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A Trip to Ride the Upgraded Coast Starlight 7/29/2008 to 81/1/2008

The Coast Starlight was being upgraded and I felt it was time for another ride to Seattle and back to experience the changes.

I awoke this morning with a head cold and was not feeling too good. There was still no word on my job but I did have bumping rights and would use them if necessary. The school district was having more meetings on Thursday and Friday of this week, so by next week I hoped to know something.

I finished packing and went to Stater Brothers for some trip supplies before driving to the Santa Ana station where I turned in my parking permit for more than 72 hours then walked over to Track 1 and waited for the first train of the day.

I boarded the lower level of the cab car for the journeyp to Los Angeles Union Station on a very overcast morning. The trip was painless and soon we arrived on Track 7 and I walked down into the station.

As you exit the tunnel into the main station, one sees this sign that directs Coast Starlight sleeping car passengers to the correct spot.

There you are greeted by a friendly Amtrak Manager, Service Quality Product Management, Martin Soholt, for the Coast Starlight.

He welcomed each passenger to the Coast Starlight Traxx Club.

There are tables and chairs, as well as booths, to sit at while waiting for the conductor.

The area was currently empty but soon every seat would be taken.

At the bar, juice is available, as well as checked baggage service nearer the time of departure. At 9:35 AM, Conductor Bobbie Lee collected my ticket and gave me a boarding pass then ten minutes later, we were led out to the Coast Starlight.

This version of Train 14 had a consist of P42DCs 122 and 60, baggage 1714, sleepers 32086 "Louisiana", 32054, 32109 "South Dakota", 32068, parlour car 39970 "Columbia Valley", diner 38044, lounge 33026, coaches 34065, 34512 {video games}, 34079 and 34052 with Rail Ventures private car "Yerba Buena" 800344.

"Yerba Buena" with its passengers would be on the rear of the train to Oakland. I decided to browse the onboard video games in Car 34512.

Cruisin' USA.

Virtual Striker 2.

Merit System.

Soul Caliber 3.

Passengers use a token machine.

The lower level of the car. From there, it was on to the Pacific Parlour Car.

Pacific Parlour Car 39970 "Columbia Valley", nee Santa Fe high-level lounge 575 built by Budd Company in 1956 with José as our Parlour Car Attendant.

Back in my room 9 of "Louisiana" was a classic touch, a Coast Starlight antimacassar. We waited for the late-running Southwest Chief and its connecting passengers to depart at 10:32 AM {10:15 AM}. Once on the move, my Sleeping Car Attendant offered me champagne and oranges, which of course I did not need. I did, however, receive a 11:30 AM lunch reservation before we paused for a Metrolink train and then made our way to Van Nuys. I rode the Parlour Car as it went through the Chatsworth Tunnels and was then called into lunch using chimes over the PA system.I was seated with a couple from Fallbrook, California and another gentleman and chose the "Build Your Own Burger". West of Moorpark, the train came to a halt after being stopped by the dispatcher since a major earthquake had occurred. I made a few phone calls and I learned that it was a 5.8 {later dropped to 5.4} in the Chino Hills near Carbon Canyon. Once on the move again, we ran at restricted speed for a few miles before we highballed it for Oxnard. I had a nap until we neared Rufugio State Beach then watched Blue Oyster Cult's "A Long Day's Night". Being on the inland side of the train can be boring at times. I paused the video as we neared Surf and ventured to the Parlour Car to show you a few scenes of the wine tasting. But before that, a few views of the coast near Surf.

My favorite point along the route to Seattle.

Looking down at the surf.

The train crossed the Santa Ynez River. It was then that the crew was ready to start today's wine tasting. For five dollars, sleeping car passengers could participate and coach passengers can pay ten dollars if there is room, thereby introducing them to the Pacific Parlour Car.

The staff made sure everything was ready.

Most everyone was ready and soon it would start.

Crackers were passed out to those who had bought a wine tasting ticket.

Next cheese was distributed.

The passengers were now ready for the wines.

