Amtrak trip,,, tips tricks and advice

Hi Joe    what train are you on to Phoenix ?  What 6 hour delay ?

Capitol Limited Alliance OH 1:30 AM arrives Chicago 8:45 AM

Southwest Chief leaves Chicago 3:00 PM to Flagstaff AZ arrives around 9 PM next day. To continue to Phoenix would necessitate a bus ride of 1 1/2 hours but we're meeting a friend in Flagstaff so we can do some sightseeing in northern AZ

I guess a specific question would be who and how much do you tip if tipping should be done

That's a 6-hour "layover."  (intentional)

dobermann posted:

Tell me what to expect.

You can expect delays.

You'll be lucky if a 6-hour "delay" is what you will have accumulated over the course of the trip.  The silver lining, if you are a train fan, is watching freight moves, locomotive changes, opposing passenger traffic, and admiring the scenery and interesting ROW infrastructure.  Bring a camera with plenty of memory.

We've been taking the Silver Star to Lakeland FL for several years. Have the handicapped bedroom and depending on how helpful/useful the attendant is have tipped $0-$20. We've found them to be either very great folks or terrible. My wife wrote about one to Amtrak and was sent a $100 credit towards the next trip.

You can expect delays.

I guess it's a good thing the return trip is 4 weeks later then. That's why we got the room with the bathroom and shower.

Been years since we rode the SW Chief and we got into Flagstaff very late, around 2AM.  Hopefully you will have better luck. 

Farmer_Bill posted:

Been years since we rode the SW Chief and we got into Flagstaff very late, around 2AM.  Hopefully you will have better luck. 

Thanks..Friend meeting us already booked a room so we can just call or cab when we hit Flagstaff. She also got a late checkout so no rush in the morning.

You can't really think of a 6 hour layover in Chicago as a delay, if you think of layover time as a delay you have the wrong mode of transportation. Thats not a delay thats exploration time !!   You can explore a lot in 6 hours and have a really good meal in one of downtown Chicago's great restaurants. get some train watching in also. I travel long-distance Amtrak a few times a year. Chicago, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, D.C. all have great delays (exploration time). I also ride the Canadian, more great exploration time, Vancouver, Jasper, Toronto.

I do tip the room steward and the dining car staff, I'm never sure how much to tip. Use to be it wasn't expected. two years ago on the VIA Canadian the steward gave me my tip back. It's good you got the room on Amtrak. With sleeper accommodations  you also get use of the first class lounge in Chicago. The first meal on all trains leaving Chicago is evening dinner. You will share your dining car table with other people, some people don't like that but I do, meet a lot of interesting people. Have fun and talk to everyone

Remember its the journey 

Clem 

Remember its the journey 

Thanks Clem. Since1976 I've traveled every couple of years sometimes for months on a motorcycle so I can relate to the journey. Toronto to Vancouver by rail has been on my list for years just not in the budget.

I'm not sure how far it is to the museum of science and industry. I'd like to go there again time permitting. I don't see any problem with spending 6 hours in Chicago .

joe

Get a sleeper car room (if its offered)  The dining car price is included with the ticket.  I've not had a bad experience with AMTRAK and would recommend it to anyone travelling overnight.  You WILL see a lot more of America by train than if you took a car or plane. 

Joe; I've just done a trip from Seattle via Chicago, New York and back. Get a room and toilet/shower for sure! Watch the world go by from your own cabin, quiet and peaceful! Each leg of the trip we ran late......3hrs into NY, it seems the norm and passengers I met just shrugged there shoulders! 

With a cabin all meals were free and most folk dropped $2 to $5 on the table, beer you have to pay and I like a beer or two so I tipped accordingly.....

The 'Empire Builder' was much better then 'The Cardinal' and the return 'Lake Shore Limited'. The accommodation, the food, and the service.

All in all for train fans like ourselves....heaven! Great scenery, natural and man made.

Phil.

I took the Capitol Limited & SW Chief Wash DC to LA last year. Superb service.  Get upper level bedroom.  Try to get one nearer center of car.  As Clem says, meeting people over dinner is a highlight of the trip.

