I was the only sleeping car passenger on the platform when the southbound Coast Starlight arrived in Davis, California, spot on time at 6:50 yesterday morning. The door of the 31 car banged open and the car attendant, a feisty woman clearly approaching retirement age, called out, “Mr. Loomis?” I clambered aboard and, as…
Yesterday an email popped up from a couple planning a cross-country train ride. They want to know which of the western trains out of Chicago I would recommend. I had to laugh because I go through that same quandary myself once or twice every year. I’ve done it every possible way, too—the Texas Eagle,…
My personal worst-case Amtrak scenario is that they will conspire to get rid of the Pacific Parlour Cars on the Coast Starlight and justify it by claiming the cars are just too old and too expensive to maintain. With all the cost cutting going on, I just know that the guys with the green eyeshades…