I may be riding #6 east to Chicago; which side of the train should I attempt to sit on?
Will be by myself in one of the itty bitty rooms. I understand that 110 is available - correct? What about cell phone reception?
If you have sleeping car accomadations than you cannot really choose which side you sit on. It all depends on how the car in configured when put on the train. If you look on your ticket somewhere is says what car # and what room # you will be in.
Alex
I had forgotten that the cars don't always run with the same sides facing the same way. Somethings going on here at home that are distracting.
But for the folks in coach, what is the good side?
East from where???
lowwater
Going EB from Emerryville I like the left side all the way except from Roseville Ca to just befor Donner lake(some mighty good photo ops there to the right) at Donner Lake evey thing seems to be on the left from then on. Take a $.99 extension coard for your your 110, as I recall its above and outboard of your ear. Use the side door window downstairs if necessary for some good photos. Enjoy, Jim
The prime side of the train varies depending on location. Better than sitting in your bedroom, go to the lounge car. You can move from side to side as the scenery changes. Best views are from Auburn to Reno, and well east of Green River through to Denver. As soon as you get into Ruby Canyon, west of Grand Junction you'll get good shots out of both sides. East of Glenwood Springs, the left side (E/B) is best. From Dotzero east the optimum side changes depending on which side of the canyon you are on.
Trying to shot out of the lower level open window in the door in the sleeper is really iffy. Some crews won't object, but others are on the PA right away if they detect you using the open window.
Good luck!!
Could I possibly pay the $20 fine in advance?
dutchman Wrote:
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> The prime side of the train varies depending on
> location. Better than sitting in your bedroom, go
> to the lounge car. You can move from side to side
> as the scenery changes. Best views are from
> Auburn to Reno, and well east of Green River
> through to Denver. As soon as you get into Ruby
> Canyon, west of Grand Junction you'll get good
> shots out of both sides. East of Glenwood
> Springs, the left side (E/B) is best. From
> Dotzero east the optimum side changes depending on
> which side of the canyon you are on.
>
> Trying to shot out of the lower level open window
> in the door in the sleeper is really iffy. Some
> crews won't object, but others are on the PA right
> away if they detect you using the open window.
>
> Good luck!!
Some years ago, a woman walked up the ramp from the tunnel at Los Angeles Union Station and asked the conductor at the head of the ramp "Which side do I sit on to see the ocean?" Without hesitating the conductor asked "Which ocean, mam?"
just road #6 emeryville to chicago last year, and had the same question.
If you're in a sleeper, get a room upstairs. I think rooms 1 thru 10 are
upstairs, and 11 and 12 are downstairs, but I c ould be wrong.
Some one here will have the info, as well as the website that has the
superliner room layout (not an Amtrak sight)
We rode in a room on the left hand side. Which I preferred. Even with
all the turning track, you will predominantly have the sun to your back if
you're on the left side, if you're taking pix.
I would recommend getting to the train at least an hour early. Find your
car, and if your room isn't on the side you want, offer the porter $20. or $30.
to get you a room on the side u want. It worked for us.
As for viewing during the trip, I highly recommend hanging out in the lounge
car for most of the day. Get the spot u want before 10-11 am if it fits you're
lifestyle. After noon, the lounge will tend to fill up till dark.
If you're bringing a scanner (which I also highly recommend), bring an earphone
and a charger. You can keep this scanner plugged in while you're listening
in the lounge car. There will LOTS of meets along the way, and you can keep
up with the goings on. Crews also call out signals, especially if other than clear.
Left side of train best from emeryville to Roseville. Rosev ille yard is on the right
side.
Both side good roseville to reno, but I'd take the left side if I had to make a choice.
It'll be pretty much dark reno to Salt lake; daylight returns between SLC and helper.
You'll want to shoot out both sides thru the horseshoe curves climbing the hill
south of salt lake. The loung will be empty as this is early am.
Helper...The UP yard is on the left side, but shots from the train are tight.
