Just got off the phone with a very helpful agent at Amtrak Guest Rewards.... I needed to make some changes to my planned itinerary because, frankly, the Empire Builder's performance is just too erratic right now to build a trip around that train. I had legitimate concerns of being stranded in Havre, MT Wednesday with no passenger train coming to carry me onward for days.
Sooo.... the new itinerary will be flying tomorrow (Tuesday) to Seatle. Wednesday morning I'll sample the Talgo down to Portland and then travel onward to Los Angeles (arriving Thursday, June 23) on the Coast Starlight.
This gives me an extra day to kill in SOCAL Friday the 24th. I might venture out for a roundtrip down to San Diego.....maybe a Dodgers game....... we'll see.
Any great railfan thing going on in the LA area June 24th?
Flying back east from LAX on the 25th.
Posted by yukon11 (Member # 2997) on :
Do you think, David, that the Empire Builder would have major delays in the summer? I would think on-time performance would be much better during the summer months. I took a round-trip journey, on the Builder, from Seattle to Whitefish last summer. Pretty much on-time getting into Whitefish with only about a 20 min. delay catching the westbound train back to Seattle.
I don't know what your plans and objectives are, but If you still wish to travel to Glacier, an alternative might be a flight to Minneapolis and catching the westbound Builder to Seattle. Or, better yet, a flight to Salt Lake City then a flight from Salt Lake to Kalispell. A short rental car or bus trip up to Whitefish, and after an afternoon in Whitefish you could catch the Builder at Whitefish on to Seattle.
Richard
Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :
David--
If you do decide to do a Dodgers game (I haven't looked at the schedule) there is a free shuttle from the back side of Union Station (Patsouras Plaza) to the Stadium.
Frank in overcast and cool SBA
Posted by HopefulRailUser (Member # 4513) on :
But don't cheer for the other team. Dangerous!
Posted by cubzo (Member # 4700) on :
Looks like on the 24th Dodgers will be playing the Angels. I have been to many games in the Ravine and have never had a problem. Both teams should be well represented by their fans. I would think that if you maintain a neutral position you should be alright.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Ballgames of any stripe, I wear blue (as in Kentucky blue). That ought to be safe in Dodger country.
Thanks for the tip about the free shuttle Frank.
Richard, your suggestions are good ones but I'm already committed to a pair of 'cheap' flights.... to Seattle today and from LAX Saturday....
And yes, the Builder's performance so far this summer has been abysmal when it has even run. It was suspended west of MSP June 1-15 due to flooding in the Dakotas and Montana. Now that it is running, the train has been reaching it's endpoints in the 6 to 8 hour late range. Today's inbound number 7 was nearly 7 hours late out of Whitefish which means that tonight's number 8 (the one I was originally booked to ride) will get out of Seattle several hours late..... if at all. Number 8 (20th) is in the dreaded 'service disruption' status and apparantly was annulled shortly after reaching Everett.
While I hate having to give up on an itinerary planned months ago, I'm feeling pretty good about deciding to give up on the Empire Builder on this trip. Getting out of Havre on short notice by any means other than Amtrak is a costly endeavor.
Posted by MDRR (Member # 2992) on :
Very wise decision, David. Amtrak has again suspended service due to "record flooding" in ND area per their website...
Posted by TwinStarRocket (Member # 2142) on :
..and flooding is expected to continue in the Missouri River watershed into September. 140% of normal water volume.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
Yes indeed...... had a nice dinner in Seattle, did the tourist thing at the Space Needle, got some souvies, sampled the lightrail, and am now in a comfortable hotel near the airport.
Either way, it seems, I was winding up in a Seattle hotel tonight.
I'll get up at 5:00am and catch the lightrail back downtown for a Business Class seat on the 7:30am Talgo to Portland and then onward to LAX in bedroom E of the 1130 sleeper on the Coast Starlight.....
Yes, I know I could have just gotten the Starlight from Seattle BUT I wanted to sample the first class lounge at PDX..... and the wakeup call will be nothing.... my body is still on eastern time. Last time I flew into Seattle I was wide awake at 4:00am!
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
Beautiful weather in Seattle today, Portland should be great tomorrow. The Metropolitan Lounge is nice, but I think you'll want to get outdoors. I usually take a walk up to Powell's Books, looking for something to read on the trip.
The light rail trip from the airport to the International District/Chinatown station should take 31 minutes. It's about a 5 minute walk from ID/C station to King Street Station. Ride facing backwards for good views of Mt. Rainier.
Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :
Isn't the sun up at 4:00am in Seattle? I remember it being up close to 4am and setting close to 10pm.
Posted by Ocala Mike (Member # 4657) on :
Longest day of the year in Seattle:
Sunrise 0511 Sunset 2109
Almost a 16 hour day on the summer solstice, compared to a 14 hour day being the longest where I live.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
I was up at 4:30am..... already beginning to get daylight at that point....
BUT, another topic to start....
Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :
Glad you were able to change your route to avoid the flooding. I changed my whole summer trip because of it. Enjoy yourself!