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Steve Grande's Amtrak Travel
I have traveled almost every Amtrak route in the nation since 1995,
including a few routes that no longer exist. These rail journeys
covered over 300,000 miles of travel. My travelogues and photos of
those train journeys are posted here.
Click here if you are about to read one of my travelogues for the first time.
This web page only lists my rail travels that have segments outside of California.
To view my rail travels within California, click here.
I have made the following Amtrak rail journeys.
Full text and pictures are provided for many.
For more information, click on the dates of the trip.
-
-
- 11/05/10-11/11/10:
Fullerton,CA - La Plata,MO Round-Trip
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Roomette to La Plata / Deluxe Room to Fullerton),
for business meetings in La Plata. Photos only, no travelogue.
- 07/17/10-07/22/10:
Chicago,IL - La Plata,MO - Fullerton,CA One-Way
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Coach to La Plata / Roomette to Fullerton),
Staying a day in La Plata on my trip from Chicago home.
- 06/03/10-06/09/10:
Fullerton, California - La Plata, Missouri Round-Trip
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Roomette East / Deluxe Room West),
For Silver Rails,
TrainWeb.com /
TrainParty.com Strategy Meetings.
- 12/29/09-01/05/10:
Fullerton, California - La Plata, Missouri Round-Trip
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Deluxe Room),
For the First Annual New Years Celebration for Train Enthusiasts at the Depot Inn & Suites.
- 08/30/09-09/05/09:
La Plata, Missouri - Silver Rails Country
- Not by rail, but very rail related. Includes new deck at lookout point, new model railroad
display in north ex-Amtrak railcar, new ATCS monitor, new steam engine corn maze for 2009,
Walt Disney Hometown Museum (very rail related!), and much much more!
- 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.
- 01/16/07-01/21/07:
Fullerton, California - La Plata, Missouri Round-Trip
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Deluxe Room),
For a meeting about the future Rail Resort in La Plata, Missouri.
- 10/13/06-10/18/06:
Fullerton, California - La Plata, Missouri Round-Trip
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Deluxe Room),
First visit to the new TrainWeb building in La Plata, Missouri.
- 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.
- 04/06/06-04/11/06:
Portland, Maine - Portland, Oregon - Fullerton, California, One-Way
- via the
Amtrak Downeaster (Business Class),
Amtrak Acela Express (First Class),
Amtrak Lakeshore Limited (Deluxe Room),
Amtrak Empire Builder (Deluxe Room),
Amtrak Coast Starlight (Deluxe Room), and the
Amtrak Pacific Surfliner (Business Class)
returning home from a visit to relatives in Maine.
- 01/18/06-01/25/06:
Fullerton, California - Salt Lake City, Utah, Round-Trip
- via the
Amtrak Coast Starlight (Deluxe Room), and the
Amtrak California Zephyr (Deluxe Room)
to attend the 2006 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
- 12/06/05-12/08/05:
Orlando, Florida - Fullerton, California, One-Way
- via the
Amtrak Silver Star (Viewliner Bedroom),
Amtrak Capitol Limited (Superliner Bedroom), and
Amtrak Southwest Chief (Superliner Bedroom);
Return from celebration of my mother's 80th birthday.
- 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!
- 06/20/05-06/23/05:
Boston, Massachusetts - Fullerton, California
- via the Amtrak Lakeshore Limited
and the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Deluxe Rooms).
Return from family wedding in Maine.
Free Trip Using Amtrak Guest Rewards Points
- 11/14/04-11/17/04:
Orlando, Florida - Fullerton, California
- via Amtrak's Sunset Limited
(Deluxe Bedroom)
and Amtrak Pacific Surfliner.
- 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).
- 04/03/04-04/09/04:
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
- 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.
- 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)
- 08/15/02-08/17/02:
Chicago, Illinois - Emeryville, California
- via the Amtrak California Zephyr (Train #5)
(Standard Room)
Free Trip Using Amtrak Guest Rewards Points
- 08/12/02-08/14/02:
Portland, Oregon - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Empire Builder
(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
- 10/11/01-10/15/01:
Los Angeles, California - Seattle, Washington
- via the Amtrak Coast Starlight
(Standard Room)
Free Trip Using Alaska Airline Mileage
- 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
- 04/24/01-05/01/01:
Chicago, Illinois - Fullerton, California
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Deluxe Room)
Amtrak Historical Society 7th Annual Conference
- 03/04/01-03/06/01:
Chicago, Illinois - Fullerton, California
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Standard Room)
- 02/28/01-03/03/01:
Los Angeles, California - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Texas Eagle
(Standard Bedroom)
Final run of the Amtrak Texas Eagle/California Service.
