I enjoy chatting with cab drivers. It’s a boring job and most of them enjoy the diversion of a little conversation. I started as I usually do by asking him how long he had been driving a cab. “Three years here in Oakland,” he said We were stopped at a red light on our way…
I have received emails from two different readers, each wanting to know how the California Zephyr compares to VIA Rail’s flagship train, The Canadian. I’ve traveled on both trains multiple times, and both have much to offer. The Zephyr is a two-night trip from Chicago to the San Francisco Bay area; the Canadian now takes…
The issue for today: For any given long-distance train, is one direction better than the other? There are a lot of factors to consider. For instance, what if the train is running late? OK, let’s start with . . . Train #5, the westbound California Zephyr Choosing the best direction for this train is pretty…
by Juan Sanchez, Guest Contributor This photo shows very nicely why this train was the “Most Talked About Train in the Country”. Two modern domeliners meeting in some of the most scenic stretches of track in the country. The route of the California Zephyr had always been a sort of afterthought when it came to…