Riding Amtrak California Zephyr

During the Summer of 2008 I took a train trip with my friend and his family from Osceola Iowa to Granby Colorado. Highlights of this video includes a variety of BNSF and Union Pacific Power, the Colorado Ski Train (when it was still in business).

Synopsis of our trip:
Our train arrived in Osceola Iowa about 2 hours late. It consisted of 3 engines and 10 cars. Lead engines were P42DC #89, #2 and #49. Our train lost more time somewhere in Nebraska due to a freight train's crew time expiring on the mainline. Once we got into Denver our train dropped off engine #89, a sleeper, and a coach car. The sleeper car was scheduled to be dropped at Denver, but the coach drop was not. We were informed that the Eastbound Zephyr had a defect in one of their coaches on its journey and that they needed our coach more so than we did. This move resulted in no seats for the passengers getting on our train at Denver. THE PASSENGERS WERE PISSED. Most of the passengers were placed in the Sightseer Lounge and others were scattered throughout the train. The Conductor was real professional about handling the situation, but there was one Train Attendant on my car that was VERY unprofessional. She was taking up TWO seats with her stuff and didnt even want to give it up for a woman and her too small children. Overall the trip was still good and most of the Amtrak staff made the ride enjoyable. =D

Video Recorded by Jared Davis

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Amtrak
• California
• Zephyr
• P42DC
• BNSF
• Union
• Pacific
• Moffat
• Tunnel
• Osceola
• Fort
• Morgan
• Denver
• Ski
• Train
• Winter
• Park
• Fraser
• Granby
• Colorado
• Iowa
• Nebraska
• EMD
• GP40-2
• SD40-2
• SD60
• F40PH
• GP60B
• SD70MAC
• GE
• Dash
• 9-44CW
• GEVO

[Assassin7456]

hey, does the coach seats have an outlet for recharging your electronics?

[WhistlepostWP]

@Assassin7456 majority of the cars are now equipped with electrical outlets by each seat, but every once in a while you will find a car that has not been upgraded.

[Crintingnut]

thanks. We're coming home from Europe via the US but, sadly, no time for long-distant trains. Still have good memories of the Capitol from DC in 06, though.

Wonderful way to see the country!

[WhistlepostWP]

Yeah, it is a great way to see the country. I bet the Capitol was a nice train to ride.

[DaBlackNinja1]

Why were all those hoppers at 6:25 sitting there? Were they acting as wind blocks?

[WhistlepostWP]

You guessed right. They are wind blocks put in place by the Rio Grande railroad back in the day.

[fredfredburger1213]

@yarmo28 Forgot to say this in the other response it takes 4 days 3 nights from boston to San Fran / LA. Add an extra day if you go from San Fran to LA (takes 12 hours) but you would need a hotel room for the night

[yarmo28]

I've never been across the country by train. Is there the possibility of decent food and a sleeping car? Have the rails all been upgraded? How long would such a trip take from New England to California?

[amtraksouthwestchief]

the coal cars have become one with the landscape hahahaha

[CoastStarlight11]

Cool vid!

I have ridden this train several times round trip over the years between Reno and Chicago and recognize a lot of spots in this vid. I got boat loads of Zephyr vids on my youtube account

[lbrendse]

That track goes tright by my house i am 1 mile south oif that track and i go out all of the time to see trains on the track.

[DaBlackNinja1]

My friend and I rode this train on a ski trip to Colorado. It is a great way to travel.