The wines were poured. Today they enjoyed the Taz Pinot Gris 2006 Santa Barbara County, Estancia Point Noir 2006 Pinnacles Ranch Monterey County, Greg Norman Petite Sirah 2005 Paso Robles and Jekel Riesling 2006 Monterey County. As you may have noted, all the wines offered today are from the Central Coast Region of California.

I returned to my room and enjoyed the "Cult" as the train made its way to San Luis Obispo, my first fresh air stop of this trip.

The train arrived at San Luis Obispo.

The Coast Starlight during its crew change. We departed at 4:10 PM {3:43 PM} and headed for Cuesta Grade.

The "Yerba Buena" brought up the markers as we took the Horseshoe Curve then crested the summit through the tunnel and started down the Salinas Valley. I had a 5:00 PM dinner reservation and enjoyed a flat iron steak and chocolate ice cream for dessert then back in my room, watched Frank Zappa's "The Dub Room Special" and paused it for a fresh air stop at Salinas. After that the train crossed the Elkhorn Slough and I switched to the Rolling Stones.

The Elkhorn Slough was beautiful with its birds. The Stones took me to a fresh air stop in San Jose, where Henry Bender of the Central Coast Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society was on the platform during an extended stay. It was always good to see Henry. We departed at 8:54 PM {8:39 PM} and were off to Oakland and I was off to bed so made up my room and called it a night.

7/30/2008 I awoke to the north side of Mount Shasta just after sunrise.

The north side of Mount Shasta. I went to the dining car for French Toast and sausage pattie then returned to a big comfortable chair in the Parlour Car and talked trains with passengers all the way to Klamath Falls.

The scene at Klamath Falls, from which we departed at 8:41 AM {8:25 AM}.

Nearing Upper Klamath Lake.

Approaching the south end of Upper Klamath Lake.

The train running along Upper Klamath Lake as I started to watch Peter Cetera's "Live in Salt Lake City" for this morning's ride north.

We paralleled the lakeshore towards Modoc Point then continued to Chemult, where a double stop was made for passengers. From here, the train climbed the grade to Cascade Summit.

Peter Cetera on my computer screen.

There was a Southern Pacific caboose at Crescent Lake.

The train passed Odell Lake before going through Cascade Summit tunnel and starting down the steeper side of the grade.

Views looking from high up the mountain. Now we started our descent.

After these views we approached the Frazier Slide Zone.

The train went through the Frazier Slide Zone. At 11:45 AM, I went to the dining car for lunch and was seated with a couple from Torrance who both work in education. I enjoyed the Chef's Marketplace Special, "Turkey Over Rolls", as we made our way downgrade to Oakridge. Jethro Tull's DVD "Live in Montreaux 2003" was my next musical choice of the early afternoon.

A nearly full Lookout Point Reservoir. Later the Coast Starlight arrived into Eugene, our next fresh air stop, and departed at 1:43 PM. On the way to Portland, more wine tasting occurred, this time using Washington State wines. These were Hogue Cellars Chardonnay 2006 Columbia Valley WA., Snoqualmie Whistle Stop Red 2006 Columbia Valley, Columbia Crest Shiraz Grand Estates Columbia Valley and the Columbia Winery Reisling 2006 Yakima Valley. Today, I did not attend as I took pictures yesterday and was relaxing.

We stopped at Albany and later Salem as I switched to listening to Meatloaf's "Bat Out Of Hell", followed by Paul Stanley's (of Kiss fame) "Live to Win" that would take me to near Portland.

The Willamette Valley north of Salem.

Southern Pacific 2-6-0 1785 built by Baldwin in 1902 and retired in 1957 was on display in Woodburn. At Hito, the southbound Coast Starlight was in the siding for us as we sped north. We arrived at Portland Union Station at 4:40 PM and departed there at 4:53 PM {4:20 PM} and followed the Portland section of the Empire Builder out of town.

Mount Hood was visible as we crossed the Columbia River into the state of Washington and our first stop of Vancouver. I went back to the Parlour Car and visited with other passengers I was called in for dinner where I had the flat iron steak as we stopped in Kelso-Longview. After dinner, I was on the lookout for Mount St. Helens but there was no opportunity for good pictures as we made our way to Centralia.

