Rites of Passage, or Amtrak from Spokane to Chicago: Infinite America, Part 2

[jmowreader]

The first installment is at http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018825480

Where we are so far: I have a USA Rail Pass with this trip loaded:
Spokane to Chicago (Empire Builder)
Chicago to Washington, DC (Capitol Limited)
DC to Boston (Northeast Regional)
Boston to New York (Northeast Regional)
New York to Chicago (Lake Shore Limited)
Chicago to Denver (California Zephyr)
Denver to San Francisco (California Zephyr)
San Francisco to Seattle (Coast Starlight)

I have reservations in hostels all along the way. I have more expense money than I think I'll need, a spare set of camera batteries, lots of film...let's get started!



The very first picture of the whole trip:



Everyone thinks the Empire Builder, which runs between Seattle and Portland (the consist is in two pieces; half of it departs Seattle, the other half Portland, and they're coupled in Spokane) and Chicago, sounds like the coolest trip in America because it goes through Glacier National Park, in Montana. This is true, and you get to see things like this...







Unfortunately, you ALSO get to see things like this:





There are two "cool" parts to this segment: Glacier National Park, and the Upper Mississippi River...



Between the two is a LOT of farmland. Also, Empire Builder runs over freight tracks, and the people who own the tracks claim right of way, so you get to park in quite a few sidings. There's only one track running across the top of America, and they could really use two - when you unload a train full of North Dakota wheat in Seattle, you then have to get the train back to North Dakota! Ah, it's not all bad - I managed to read all of Henry Wilhelm's "The Care and Preservation of Color Photographs," which I had on my tablet.

You spend most of your first day in Montana, cruise through St. Paul and Wisconsin Dells during the day...we were supposed to get to Chicago just before 4 pm and arrived about 5:30. With all the stopping you do to allow freight trains past, I didn't think it was that bad. And while this was the most boring part of the trip, what happened next made up for it.

Coming tomorrow: Chicago to Boston!

[elleng]

1. Great pics and great trip!

Have taken a few, including Chicago to Glacier (during which Amtrak lost our baggage!)

[SheilaT]

2. Last year I took Amtrak

from Lamy, NM, to Portland Oregon. Creature of comfort that I am, I booked a sleeper car, and it was simply the best trip ever.

Overnight from NM to LAX, then a longer overnight to PDX. It was so relaxing and so much fun. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

At my age (67) I'm not willing to sleep sitting up, hence the sleeper. Also, the Coast Starlight has a separate lounge car just for the sleeper passengers, and I could take my meals there, and there was a wine-tasting. Giant fun.

[zeemike]

9. Took that trip from Lamey to San Louis Obispo.

Several years ago...best trip ever...and did not even have a sleeper.
Met loads of interesting people along the way...would do it again in a heartbeat too.
Screw those big old jet airliners...a good experience is better than quick.

[hopemountain]

14. does the coast starlight

go through santa barbara and north along the coast, once more? i used to enjoy that trip very much - but then, homeland security, for a time, routed passengers by bus to san jose - which made the trip very painful for those of us who had to endure long hours on the hard plastic seats of the commuter train.

[SheilaT]

19. I think so.

I know that a bit out of LA it follows the coast very closely, gorgeous views of the ocean. I will say that when I took the trip I kept on thinking, What would happen here in an earthquake? A day later there was an earthquake in that part of California, and I know the trains were impacted. I was grateful I'd already completed my trip.

[Not Sure]

3. You think the wait sucks on Amtrak waiting for a freight train,

try sitting on the freight train waiting on Amtrak. If Amtrak is within 1.5 hours away we have to wait. It's double the fun when your trip includes both the northbound and southbound Amtrak.

I'm not sure I understood the "unfortunately, you ALSO get to see things like this" comment. What was the subject of the photo? I can't quite make it out.

[jmowreader]

6. The subject is the flatlands between Glacier National Park and the Upper Mississippi

The US' geography consists of a stretch of beautiful scenery between the Pacific Ocean and the eastern foothills of the Rockies, a stretch of beautiful scenery between...oh, roughly Chicago and the Atlantic Ocean, and a very large chunk of fairly boring terrain in between.

The other "beautiful Western scenery" part of this trip was on the California Zephyr from Chicago to San Francisco. You still go through the flat part of the US - but at night. During the day you're in the Rockies and the Sierra Nevadas.

[Not Sure]

12. Cool, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something

You know, small screen and all.

As far as whether it's beautiful or not, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But there's a reason you cross much of that territory at night. Most people are bored by it. I have a hard time finding a territory I don't see beauty in.

Anyway, it's cool you've documented this trip. There's something about riding the rails, even for us railroaders. Somehow it never seems to get old.

[truedelphi]

4. I did travel from Chi Town to Somewhere in Southern llinois once. And

Traveled on "The City of New Orleans." Made a bit famous by the song of the same title, by Arlo Guthrie, maybe a year after I made the trip.

Very much like the song. A picturesque view of so many different lifestyles. "Good Morning America! How are ya!"

My big dream is to someday try the sort of trip you are taking.

I hope you have a really wonderful trip!

[longship]

5. Love Amtrak. I took a Pullman from LA to NY once.

It was expensive, but marvelous. Very comfortable. And OMFG! The food! Eating in the Dining Car is wonderful. And if you have a Pullman compartment, the food is included in the price of the ticket, three squares a day. And as I said, yup, it is pricey. But worth it given the price of hotels and restaurant meals.

I will never be able to afford anything like that again, but it was a trip of a lifetime.

BTW, we saved by flying coach back to LA from NY. Interestingly, we got bumped to First Class on the last leg, from Dulles Airport in DC to LAX. It was a great capstone to a wonderful trip.

R&K

[Mbrow]

7. Just a thank you,

for taking time to post this wonderful trip

[jmowreader]

8. You are quite welcome

I want people to actually try doing this.

[mentalslavery]

10. Spokane! So I take it you started there and are living there!

Right!?! Cool to see another spokanite on DU!!!

[jmowreader]

13. CDA actually

[mentalslavery]

16. Even, better...the rare idaho liberal!!

CDA is fun...Wonderful city! Have fun on your trip...Especially chi-town...thats my roots!

[jmowreader]

18. I had lots of fun...in October, when I went

[WillyT]

11. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

;fistbump:

[hopemountain]

15. i am going to visualize your pics tonight before falling to sleep

thank you for sharing your enjoyable trip!

[jmowreader]

17. You are most welcome.

[grasswire]

20. Chicago east is NOT the highlight of the trip!!

It was definitely worse than the Empire Builder. The car was hot with no ventilation (in March), noisy, the bathrooms were squalid, it felt slightly dangerous. I hated that leg. Ugh.

[Sherman A1]

21. K&R!

Looking forward to the rest of the journey. I am hoping to do something similar in a few years myself.

[mrmpa]

22. On the Capitol Limited you have a stop in Pittsburgh........

I don't know if there's a layover, but if you have an hour to spare Grab an Uber or Lyft to Primanti's on 18th St. in the Strip District. The Amtrak is on 11th St. (don't walk it). Have the Uber or Lyft wait for you & grab a Primanti's sandwich to go. It is the ultimate sandwich.

it is your meat/cheese on delicious Mancini's bread(composer Henry Mancini's family owns it), the coleslaw and the French fries and tomatoes are on the bread. Don't laugh it's delicious.

They take cash only they have an ATM at the entrance. They are open 24 hours.