Amtrak Coast Starlight
Travelogues & Photos by Steve Grande
These are the travelogues and photos of my rail travels on the Amtrak Coast Starlight.
I have traveled more on this Amtrak route than on any other long distance train route.
My home and office is in Southern California. I have friends and relatives in Northern California,
belong to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, and attend the meetings of numerous
rail organizations that frequently meet in either Sacramento or in Jack London Square/Oakland, California.
My favorite places for short vacations are Seattle, Washington, and Jack London Square.
The Amtrak Coast Starlight travels daily between Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington, making
stops along the way at such places as San Jose, Jack London Square/Oakland, and Sacramento.
Thus, I have plenty of reason and opportunity to be a frequent traveler on the Amtrak Coast Starlight!
Click here
if you are about to read one of my travelogues for the first time.
Also click on each of the following:
Intro To Travelogues /
Intro To Photos
This web page only lists my rail travels on the Amtrak Coast Starlight.
To view travelogues and photos of my additional rail travels outside of California, click here.
To view travelogues and photos of my additional rail travels within California, click here.
I do not write travelogues for all my rail travelogues. Thus, this page does not include travel for which I have not
written a travelogue. To view a complete list of all my rail travels,
click here.
I would suggest that you start by reading my travelogue of the rail
journey on April 30, 1998.
If you only plan to read one of the travelogues
below, that is the one that you should read. The Amtrak Coast Starlight
has the highest and most consistent quality of service of all of the
Amtrak routes that I have traveled. Although it can fluctuate, the overall
level of service has risen over time. The Amtrak Coast Starlight has
definitely earned its self-described term of "Superior Service!" You
may find criticism of some aspects of the Coast Starlight in some of my
earlier travelogues and I do not want to leave you with the impression
of that being the way things usually are on the Coast Starlight. So, please
do read the April 30, 1998 travelogue to get a more representative view of
The Coast Starlight experience!
Full text and pictures are provided for many of my rail travels on the Amtrak Coast Starlight.
For more information, click on the dates of each trip below.
- 12/19/22-12/20/22:
Vancouver, Washington - Los Angeles, California, One-Way
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Bedroom / Deluxe Room),
My first ride in the Amtrak Coast Starlight after the Pacific Parlour Car discontinued.
- 07/11/08-07/12/08:
Fullerton, California - Portland, Oregon One-Way
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room),
My first ride in the relaunched Amtrak Coast Starlight and upgraded Pacific Parlour Car.
- 08/10/06-08/15/06:
Los Angeles, California - Portland, Oregon Round-Trip
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room),
to attend the
American Adoption Congress NW Regional Conference.
- 02/24/06-02/27/06:
Fullerton, California - Sacramento, California Round-Trip
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room),
Annual Region 12 NARP Meeting on Feb 25, 2006 at the California State Railroad Museum.
- 02/17/06-02/20/06:
Fullerton, California - San Jose, California
via the Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
Travel to visit relatives.
- 01/27/06-01/29/06:
Fullerton, California - Sacramento, California Round-Trip
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
Annual RailPAC Meeting on Jan 28, 2006 at the California State Railroad Museum,
Free Trip Using Amtrak Guest Rewards Points.
- 01/25/06-01/25/06:
Emeryville, California - Fullerton, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
Part 5 of a 5 part rail travelogue from the Sundance Film Festival 2006 in Park City, Utah.
- 01/18/06-01/18/06:
Los Angeles, California - Emeryville, California
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
Part 1 of a 5 part rail travelogue to the Sundance Film Festival 2006 in Park City, Utah.
- 09/23/05-09/27/05:
Los Angeles, California - Seattle, Washington, Round-Trip
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
Celebration of my 10th year of riding Amtrak, including travel southbound on the Amtrak Cost Starlight exactly 10 years to the day after my
original southbound Amtrak Coast Starlight trip on September 26, 1995!