- 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).
- 04/24/00-05/03/00:
Fullerton, California - Washington, DC
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
and Amtrak's Capitol Limited
(Standard Room)
- 01/28/00-02/02/00:
Fullerton, California - Bellingham, Washington, Round-Trip
- via Amtrak's San Diegans,
Coast Starlight, and
Cascades.
- 12/25/99-12/28/99:
Orlando, Florida - Fullerton, California
- via Amtrak's Sunset Limited
(Standard Bedroom)
and San Diegans.
- 12/14/99-12/18/99:
Fullerton, California - Orlando, Florida
- via Amtrak's Sunset Limited
(Standard Bedroom)
and San Diegans
including a detour from El Paso to Houston, Texas, via Fort Worth.
- 09/21/99:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Seattle, Washington
- via the Amtrak Cascades
(Business Class)
- 09/18/99-09/20/99:
Banff, Alberta, Canada to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- via Rocky Mountaineer Railtours
(Gold Leaf Class)
including tour bus travel from Jasper to Banff, stopping at the Columbia Ice Fields Glacier.
- 09/16/99-09/17/99:
Vancouver, British Columbia to Jasper, Alberta, Canada
- via Rocky Mountaineer Railtours
(Signature Service Class)
- 09/15/99:
Seattle, Washington to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- via the Amtrak Cascades
(Business Class)
- 03/27/99-03/29/99:
Kansas City, Missouri (11:55P) - Fullerton, California (07:26A)
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief (Train #3)
(Standard Bedroom)
- 03/27/99-03/27/99:
Chicago, Illinois (09:20A) - Kansas City, Missouri (09:00P)
- via the Amtrak Ann Rutledge (Train #303)
(Custom Class)
- 03/25/99-03/26/99:
Chicago, Illinois - Grand Rapids, Michigan Round Trip
- via the Amtrak Pere Marquette (Train #370 & #371)
(Coach)
- 03/25/99-03/25/99:
Pontiac, Michigan (06:10A) - Chicago, Illinois (12:05P)
- via the Amtrak Wolverine (Train #351)
(Custom Class)
- 03/24/99-03/24/99:
Chicago, Illinois (02:10P) - Pontiac, Michigan (10:05P)
- via the Amtrak Lake Cities (Train #352)
(Custom Class)
- 03/23/99-03/24/99:
Chicago, Illinois - Quincy, Illinois Round Trip
- via the Amtrak Illinois Zephyr (Train #347 & #348)
(Reserved Coach)
- 03/21/99-03/23/99:
Fullerton, California (8:16P) - Chicago, Illinois (4:00P)
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief (Train #4)
(Standard Room)
- 01/09/99-01/11/99:
Chicago, Illinois (3:45P) - Fullerton, California (7:26A)
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief (Train #3)
(Standard Room)
- 01/08/99-01/09/99:
Schenectady, New York (10:35P) - Chicago, Illinois (12:45P)
- via the Amtrak Lakeshore Limited (Train #49)
(Viewliner Standard Room)
- 01/08/99-01/08/99:
Rutland, Vermont (1:25P) - Schenectady, New York (3:23P)
- via the Amtrak Ethan Allan Express
(Custom Class)
- 01/07/99-01/07/99:
Schenectady, New York (6:45P) - Rutland, Vermont (8:45P)
- via the Amtrak Ethan Allan Express
(Custom Class)
- 01/07/99-01/07/99:
Montreal, Quebec, Canada (10:10A) - Schenectady, NY (4:23P)
- via the Amtrak Adirondack (Train #68)
(Coach Class)
- 01/06/99-01/06/99:
Schenectady, NY (12:53P) - Montreal, Quebec, Canada (7:15P)
- via the Amtrak Adirondack (Train #69)
(Coach Class)
- 01/05/99-01/06/99:
Chicago, Illinois (7:30P) - Schenectady, New York (11:21A)
- via the Amtrak Lakeshore Limited (Train #48)
(Viewliner Standard Room)
- 01/03/99-01/05/99:
Martinez, California (11:26A) - Chicago, Illinois (4:20P)
- via the Amtrak California Zephyr (Train #6)
(Standard Room)
- 01/03/99-01/03/99:
Bakersfield, California (5:00A) - Martinez, Calfornia (9:55A)
- via the Amtrak San Joaquins (Train #711)
(Coach Seating: California Cars)
- 01/02/99-01/03/99:
Solana Beach, California (10:45P) - Bakersfield, California (4:45A)
- via Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach (Route #5811)
- 01/02/99-01/02/99:
Fullerton, California (07:47P) - Solana Beach, California (9:16P)
- via Amtrak's San Diegans (Train #584)
- 10/04/98-10/06/98:
Chicago, Illinois - Fullerton, California
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Family Room)
Sixth Segment.
