California Zephyr Advice / Recommendations

There's great scenery on both sides of the train - depending on where you are along the route. Spend time in the lounge car and you'll be able to see both sides. Also, hop off the train at the smoking stops and stretch you legs. Sometimes you'll have enough time to walk to the front of the train to get a picture of the power. 

Last summer Eastbound west of Denver east of salt lake city.

Trackside around the Moffat Tunnel Subdivision of Number 5/6 and some Winter Park Express. (All my photos) hope you might get a taste of some of the Colorado scenery Moffat Tunnel area 

The Zephyr is a great trip. We found the smallest roomettes to be very tight for two people; you'll need some athleticism to get in and out of the upper bunk. I'd recommend the slightly larger compartments.

Jan

How incredibly appropriate a topic! I am currently planning a trip on the Zephyr with my mother. The plan is to fly to Denver, and take it westbound to San Francisco. But we are thinking upper level coach until Salt Lake City, where we have tickets for possibly two roomettes. Then after a few days (hopefully doing the Napa Valley Wine Train) fly to Chicago, where we would take Amtrak to Harrisburg PA.

I can't wait to make these reservations. Not sure what month. Perhaps August or September.

-Matt

Going over Donner Summit the railroad is on the south side of the pass, so the view is to the north.  That would be on the right side of the train going west. 

In the last three years we have taken three trips on the California Zephyr . Its a comfortable relaxing trip ( we always have bedroom accommodations) but there is not much scenery across the plains, until you depart Denver and go West. For the best views go to the sightseer lounge. Its  an observation car with large windows open to all train passengers. As they have a full dining car, the food on that Amtrak route is decent. If you book a sleeper there will be morning coffee in the car vestibule on the upper level served before the dining car serves breakfast.

Pay the extra money for a bedroom. We have taken it twice in the past 3 years from Chicago to SF, & we are taking it again in June from Grand Jtn, CO to Chicago. I am now an expert on the Zephyr I am taking the Empire Builder for the 1st time in June to White Fish, MT

Badge109 posted:

How incredibly appropriate a topic! I am currently planning a trip on the Zephyr with my mother. The plan is to fly to Denver, and take it westbound to San Francisco. But we are thinking upper level coach until Salt Lake City, where we have tickets for possibly two roomettes. Then after a few days (hopefully doing the Napa Valley Wine Train) fly to Chicago, where we would take Amtrak to Harrisburg PA.

I can't wait to make these reservations. Not sure what month. Perhaps August or September.

 

-Matt

Hi Matt,

  We are flying to Chicago from DC, as I live outside Frederick, MD. Once we get to SF, we are also heading to NAPA and doing the NAPA Wine Train! I do not know how I suckered my wife and her family into so many train activities! Our trip is the first week of May.

eddie g posted:

Pay the extra money for a bedroom. We have taken it twice in the past 3 years from Chicago to SF, & we are taking it again in June from Grand Jtn, CO to Chicago. I am now an expert on the Zephyr I am taking the Empire Builder for the 1st time in June to White Fish, MT

Eddie,

  We did book a bedroom. I was not sure if I should request one side of the car or the other. I guess it does not matter much, as you can get up and go to the lounge car for views. 

Erik C Lindgren posted:

Trackside around the Moffat Tunnel Subdivision of Number 5/6 and some Winter Park Express. (All my photos) hope you might get a taste of some of the Colorado scenery Moffat Tunnel area 

Erik,

  When did they run the original CA Zephyr cars and when might they do it again? Were passengers able to sleep in them? 

vthokies2007-2011 posted:

Erik C Lindgren posted:

Trackside around the Moffat Tunnel Subdivision of Number 5/6 and some Winter Park Express. (All my photos) hope you might get a taste of some of the Colorado scenery Moffat Tunnel area 

Erik,

  When did they run the original CA Zephyr cars and when might they do it again? Were passengers able to sleep in them? 

Privately owned but available to purchase as a matched set from Ozark Mountain Railcar. Bring your $$$!

https://www.ozarkmountainrailc...assenger%20Equipment

My wife and I went to Florida on the Silver Meteor a few weeks ago. We each had our own roomette, across from each other. The "bedroom" is larger, but still has a top bunk to navigate. The price between the 2 roomettes vs 1 bedroom was about the same.

One-way, Silver Meteor, 2 people, Phila to Ft. Lauderdale: 1 bedroom= $1,161., 2 roomettes= $911.

Joe Hohmann posted:

My wife and I went to Florida on the Silver Meteor a few weeks ago. We each had our own roomette, across from each other. The "bedroom" is larger, but still has a top bunk to navigate. The price between the 2 roomettes vs 1 bedroom was about the same.

One-way, Silver Meteor, 2 people, Phila to Ft. Lauderdale: 1 bedroom= $1,161., 2 roomettes= $911.

That price seems a bit excessive.  You probably hit a high bucket fare.  If you do a search of fares for the month using  www.amsnag.com you can get a picture of how fares  fluctuate wildly from day to day and from week to week.

I don't know  if you know this, but the viewliner roomettes on the Meteor are way different than the roomettes on the Zephyr. The roomettes on the Zephyr have no bathroom or sink to wash up, & the upper berth has much less head room.

eddie g posted:

I don't know  if you know this, but the viewliner roomettes on the Meteor are way different than the roomettes on the Zephyr. The roomettes on the Zephyr have no bathroom or sink to wash up, & the upper berth has much less head room.

Plus, the upper berth does not have its own window.

vthokies2007-2011 posted:

eddie g posted:

Pay the extra money for a bedroom. We have taken it twice in the past 3 years from Chicago to SF, & we are taking it again in June from Grand Jtn, CO to Chicago. I am now an expert on the Zephyr I am taking the Empire Builder for the 1st time in June to White Fish, MT

Eddie,

  We did book a bedroom. I was not sure if I should request one side of the car or the other. I guess it does not matter much, as you can get up and go to the lounge car for views. 

All the bedrooms are on one side of the car.  They should have the car turned to provide the most scenic ride to the bedrooms.

Roomettes are on both sides of the car, so you would have to specify if you want to be on a particular side of the train.

vthokies2007-2011 posted:

Erik C Lindgren posted:

Trackside around the Moffat Tunnel Subdivision of Number 5/6 and some Winter Park Express. (All my photos) hope you might get a taste of some of the Colorado scenery Moffat Tunnel area 

Erik,

  When did they run the original CA Zephyr cars and when might they do it again? Were passengers able to sleep in them? 

There is a "Last Run" coming up.  See www.traintrips.biz

These cars are about to be sold and this could be the last ride available to the public.  It is expensive, but if you really want to ride in authentic California Zephyr cars between Oakland and Chicago, just pay and go.

If you want to ride these cars, you must act promptly.  Fidgeting and hem-hawing will allow you to see the Sold Out sign.

And -- to answer your question -- the real California Zephyr ran from 1949 until 1970.