56 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

Use this thread to discuss the Amtrak trips related to the Fest, including the 4 segments on the California Zephyr, and any other Amtrak trips you may take to the Fest starting point or home from the conclusion of the Fest. It is not necessary to post your distinct plans here if you don't feel comfortable doing so. But some may end up travelling together on trains between the east coast and Chicago. Links to the eventual sleeper charts will be posted in this thread once enough people have reported what their accommodations will be on each train.

[KevinKorell]

Related to the official fest on trains west of Chicago, we should be getting: Train #5(12) CHI-SLC: Dinner, breakfast, lunch, dinner Train #5(14) SLC-RNO departing July 15th: Breakfast Train #6(16) RNO-DEN: Dinner, breakfast, lunch, & perhaps early dinner Train #6(17) DEN-CHI departing July 18th: Dinner, breakfast, lunch So that's possibly 12 on-board meals. As has been our custom, we try to be early with the Lead Service Attendant (LSA) so that we can reserve a decent time lunch or dinner seating for a large group. One benefit to the sleeper charts is that they have helped in providing everyone's whereabouts quickly to the LSA. Breakfast we typically don't all sit together although some may coincidentally meet up in the dining car. While a few choose to sleep later (or even miss breakfast entirely), others tend to be at the dining car opening, which is generally 6:30 AM in the local time zone we are traversing.

Edited by KevinKorell, 14 March 2014 - 02:56 PM.

[BillMagee]

I've been tracking the arrival and departures of the Amtrak portions of the Fest, and here is a detail report showing the Reno arrival of #5, departure of #6, and the layover time.

Date		   #5			#6			Layover
			   arRNO		 dpRNO		 (hr/min)

03/03		  10:25 AM	  4:22 PM	   5:57
03/04		  12:13 PM	  4:06 PM	   3:53
03/05		  11:58 AM	  4:33 PM	   4:35
03/06		  9:06 AM	   4:06 PM	   7:00
03/07		  8:37 AM	   4:58 PM	   8:21

03/08		  8:57 AM	   4:23 PM	   7:26
03/09		  8:49 AM	   4:11 PM	   7:22
03/10		  9:50 AM	   4:12 PM	   6:22
03/11		  8:36 AM	   11:28 PM	  14:52
03/12		  9:29 AM	   4:08 PM	   6:39

03/13		  8:31 AM	   4:45 PM	   8:14
03/14		  8:33 AM	   4:06 PM	   7:33
03/15		  9:01 AM	   5:15 PM	   8:14
03/16		  8:21 AM	   4:06 PM	   7:45
03/17		  8:16 AM	   5:32 PM	   9:16

03/18		  9:19 AM	   4:06 PM	   6:47
03/19		  8:24 AM	   5:55 PM	   9:31
03/20		  8:13 AM	   4:32 PM	   8:19
03/21		  8:35 AM	   4:06 PM	   7:31
03/22		  10:34 AM	  4:34 PM	   6:00

03/23		  8:53 AM	   4:07 PM	   7:14
03/24		  8:24 AM	   4:08 PM	   7:44
03/25		  8:28 AM	   4:10 PM	   7:42
03/26		  8:25 AM	   4:06 PM	   7:41
03/27		  9:00 AM	   4:50 PM	   7:50

03/28		  11:41 AM	  4:49 PM	   5:08
03/29		  10:25 AM	  4:45 PM	   6:20
03/30		  9:05 AM	   4:08 PM	   7:03
03/31		  10:32 AM	  4:08 PM	   5:36
04/01		  8:30 AM	   4:18 PM	   7:48

04/02		  8:32 AM	   5:07 PM	   8:35
04/03		  11:32 AM	  5:00 PM	   5:28
04/04		  9:57 AM	   4:32 PM	   6:35
04/05		  8:19 AM	   4:39 PM	   8:20

[KevinKorell]

Thanks, Bill. Looks like we can expect a comfortable layover including ample time for lunch at Reno, and eastbound departures mostly within an hour or so of the schedule. The only serious anomaly to this was March 11th. I am sure that particular train's Denver arrival would have been at a very uncomfortable hour unless it made up some time with padding.

[BillMagee]

Attached are the arrival info for the eastbound and westbound Zephyrs from March 1 through today. I'll update these every month or so. I also have data for the Capitol Limited, Lake Shore Limited and the Cardinal. I'll can post those as we get closer, or if there is a groundswell of demand.

Updated tables are here.

[saxman]

Don't forget about the monorail ride at Circus Circus. It runs between the two towers. It's about a 4 minute ride, but its something to do. Honestly you can walk between the two towers in less time. But the hotel complex is just a few blocks from the station. On another note, I was thinking about making the CZ turn in Truckee instead of Reno. I've done this before. Truckee is a nice little town to explore on foot. There are plenty of restaurants, shops, and wine bars to kill time in. Even though the station is unstaffed by Amtrak agents, the station is staffed by information guides about the area. They were kind enough to let me store my bag in a locked room while I walked about town. Just something to consider for the turn.

[KevinKorell]

Thanks Chris. I didn't know about that monorail, but if anything it further convinces me to stick with the Reno turnaround. To me it's a bonus. And it's free. That isn't to say that anyone who wishes to ride west to Truckee and back isn't welcome to do that if you want the mileage, the cost, and the risk.

I did some research, and here is an article about it.

Here is a YouTube video of it, although we wouldn't be enjoying it with the lights on by night as these people were.

[KevinKorell]

I'll can post those as we get closer, or if there is a groundswell of demand.

Consider me the start of the groundswell, although there is really no rush.

I had strongly considered doing the Cardinal westbound on July 11th, but having to work late the night before, its departure is just too early in the morning. Ultimately I chose the Lake Shore Limited only because it is easiest to get to, and leaves late afternoon. I will of course still be interested to know whether all 3 of the east coast to Chicago trains made the connection in Chicago with our California Zephyr trip. Eastbound current plan is to remain in the Midwest and then do the Cardinal east Tuesday 7/22, following the Saturday afternoon end of the Fest.

[BillMagee]

Here's an update of the charts for the eastbound and westbound Zephyr's. The charts posted in the April 6 post have been taken down.

Updated tables are here.

[BillMagee]

Here is a chart for the westbound Lake Shore Limited. Two notes:
- Several times for Albany departure are missing. They were not reported by Amtrak, but the train did operate.
- The bright red format is for trains 3hr 45min or more late. This flags Chicago arrivals within 30 minutes of the departure of the westbound Zephyr, and mis-connects.

Updated tables are here.