Just before Olympia-Lacey, Mount Rainer. We stopped there then made our way towards Tacoma along Puget Sound.

The Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound.

Puget Sound as we rolled towards Tacoma, our next station stop.

Mount Rainier from there.

BNSF power just before we arrived at Tacoma.

Mount Rainier on the way to Seattle, where we arrived in the Emerald City at 9:14 PM {8:45 PM}.

I taxied to the King's Inn, which cost two dollars more than before due to a fuel charge tax. Once in my room, the wireless Internet was sporadi so I do not plan to stay here again. I had a nice hot shower and called it a night after watching the Weather Channel for a few minutes.

7/31/2008 The wireless Internet was still not working so I gave up and went to MacDonald's for hot cakes and sausage then took a taxi back to King Street Station to wait to board my train towards home.

Boarding was done the same way as always in Seattle: line up, let the conductor take your ticket then wait by the correct door to be led out to the train. I much preferred the Los Angeles new Traxx method. At 9:20 AM, the sleeping car passengers were allowed to board.

This Coast Starlight had a consist of P42DCs 122, 60 and Amtrak Cascades F59PHI 567, baggage 1714, sleepers 32086 "Louisiana", 32054, 32109 "South Dakota", 32068, Pacific Parlour Car 39970 "Columbia Valley", diner 38044, lounge 33026, coaches 34065, 34512 {video games}, 34079 and 34052. It was the same train as I came up on, except for the addition of the F59PHI. I was in Room 11 of the 32054 with Jesus as my Sleeping Car Attendant.

This room had a new set of electronics that I had never seen in an Amtrak bedroom before. We departed on time and proceeded south towards Tacoma.

The new mainline configuration in Seattle take one to the east of the Amtrak and Sounder maintenance yards before we were stopped at a red signal by a freight train. A few minutes later, we moved, but stopped again and it was announced that one of our engines was having mechanical issues. I watched Joe Harper's excellent "Steam Highlights of 2007" to pass the time and after about fifteen minutes, we were back on the move. I was relaxing on the trip home and decided to take a nap until near Centralia. South of there after Kelso-Longview, it was stop-and-go due to track work and a train in front of us. When that first DVD was done, I watched Joe's "Santa Fe 3751 - Steam Special plus the Milwaukee Road 261 - Steam Charter". Our train then made its way to Vancouver.

Ready to depart Vancouver and cross the Columbia River into Portland, Oregon, where we arrived at 2:35 PM {1:50 PM} for our servicing stop.

After I purchased some snacks at the station and checked the Internet, we departed at 3:00 PM {2:25 PM} and crossed the Steel Bridge to leave the Rose City. It became apparent that my Room 11 had no way to turn off the train announcements. Normally, I would set the control to Channel 4 which stopped the announcements from coming into the room. So I had to listen to all the wine tasting announcements that became very upsetting for me to since we all know I am an alcoholic. I went to the conductors to try to fix this problem but to no avail so I decided it was time for some headphones and rock 'n' roll. I choose the Ramones "Loco Live".

We stopped at Salem and between there and Albany, the northbound Coast Starlight was tucked away in a siding out of our way. My next musical choice was Frank Zappa's "Apostrophe" that would take me to Eugene, where we departed at 5:52 PM {5:10 PM} and headed into the Cascades. I went to the Pacific Parlour Car to wait for my 6:00 PM dinner reservation then went to the dining cr and was seated with a couple from Concord and a lady from Lodi. I had my usual meal of flat iron steak and chocolate ice cream then returned to my room to listen to Nirvana's "Nevermind" as we climbed the steepest part of the Cascade Grade and played Solitaire on my laptop as I listened to my tunes. Rush's "Snakes and Arrows" was my next CD choice.

Union Pacific had signal problems which delayed us even further as we tried to reach Chemult, our next station stop. With that, I decided it was enough for one day and I called it a night, wondering where I might wake up on August 1st.