- 09/10/04-09/13/04:
Fullerton, California - Portland, Oregon, Round-Trip
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Standard Room);
A trip to use Alaska Airmiles Amtrak voucher before it expired. Plus, while in Portland, to visit some
of the locations where "What The Bleep Do We Know?" was filmed. (Just photos, no travelogue).
- 04/15/03-04/18/03:
Fullerton, California - Klamath Falls, Oregon, Round-Trip
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
Attempt to travel over the Feather River detour during Union Pacific construction work.
Free Trip Using Amtrak Guest Rewards Points.
- 04/03/04-04/09/04:
Fullerton, California - Denver, Colorado
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
and the Amtrak California Zephyr
(Deluxe Rooms).
Just Photos - No Travelogue. Travel with wife over Sierra Nevada and through the Rocky Mountains to Denver on vacation.
Free Trip Using Amtrak Guest Rewards Points
- 10/11/02-10/13/02:
Fullerton, California - Sacramento, California Round-Trip
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
14th Annual Trainmaster Reception & Dinner, California State Railroad Museum;
Free Trip Using Amtrak Guest Rewards Points (A very limited travelogue)
- 08/29/02-09/03/02:
Fullerton, California - Eugene, Oregon
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Standard Room);
Family Event in Eugene, Oregon - Free Trip Using Alaska Airline Mileage;
(A very limited travelogue)
- 08/18/02:
Emeryville, California - Los Angeles, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
Free Trip Using Amtrak Guest Rewards Points
- 08/08/02-08/09/02:
Los Angeles, California - Portland, Oregon
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Standard Room);
Free Trip Using Amtrak Guest Rewards Points
- 03/26/02-03/30/02:
Los Angeles, California - Seattle, Washington
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Standard Room) - Lots of Photos!
Free Trip Using Alaska Airline Mileage
- 03/01/02-03/03/02:
Los Angeles, California - Oakland, Jack London Square, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Family Room);
Trip to Annual NARP Regional Meeting
- 10/11/01-10/15/01:
Los Angeles, California - Seattle, Washington
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Standard Room) - Lots of Photos!
Free Trip Using Alaska Airline Mileage
- 10/05/01-10/07/01:
Los Angeles - Sacramento, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight - Lots of Photos!
"Behind The Scenes" Tour of Southern Pacific Sacramento Shops
- 07/12/01-07/16/01:
Los Angeles, California - Seattle, Washington
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
25th Wedding Anniversary - Free Trip Using Alaska Airline Mileage
- 02/16/01-02/19/01:
Fullerton, California - Seattle, WA
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Standard Room).
- 01/08/01-01/09/01:
Fullerton, California - Seattle, WA
via the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner
and the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Standard Room).
- 11/10/00-11/12/00:
Fullerton, California - Jack London Square, Oakland, California round-trip
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Standard Room);
TRAC - Train Riders Association of California - Annual Meeting
- 01/28/00-02/02/00:
Fullerton, California - Bellingham, Washington, Round-Trip
via Amtrak's San Diegans,
Coast Starlight, and
Cascades.
- 11/11/99:
Fullerton, California - Sacramento, California
via Amtrak's San Diegans
(Pacific Business Class)
and Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Standard Bedroom).
- 08/26/99:
Oakland, California - Fullerton, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight (Standard Bedroom)
and San Diegans.
- 02/20/99-02/20/99:
Fullerton, California to Sacramento, California
via the Amtrak San Diegans (Custom Class)
and Coast Starlight
(Standard Bedroom);
To get to the start of first revenue direct run between Sacramento and Bakersfield on the Amtrak San Joaquins.
- 11/25/98 & 11/28/98:
Fullerton, California - San Jose, California
via the Amtrak San Diegans (Coach Class),
and Coast Starlight
(Family Bedroom);
Thanksgiving travel to relatives.
- 08/16/98&08/21/98:
Fullerton, California - San Jose, California
via the Amtrak
San Diegans (Custom Class),
and
Coast Starlight
(Standard Bedroom) - Lots of Photos!