Good shots from the right side of the Utah railway shops up on the hill, just before
you pull into the helper station stop.
You should have some time to get off the train at helper and take some shots.
Great telephoto shot of the main drag thru downtown Helper, as you pull out
of the station, from the right side of train. Not a train shot, but a nice shot
of a town that looks like it hasn't changed since 1950.
Helper to Grand Jct.. Not much, but scenery get better as you get closer to
GJT. I think the right side is more interesting here, but the sun is in your
face on the right side.
Lots of old almost abandoned yards and sidings along the way here.
Grand Jct to Dot Zero...I prefer left side, but both are good.
Dot zero to Winter park..I prefer right side.
Winter park to Denver..Left side will gide you the "big view" of Denver
from atop the front range, right before you make the big descent.
Dark from Denver to Omaha.
If you're late into Omaha (usually happens), The UP museum will be on
the left side, with DD40 and Big Boy (or is it the Challenger?) outside.
You also might see some UP varnish there too.
Lost of fast running from East of Omaha (after u cross the river) to Chicago.
Left side will have sun at your back. BN is much better at staging meets
than the UP. I found the "small" stations at the stops in Iowa most interesting.
There is also a nice sweeping left turn, just past the station stop
on the approach to the bridge over the mississippi river (can't remember if it's
Dubuque, or where)
As for opening windows downstairs for pix, my experience is that the crews will
treat you like you're a criminal. You'd think Amtrak would learn something
about social graces and customer service in 30+ years, but this just isn't
one of their priorities. Things have gotten worse (in my opinion) since 9/11,
as a lot of people still can't tell the difference between the good guys and the
bad guys, and why miss an opportunity to boss someone around show how
important you are?
I'm sure there are some nice crews, but they are in the minority.
Good luck. I was wondering whether or not I would enjoy the trip, and it
all worked out as well as I could expect.
pdt
If I were you I would just stay downstairs near the windows. It isn't crowded and you won't have to listen to all the BS in lounge car. As for opening the window, ask the crew politely. If they say "no" just open it anyways. hehe. When I ride the Sunset limited I just go in the downstairs area of the lounge car in the middle of the night and just chill down there with the window open. Fricken fun. Yes, I am a RR rebel. hehe. I just cannot go through a whole train trip with out opening the window. I wish trains used to be how they used to be where you could go to the end of the train and stand on the open platform, or just open the window on the dutch door without being threatened to be thrown off. Too bad you cannot sign a safety waiver with amtrak so if you have the window open or something and get hit by a flying rock they are not responsible and you can open the window whenever you want. I can think of a lot of things the RR's can do. OK, I will stop rambling. :-)
Alex
I prefer the lounge car. You can see both sides. I've done coast to coast many times and I think I can count the number of good pictures I've taken from the train on one hand. Scenery that I really like, I plan a trip for that part of the country next year and get my good photos. The best ones have been from a Rio Grande Zephyr dome car or a Park Series dome on VIA. Not a Superliner.
Most of my photos have been taken from the lower level open window. (And I know that is DANGEROUS) I've had a crew member (once) invite me to shoot through an open window but most often I've been scolded or threatened with being put off the train. Now I just stand there with the window closed unless something comes up. I NEVER open it if somebody else is around. Especially kids. Once on the Starlight we were dropping down into San Luis Obispo and from the scanner I knew there was a work train with a tie gang at Chorro. At the west switch I opened the window and eased my head out to look ahead at the work train. They had flat cars with ties. The steel bands around the bundles had been broken and were flapping in the air. One band was sliding down the side of the Superliner cars right at my throat level. Slammed the window shut just as it went across the window.
I generally have a couple of battery chargers with me and they are of a design that won't fit in the recess where the 110 outlet is in the economy rooms. So I carry a three foot (mentioned a couple posts up) extension cord. I also carry an inflatable air pillow used by campers. Doesn't take any space. And a small roll of Scotch strapping tape. (For a broken luggage zipper or rattle somewhere in the compartment, etc. I've seen others with duct tape)
jb
