Amtrak long distance. I've got some vacation time.

[Ptah]

Poll question: Amtrak long distance. I've got some vacation time.

Sunset Limited.

City of New Orleans.

Coast Starlight.

San Joaquins.

Empire Builder.

[harmonicon]

1. can't smoke on amtrak anymore, so what's the point?

I think I'm going to take it this month to go from Chicago to my parents' place in Michigan, and that 4 - 5 hours should be plenty.

[Ptah]

2. The point is

miles and miles of relaxation.

[pokerfan]

5. Empire Builder

but I haven't taken it east of Whitefish, Mt.

[Ptah]

10. Then you haven't been through West Glacier or East Glacier.

They are why the railroad is there.

[pokerfan]

11. I've been all over Glacier, just not by train.

Ptarmigan (foot) Tunnel, north portal:

[Ptah]

13. I am always amazed that Going-to-the-sun-road isn't cleared until July.

Trick Falls:

[pokerfan]

14. That road and the foot tunnel I posted

probably wouldn't be built with today's ethos and perhaps deservedly so.

The North Cascades Highway opens late, too. Avalanche danger. Heck, it snowed here in town just last month.

[Kali]

3. go east and when you climb the big hill out of Benson I will come take a picture -

or you can take one of me on my new pygmy pony checkin' the dennil floss! (not really - he isn't a pigmy, he just isn't real big and I am.)

:hi:

[Ptah]

4. When I was of high school age, we had a paint.

She was sweet.

:hi:

[Kali]

6. he is the 4th I have been aquainted with. All have caused minor

injuries. :eyes: So far he has been better than expected. I seem to be attracted to them dispite a bit of "cowboy prejudice" against "pretty horses" as opposed to good working brown ones. heh heh

Here is a shot near the tracks from last year on my old guy, Uno. Those are the Dragoons and the "West Stronghold" (as in Cochise Stronghold) in the background.

[Ptah]

7. I love the focus of Uno's ears.

:hi:

[QueenOfCalifornia]

Thank you.

for posting the pics.

What a pretty pony.

Love the pic downthread with the train!

[SeattleGirl]

8. Coast Starlight

I used to take that train quite a bit between Seattle and Eugene. It's a beautiful trip.

[intheflow]

9. Why in the world haven't more people voted for

The Empire Builder AND the City of New Orleans? Good God! You get to make a big loop around more than half the country! I'd do city of New Orleans first, though, so you build up to the grandeur of the Rockies. But then, I was the kid who ate her icky peas first to save the to save the yummy main dish for last. :)

Seriously, as a photographer, you owe it to yourself (and the Photo Group) to go to as much varied terrain as you can--in the round trip you get plains, cypress swamps, rolling hills, desert, ocean and mountains. You will have time to stop and shoot some stuff, right?

[QueenOfCalifornia]

18. We can only vote

once.

I love train trips.

This thread makes me want to go get on a train. Toot-toot! All aboard!

[ThoughtCriminal]

12. Mile-for-Mile, I like the Starlight best

Assuming you like mountains and coastal scenery.

I've also taken the Empire Builder from Portland to West Glacier. That was terrific, especially along the Columbia River.

One bit of advice if you are making train connections, plan a one day layover on the connection. Otherwise, if the first train is running late, you may find yourself being Am-Bussed to make the connection. This is especially true for the Sunset Limited, which tends to run many hours late.

[Ysabel]

15. city of new orleans the best train ever...

- i practically grew up on that train i love it and it's the best ever there's a song all about it of course you know cuz it's the best as i said yep the best train ever...

[Kali]

16. kick so Ptah can get some more votes

:kick:

[MrCoffee]

17. I voted Coast Starlight before I understood the last option...I want to change my vote

[two gun sid]

19. I voted City of New Orleans but how about...

the Amtrak Crescent?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g1ZH_E8n9R4

[rucky]

20. Both legs of the Empire Builder

but only if you get to skip over Texas.

[fortyfeetunder]

24. you got that right

I remember my trip from NOLA to CA. Going thru Texas took forever...

[Lyric]

21. Riding on the City of New Orleans...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrAWXLVaDfA

Riding on the City of New Orleans,
Illinois Central Monday morning rail
Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders,
Three conductors and twenty-five sacks of mail.
All along the southbound odyssey
The train pulls out at Kankakee
Rolls along past houses, farms and fields.
Passin' trains that have no names,
Freight yards full of old black men
And the graveyards of the rusted automobiles.

Good morning America how are you?
Don't you know me, I'm your native son,
I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans,
I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.

Dealin' card games with the old men in the club car.
Penny a point ain't no one keepin' score.
Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle
Feel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floor.
And the sons of pullman porters
And the sons of engineers
Ride their father's magic carpets made of steel.
Mothers with their babes asleep,
Are rockin' to the gentle beat
And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel.

Hello America how are you?
Don't you know me, I'm your native son,
I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans,
And I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.

Nighttime on The City of New Orleans,
Changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee.
Half way home, we'll be there by morning
Through the Mississippi darkness
Rolling down to the sea.
And all the towns and people seem
To fade into a bad dream
And the steel rails still ain't heard the news.
The conductor sings his song again,
The passengers will please refrain
This train's got the disappearing railroad blues.

Good night, America, how are you?
Don't you know me, I'm your native son,
I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans,
And I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done.

[From The Ashes]

22. You could...

...take one that stops HERE. :hi:

[LeftyMom]

23. The Coast Starlight is a beautiful trip.

The San Juaquins you'll see a lot of farmland, and not much else.