Joe   You will ned a taxi to get to Science and industry, I think it is to far. The Sears Tower is right across the river from Union Station. I tend to only go where I can walk.  The first class lounge now as showers.

Clem 

Does the car transfer or will I be moving my belongings?

dobermann posted:

Does the car transfer or will I be moving my belongings?

No, your car from the east does NOT transfer to the westbound train, so yes, you will have to take all your belongings with you. You should be able to "check" them in the First Class Lounge, within Union Station.

clem k posted:

You can't really think of a 6 hour layover in Chicago as a delay, if you think of layover time as a delay you have the wrong mode of transportation. Thats not a delay thats exploration time !!   You can explore a lot in 6 hours and have a really good meal in one of downtown Chicago's great restaurants. get some train watching in also. I travel long-distance Amtrak a few times a year. Chicago, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, D.C. all have great delays (exploration time). I also ride the Canadian, more great exploration time, Vancouver, Jasper, Toronto.

I do tip the room steward and the dining car staff, I'm never sure how much to tip. Use to be it wasn't expected. two years ago on the VIA Canadian the steward gave me my tip back. It's good you got the room on Amtrak. With sleeper accommodations  you also get use of the first class lounge in Chicago. The first meal on all trains leaving Chicago is evening dinner. You will share your dining car table with other people, some people don't like that but I do, meet a lot of interesting people. Have fun and talk to everyone

Remember its the journey 

Clem 

I would 100% agree with this. Pretty sure there are lockers in Union Station. Store your stuff and go explore. Chicago is a fun city, go see it! You need to try the Billy Goat Tavern, Lou Malnati's Pizza or Al's Beef Sandwiches.

Goshawk posted:

clem k posted:

You can't really think of a 6 hour layover in Chicago as a delay, if you think of layover time as a delay you have the wrong mode of transportation. Thats not a delay thats exploration time !!   You can explore a lot in 6 hours and have a really good meal in one of downtown Chicago's great restaurants. get some train watching in also. I travel long-distance Amtrak a few times a year. Chicago, Sacramento, Portland, Seattle, D.C. all have great delays (exploration time). I also ride the Canadian, more great exploration time, Vancouver, Jasper, Toronto.

I do tip the room steward and the dining car staff, I'm never sure how much to tip. Use to be it wasn't expected. two years ago on the VIA Canadian the steward gave me my tip back. It's good you got the room on Amtrak. With sleeper accommodations  you also get use of the first class lounge in Chicago. The first meal on all trains leaving Chicago is evening dinner. You will share your dining car table with other people, some people don't like that but I do, meet a lot of interesting people. Have fun and talk to everyone

Remember its the journey 

Clem 

I would 100% agree with this. Pretty sure there are lockers in Union Station. Store your stuff and go explore. Chicago is a fun city, go see it! You need to try the Billy Goat Tavern, Lou Malnati's Pizza or Al's Beef Sandwiches.

All pretty good selections for food, however if you want a REAL nice lunch prior to your 3PM departure, walk about 3 or 4 blocks east from Union Station to the Berghoff Restaurant. Truly excellent German dining (for what it's worth, they still hold the number 1 Chicago Liquor License). Not cheap, but their sauerbraten & potato pancakes is out of this world.   

Joe, living 45 minutes from Williams, AZ, we've taken the SW Chief and Capitol Limited many times when going to York - always in the deluxe sleeper.  As others have noted, by far the best way to do Amtrak.

All this summer the Chief ran very late due to track improvements and resulting slow running in New Mexico, but that seems to be done now.  However, typically it will be an hour or two late coming westbound into Flagstaff and an hour late eastbound.  But with the slop in the schedules, it typically makes up that time and is on time into Chicago for your layover going home.

I don't know what your plans are in Phoenix, but if you can make sure you visit the train and model layouts in the Scottsdale Railroad Park.

And if you find your self in the Prescott area, let me know and I've be happy to have you come by for a layout visit.

Your 6-Hour "layover" may be just enough to not miss your South West Chief connection... there's a reason it's called the "Late Shore Limited"...

Jon