by hcm48
Last September did 449 to CHI (bustitution boston - albany) connecting to 3 (SW Chief) to LAX then up to Simi Valley where I meet family. Return was Coast Starlight to Empire Builder to LSL to Boston, was bussed from Eugene to Portland to connect with the EB. All in all a very plesant trip (interesting to note that the bus got to Albany much faster that the train - we were an express though - only stop between BOS and ALB was Worcester.
Wanted to do roughly the same thing this year-instead of the SW Chief I wanted to do the Texas Eagle to LAX (different routing and one more night on the train) Booked the tix then started following train 1.
I now have changed my booking back to 449/3 to LAX because of the terrible OTP of the Sunset Limited, I simply could not risk getting into LAX 13 hours late - the actual ticket has me connecting in LAX with a 12:30 train to Simi Valley.
What could I have gotten myself into?
What would have happened if train 1 was so late that I could not get to Simi Valley at a reasonable hour? Would I get bussed from AZ to make a resonable connetion in LAX?
I have read most all the postings on this forum and am aware of the problems UP gives Amtrak
I have the opportunity to take long train trips but the trips have a purpose - I need to be somewhere on a specific day at a certain time.
I really wanted to do train 421 but could not risk being overly delayed.
As Cunard says, "Getting there is half the fun" but you want to get there via the mode of transport you selected (train) in a resonable time frame.
Molly Brown did get from Europe to the USA by boat - a few more than she expected and not as luxe but she arrived. IMHO it seems that the Sunset Limited, under the constraints that she faces (are trains female - I'm much more familiar with ships) from UP can be compared to the Titanic - just can't get around the obstacles in her path
Of course, if train 1's OTP improves to where it arrives on average 4 hrs late (say 10AM) then I would take 421 without a qualm.
Greatly appreciate any feedback.
Wanted to do roughly the same thing this year-instead of the SW Chief I wanted to do the Texas Eagle to LAX (different routing and one more night on the train) Booked the tix then started following train 1.
I now have changed my booking back to 449/3 to LAX because of the terrible OTP of the Sunset Limited, I simply could not risk getting into LAX 13 hours late - the actual ticket has me connecting in LAX with a 12:30 train to Simi Valley.
What could I have gotten myself into?
What would have happened if train 1 was so late that I could not get to Simi Valley at a reasonable hour? Would I get bussed from AZ to make a resonable connetion in LAX?
I have read most all the postings on this forum and am aware of the problems UP gives Amtrak
I have the opportunity to take long train trips but the trips have a purpose - I need to be somewhere on a specific day at a certain time.
I really wanted to do train 421 but could not risk being overly delayed.
As Cunard says, "Getting there is half the fun" but you want to get there via the mode of transport you selected (train) in a resonable time frame.
Molly Brown did get from Europe to the USA by boat - a few more than she expected and not as luxe but she arrived. IMHO it seems that the Sunset Limited, under the constraints that she faces (are trains female - I'm much more familiar with ships) from UP can be compared to the Titanic - just can't get around the obstacles in her path
Of course, if train 1's OTP improves to where it arrives on average 4 hrs late (say 10AM) then I would take 421 without a qualm.
Greatly appreciate any feedback.