Far Away From Home (part 1 of a 4 part series)

On the last Saturday in May I walked out my door early in the morning on my way to the Amtrak station to start my three and a half day coast to coast journey. In the interminably long ride in my apartment elevator I struck up a good morning conversation with a neighbor and mentioned I was off to New York via Amtrak. She replied that she had made the same journey several years ago and assured me I would love the trip. So I confidently boarded the Capitol for Emeryville right on time 8:55am. First stop Emeryville 9:05 I detrained and after showing my ticket to several Amtrak attendants found sleeping car 32012of the California Zephyr to which I was assigned. Tony introduced himself as the car attendant, took my bag and showed me to my compartment. Small isn’t a compact enough word to describe the roomette. However, my suitcase easily fit sideways on the shelf next to the seat and there was a small closet to store shoes and a few shirts. Tony showed me how to turn on the lights, adjust the PA and most importantly use the yellow button to call him should I ever need anything. Tony proved to be the perfect mix of helpful, unobtrusive and generally pleasant over the next two days. I was initially a bit disappointed to be on the lower level of the two level Superliner(click here and here for a diagrams); however; as the journey wore on it proved to be a wonderfully private, quiet and friendly space.

In Martinez Jack and Suzanne boarded into the compartment across from me. All the way to Chicago in our end of the train the only other occupied room was the one next to theirs; by Blue who got on in Emeryville. Soon after pulling away from Sacramento the first lunch call was announced at 12:00 noon. Jack, Suzanne and I headed over to the dining car for our first Amtrak dining experience. I was pleasantly surprised to see the tables set with real china as I had read Amtrak was cutting back on dining car service. Dining car meals on Amtrak are a singularly wonderful experience. You share a meal with random people also on a journey and everyone has all the time in the world to tell their story. As is the case with many people I would meet I learned Jack and Suzanne don’t fly but it doesn’t stop them from going places. Lunch was very busy with a waiting list of 15 at one point. After lunch we started climbing into the Sierra’s and up to Donner Pass. By the time we got to Truckee it was snowing! I spent a large part of the afternoon in the lounge car where I was also able to buy an extra blanket (note: next time bring an extra blanket for lounging). During the day Tony kept a supply of bottled water, juices and coffee available at all times for which I was very thankful as the mountain air was dry. The train wound along the Truckee river for a time with beautiful views of snow capped mountains and green fields. An old wood flume goes along the Truckee river bringing water to hydroelectric plants serving the Truckee Meadows Water Authority. As I watched the Truckee river I saw a coyote standing along the bank staring at the river with hopes of an evening meal. During the afternoon Joyce the dining car Chief came around taking reservations for dinner time slots. I chose 7:00 figuring a meal would be a good way to spend the evening.

At dinner I was seated with an older couple and an elderly gentleman traveling by himself, all three people who don’t fly. Mostly I listened to old Navy stories and tales of the older man’s three thousand mile train journey through China. As is usually the case at dinner we lingered over decaf coffee well past 8:00 enjoying the company as we wound our way down into the desert of Nevada. We reached Winnemucca about 9:00 and I had Tony make up my bed shortly after leaving the station. As I would each night I set my clock ahead an hour before going to bed and settled in for my first night on the train.

Part II; Part III; PartIV;