Amtrak to go by southbound, then we backed out and continued on our way. This was the first day on standard time so the sun went down at 5:00. We arrived at Stockton about 15 minutes late. Our bus awaited us.
A one hour drive in the bus brought us to Sacramento. The station in Sacramento was interesting; wooden pew like seats and an arched ceiling, rather churchlike. We had reservations at the Vagabond Inn. When I called them for pickup I found that the van was at the airport and we would have to wait 20+ minutes. So we walked. Per my rail friend's instructions we went up the block to the traffic light and then just a block to the Inn. No problem at all. The Vagabond Inn was great, nice room, nice breakfast in the morning. We had a small dinner at the adjacent Denny's, not so great. We were tired after the eight hour trip (plus an hour getting to LAUPT from home) but we would have been plenty tired if we had driven. Heard train whistles all night, tried to imagine which one was the CS coming in at midnight.
Spent Monday at the Railroad Museum and Old Town, just a short block away from the motel. Loved the Museum, did the movie and tour first. Old Town seems to have an amazing affinity for candy stores. Did eat lunch in the restored train station cafe, it was fine and reasonable priced. Later had dinner at the Fat City Bar and Cafe, meatloaf, quite good.
Early morning departure, 6:35 am. We walked to the station, a bit nippy. Got energy food and coffee at the Starbuck's next to the station. We were able to board at about 6:15 and settled in. The coach appeared the same type as the northbound one but had no electrical outlets at the seats. Very few passengers and we never had many as we traveled south to BFD. Anyone who wanted to get off at Stockton had to get into coach #1. The reason was apparent when we stopped; we stopped in the middle of a street and only coach #1 was accessible. Since it was dark when we got to Stockton on the way north I'm not sure quite where we detrained. Tried the breakfast burrito this time, let's just say it kept the hunger pangs away. On time to BFD, got on our bus to LA and made excellent time arriving about 30 minutes early at 2:15 pm. Picked up our car at LAUPT ($18) and hit the freeway, home by 3:30.
Overall a pleasant trip. Glad we took this route instead of the CS. Too bad there isn't a departure from LAX that uses train from BFD all the way to Sacramento and departs at a reasonable time. Tell me, why is there no train LAX to BFD? Too much grade? Too far to go over to Tehachapi?
posted
Thanks for the great trip report Vicki. I wish I knew why there wasn't passenger train service between BFD and LAX. That route was served by Southern Pacific's 'San Joaquin Daylight' right up until Amtrak day May 1, 1971.
And the only code I have seen that tops BFD would be the Sioux City airport - SUX.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Since the subject is the San Joaquin route, is there nothing to report about snow, ponies or bagpipes?
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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Secondly the F-unit 913 you have captioned as Santa Fe is actually in Western Pacific livery. WP is the route the UP uses for Eastbound freight traffic owing to its more favorable grades over the Sierras (WB uses the SP over Donner Pass). It follows the Feather River. which flows into the American near Sacramento and has not had scheduled passenger trains over the route since 1970. The Feather is essentially a millstream South of Orroville, where a large dam has been constructed.
But please allow me to say thanks for the great show.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Gilbert - I knew I should have included a disclaimer on the pictures indicating that I may not have them all correct. You notice a lot of them had rather generic labels. Appreciate the info. I loved the postal car. My dad worked for the post office for 30 years, beginning in St. Paul, MN. Whenever one mentioned a town in the midwest he always had to comment on which rail line he threw it to. And once on that rail car the postal guys broke it down more. Dad would have enjoyed seeing it. Twin Star - I did indeed see ponies. Snow was lacking and the bagpipes were already in hibernation. Everybody knows they are only active in the summer.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Thanks,Vicki, for the great report. I especially liked the pictures. Living on the east coast I don't often get to see the west and having people post pictures is grr e a t!!! Those bagpipers are sissies if they are in hibernation so early. I guess their legs get cold. If you look at the picture of the day configuration of the pullman you can see why I said you might be sitting with a stranger and that could be uncomfortable. At least in coach you sit side by side nor facing.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Train Lady - I am already thinking about that upper berth on the Sunset Limited. At least we booked two rommmettes for the return trip. But the cost of two roommettes on the eastbound trip was prohibitive. Gilbert, I added a picture of me on the CS in September, in my Clippers shirt. We live in Clipper Nation here you know. My friend Sue took the picture. She is a lurker who follows these threads with interest and will be with me on the Sunset Limited trip in January.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Vicki, I think the difference in the top berths is that on today's trains the bed itself may be smaller but it is not as enclosed. I mean with the pullman the curtain was right next to the bed so you felt all enclosed. You had to climb down the ladder to put your feet on solid ground. Did you check the price of the family room? I wonder how that compared with 2 roomettes
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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Train Lady - prices of the roommettes and the bedrooms were incredible. But for the return trip the price went down from my original purchase so we modified the tickets - the eastbound roommette price is about three times the westbound price, the bedrooms twice again. That top berth is only two feet wide. I looked at VIA Rail - 3'7" wide. Makes a big difference. I may try a Canadian trip - two for one or 75% off second person with a senior. You notice how we have veered off the San Joaquins subject? Something about that train that leads us astray.
-------------------- Vicki in usually sunny Southern California Posts: 951 | From: Redondo Beach, CA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Miss Vicki, your interior photos of the heavyweight sleeper reminded me of a 1956 ride Montreal-Kapitachuan Club PQ ride that I made behind steam.
In fact, when I saw your exterior photos of the car, it was the very same CN "12 Section-1 Drawing Room' series I had on that train; mine was named 'McDougal'.
I had previously ridden such Pullman cars to/from summer camp in Meredith NH 1952-1955.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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