8/1/2008 I awoke up south of Marysville and went to the Pacific Parlour Car to wait for the dining car to open at 6:30 AM, where I ordered French Toast and sausage patties as the train neared Sacramento. There I jumped off to visit my brother Bruce, the Amtrak agent there, before returning to the dining car to finish my meal. We departed at 7:15 AM {6:35 AM} and made our way across the Yolo Bypass to Davis.

At 6:15 AM, I had pushed the call button to have the room made up and upon leaving Sacramento, I told the conductor who made a PA announcement "Car 1132 Room 11 needs to be made up". At Davis, I heard the conductor on the platform tell the car attendant the same thing. We stopped later in Martinez but had to do a double stop because the train overshot the platform and the baggage cart could not get to the train so we made a short reverse move. At Emeryville, we had to wait for passengers to walk down the length of the train to board. When we reached Oakland, I told the service manager about my yet-to-be-made-up room and that I was still waiting. What if I was a senior passenger who had a health problem and used that button to call for assistance?

Three-and-a-half hours and still waiting, the tran departed Oakland at 9:44 AM {8:50 AM} and proceeded to San Jose. Duran Duran's "Greatest" kept me company on the way there and I was interrupted at 9:53 AM when Jesus finally arrived to make up my room. I had a brief meeting with Jack Rich, Director of Product Management in Los Angeles and Martin Soholt, Amtrak Manager, Service Quality Product Management, about my concerns. The train went via Niles on the way to San Jose, which we departed at 11:06 AM {10:07 AM}. In the Pajora Gap, I watched Keith Schmidt's "Grand Excursion 2004 Part 1".

Later the train ran along Elkhorn Slough.

The harbour seals were sunning themselves as we made our way to Salinas, a fresh air stop.

Southern Pacific 0-6-0 1237 built by Baldwin in 1918 and retired in 1956. It was donated to the City of Salinas the following year and was placed on display immediately to the east of the Amtrak Depot.

The Coast Starlight departed Salinas at 12:50 PM {11:48 AM} and I watched the final rough cuts of the Million Mile DVD as we climbed the Salinas Valley. Later, at San Ardo, we had to stop to line switches before continuing to Paso Robles, leaving there at 3:01 PM {1:38 PM}. With the afternoon wine tasting announcements occurring, I listened to Yes' "Magnification" as we dropped down the Cuesta Grade.

The train rounded the famous Goldtree Horseshoe Curve before arriving at San Luis Obispo, where we departed at 4:20 PM {3:20 PM} on the way to Santa Barbara. I put on a Rolling Stones DVD and relaxed until dinner time which today lasted from before Surf to Gaviota along the beautiful California coastal shoreline as I had flat iron steak. Pacific Surfliner 775 was in the siding there as I returned to the Stones until Santa Barbara, the last fresh air break of this trip. We departed at 6:54 PM {6:17 PM} and made our way to Oxnard, with Pacific Surfliner 796, my ride home, behind us.

I then watched Queen's "Live at Wembley Stadium" for the trip to Los Angeles, where the train left the beautiful Pacific Ocean behind at Ventura and continued to Oxnard, leaving there 7:34 PM {7:06 PM}, going to Camarillo, where, at the east end, we slowed while Metrolink 117 came into the siding. Pacific Surfliner 785 went by us at Stratheren before we arrived at Simi Valley, where Bob Riskie was waiting to see me. Our departure from there was at 8:22 PM {7:38 PM} and we passed through Chatsworth Tunnel and on into the San Fernando Valley to Van Nuys, departing there at 8:47 PM {8:06 PM}.

The Coast Starlight then made its final sprint to Los Angeles Passenger Union Station, arriving at 9:15 PM {9:00 PM}, ending an excellent trip with only a few glitches aboard Amtrak's Coast Starlight. I now waited for Pacific Surfliner 796 to arrive.

This train pulled at 9:41 PM for the 10:10 PM on-time departure, making its way south stopping at Fullerton, Anaheim and then Santa Ana, where I detrained. I drove home, ending yet another Amtrak adventure on the Coast Starlight.