Annual Perl Conference
- 08/08/98-08/10/98:
Fullerton, California - Sacramento, California
via the Amtrak
San Diegans (Coach Class),
and
Coast Starlight
(North:Standard Bedroom South:Deluxe Bedroom) - Lots of Photos!
California State Railroad Museum 1998 Behind The Scenes Tour.
- 07/05/98-07/06/98:
Seattle, Washington - Fullerton, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
and San Diegans
(Family Bedroom)
Sixth Segment;
- 06/27/98-06/28/98:
Fullerton, California - Seattle, Washington
via Amtrak's San Diegans
and Coast Starlight
(Family Bedroom);
First Segment.
- 04/30/98&05/04/98:
Fullerton, California - Oakland, California
via the Amtrak
San Diegans (Pacific Class), and
Coast Starlight (Standard Bedroom);
Amtrak Historical Society 1998 Conference.
Read This Travelogue First!.
- 11/26/97-11/29/97:
Los Angeles, California - San Jose, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Family Bedroom);
Thanksgiving visit to family in Saratoga, California.
- 07/02/97-07/07/97:
Fullerton, California - Oakland, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Reserved Coach);
Waterfront Plaza Hotel, Jack London Square, 4th of July Fireworks.
- 06/11/97:
Fullerton, California - Sacramento, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Standard Bedroom);
Advance preparations for the Amtrak Historical Society 1998 Meeting.
- 01/22/97-01/23/97:
Fullerton, California - Seattle, Washington (First Segment)
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Standard Bedroom).
- 12/29/96-12/30/96:
Fullerton, California - Seattle, Washington
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Family Room);
School Vacataion Winter Wonderland Train Trip - First Segment.
- 11/27/96-11/30/96:
Los Angeles, California - Oakland, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Family Room).
Thanksgiving with family in San Francisco Bay Area.
- 11/14/96-11/17/96:
Los Angeles, California - Sacramento, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Economy Room).
TRAC (Train Riders Association of California) California Rail 2000 Meeting
- 11/03/96-11/03/96:
Oakland, California - Los Angeles, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Economy Room).
- 08/28/96-08/29/96:
Fullerton - San Luis Obispo, California
Northbound via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Economy Room);
Southbound via #776 Central Coast San Diegan (Custom Class);
Business.
- 08/06/96-08/11/96: Los Angeles, California - Oakland, California
Round-Trip via Amtrak's
Coast Starlight
(Economy Room) / One ISP Convention.
- 06/23/96-06/24/96:
Seattle, Washington - Los Angeles, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Economy Room) / Purely vacation!
- 05/10/96-05/10/96:
Los Angeles, California - Oakland, California
via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Economy Room);
First Segment of trip to cross the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains.
- 01/20/96-01/23/96:
Los Angeles, California - San Jose, California
via the Air-Rail / Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Economy Room) / Web World Convention.
- 01/12/96-01/14/96:
Los Angeles, California - San Jose, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Economy Room);
Business Trip to our Bay Area Office.
- 12/29/95-01/01/96:
Los Angeles, California - Salinas, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Family & Special Room);
New Year's Celebration with family & parents in
Carmel-by-the-Sea.
- 12/09/95-12/10/95:
Los Angeles, California - San Jose, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Deluxe Room);
Business Trip to our Mountain View office.
- 12/02/95-12/03/95:
Los Angeles, California - San Jose, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Economy Room);
Business Trip to our Mountain View office.
- 11/22/95-11/26/95:
Los Angeles, California - San Jose, California
via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(2 Economy Rooms);
Thanksgiving visit to family in Saratoga, California.
- 09/26/95-09/27/95:
Seattle, Washington - Los Angeles, California
via the Air-Rail / Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Family Room);
Seattle, Washington, Children's Fall School Vacation Break.
Click here for Route Guides, Radio Frequencies
& Other Amtrak Coast Starlight Information!
