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[KevinKorell]

Post all thoughts here regarding our trip west on the California Zephyr, Train #5(16), with travel leaving Chicago on Monday 9/16 and arriving into Denver on Tuesday 9/17.

[KevinKorell]

Just Bruce and I were on this portion of the Fest.  Boarding for the 2 PM departure started around 1:20 PM, and we were led to the proper gate. The Texas Eagle was also boarding at the same time, so our line was stopped for a few minutes to let those passengers file towards their train. Soon we continued our queue and boarded respective cars of our train.  My 533 car was the furthest walk.

 

One good reason why a few who tried to reserve the trip with us were unable to find available or affordable sleepers was that there was an America By Rail group travelling in both Coach and Sleepers. The tour guide was in my sleeper and I overheard her say the group had 40 members.   Those members although they are associated with a group with the word Rail in its name are total novices, most of whom never traveled by train before despite their age.  They bred a lot of confusion. For example when asked about preferred dinner reservations they did not know whether they had to make them for themselves or whether the tour handled them.

 

The California Zephyr departure Chicago right on time, and proceeded west.  We sat for a while at the Naperville stop, losing a few minutes there. 

 

The LSA of the dining car was one of those who love to hear his own voice over the public address system.  He was quite talkative but forceful in communicating the procedures and rules.  Our server was a bit slow, taking a long time to get to each table under her care.  What this did was to set subsequent seatings back about 1/2 hour late.

 

We seemed to lose more as we progressed. We were a much as 27 minutes late, and then made some of it up by Ottumwa, IA. But that was a crew stop so we spent some time there. Some more padding into Omaha, but again overnight we managed to lose it across Nebraska. 

 

In the morning, by Fort Morgan we were 1 hour 18 minutes late.  Had we been on time, breakfast would have been rushed. Since I didn't sleep too well I elected not to go even though with our tardy train I might have had time if I went at the 6 AM opening.  Soon after, a waiting list was created, which basically eliminated anyone getting off in Denver.

 

My sleeper attendant was in my opinion very good and efficient. He had another person taking my room beyond Denver, so understandably he needed to get my room clean as soon as I vacated it.

 

With padding, arrival into Denver was 8:02 AM, 47 minutes late.  Not too bad, considering just for the sake of a late arrival I had not scheduled any of our rail activities until the afternoon.   Overall despite the slow waitress, it was a decent trip.