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This is what I call my "official" trip report. From beginning of first leg to getting back home! It was an amazing trip! Thanks to the many Amtrak employees and to the friends I met on the trains for making it so memorable!
Regarding the Parlor Car on the Coast Starlight - Be aware that on the bi-level Superliner trains, you're not going to get the classic dome car with forward vision like those swanky vintage beauties you were able to tour in Los Angeles.
I'll check later and see if you've put any interior photos of the Pacific Parlour Car up. These cars are bi-level like the Superliners but just a little shorter since they date from the original bi-level passenger cars used by the Santa Fe in the 1960's.
Putting a dome on a two-story car would create clearance problems with the tunnel.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Just go to "coaststarlight99"'s PPC website:
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I don't have any photos of the inside of the car, but, after looking at some online photos of the interior of various Amtrak cars, I am certain this was a cross country cafe car that was used as the parlor car. It served the purpose quite well... and, it was not crowded like the observation car on the coach side of the dining car.
palmland Member # 4344
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Thanks for the trip report, Traingranny. I liked your style; concise and informative. You also did a good job of getting the names of employees that deserve honorable mention - wish I could get organized enough to do that. It was quite a journey you took and a great sampling of Amtrak's finest.
But, seeing all those interesting cities and sights, doesn't it make you want to stop to recover a bit and enjoy some of the unique places we have in this country? For us, part of the fun travel is exploring distant places - sort of an award for what is always an interesting journey on Amtrak.
Train Granny Member # 30118
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Lots of people ask me why I don't get off and enjoy visiting the places I'm "touching" on my train trips. And, if I'm going to a place I have not visited before, I do that. For example, when I recently went to Chicago, I stayed there for two days before moving on. It was my first trip to Chicago, and I had a lot to explore. For most of the cities I've been through on my train travels, however, I have been there at least once before to explore and enjoy what the city has to offer. I guess right now I'm on a mission to ride all the routes that I have promised myself I will ride... and I'm pretty focused on getting that accomplished. It's the journey between the cities that most fascinates me!
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