- 10/03/98-10/04/98:
Washington, DC - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Capitol Limited
(Family Bedroom)
Fifth Segment.
- 10/03/98-10/03/98:
Charlotte, North Carolina - Washington, DC
- via Amtrak's Crescent
(2 Viewliner Standard Bedrooms)
Fourth Segment.
- 10/02/98-10/02/98:
Richmond, Virginia - Charlotte, North Carolina
- via Amtrak's Carolinian
(4 Custom Seats)
Third Segment.
- 10/01/98-10/02/98:
Orlando, Florida - Richmond, Virginia
- via Amtrak's Silver Star
(2 Viewliner Standard Bedrooms)
Second Segment.
- 09/20/98-09/23/98:
Fullerton, California - Orlando, Florida
- via Amtrak's Sunset Limited
and San Diegans
(Family Bedroom)
First Segment.
- 07/05/98-07/06/98:
Seattle, Washington - Fullerton, California
- via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
and San Diegans
(Family Bedroom)
Sixth Segment.
- 07/02/98-07/03/98:
Seattle, Washington - Spokane, Washington
- via Amtrak's Empire Builder
(Standard Bedroom) - Round Trip -
Fifth Segment.
- 07/02/98-07/02/98:
Vancouver, British Columbia - Seattle, Washington
- via Amtrak's Mount Baker International
(Discount Coach Seats)
Fourth Segment.
- 06/30/98-06/30/98:
Victoria - Courtenay, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
- via VIA's Malahat
(Economy Class)
Third Segment.
- 06/29/98-06/29/98:
Seattle, Washington - Vancouver, British Columbia
- via Amtrak's Mount Baker International
(Discount Coach Seats)
Second Segment.
- 06/27/98-06/28/98:
Fullerton, California - Seattle, Washington
- via Amtrak's San Diegans
and Coast Starlight
(Family Bedroom)
First Segment.
- 03/25/98-03/28/98:
Washington, DC - Chicago, Illinois - Fullerton, California
- via Amtrak's Capitol Limited
and Southwest Chief (same train)
(Standard Bedroom)
Fifth Segment.
- 03/25/98-03/25/98:
Newport News, Virginia - Washington, DC
- via Amtrak's Northeast Direct
Old Dominion (Club Class)
Fourth Segment.
- 03/24/98-03/24/98:
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Newport News, Virginia
- via Amtrak's Northeast Direct
Twilight Shoreliner (Viewliner Standard Bedroom)
Third Segment.
- 03/22/98-03/23/98:
Chicago, Illinois - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- via Amtrak's Three Rivers
(Discount Coach Seat)
Second Segment.
- 03/20/98-03/22/98:
Fullerton, California - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Standard Bedroom)
First Segment.
- 02/06/98-02/09/98:
Chicago, Illinois - Los Angeles, California
- via Amtrak's Texas Eagle
(Standard Bedroom) - Second Segment
Inaugural run of Amtrak Texas Eagle/California Service
from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California.
- 02/03/98-02/05/98:
Los Angeles, California - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Standard Bedroom)
First Segment - Hotel in Chicago.
- 01/11/98-01/11/98:
New York, New York - Los Angeles, California
- Airline
Sixth Segment.
- 01/09/98-01/10/ 98:
New York, New York - St. Albans, Vermont Round-Trip
- via Amtrak's Vermonter (Custom Class)
Fifth Segment - Hotel in St. Albans & New York City.
- 01/08/98-01/08/98:
New York, New York - Albany/Rensselaer, New York
- via Amtrak's Adirondack (Custom Class)
Fourth Segment - Hotel in New York City
- 01/07/98-01/07/98:
Toronto, Ontario - New York, New York
- via Amtrak's Maple Leaf (Reserved Coach)
Third Segment - Pennsylvania Hotel in New York City.
- 01/06/98-01/06/98:
Chicago, Illinois - Toronto, Ontario
- via Amtrak's International (Reserved Coach)
Second Segment - Canadian Pacific Hotels: Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
- 01/03/98-01/05/98:
Fullerton, California - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Economy Room)
First Segment - Quality Inn Downtown in Chicago.
- 09/29/97-10/07/97:
Up & Down The East Coast On The Three Amtrak Silver Trains:
Silver Palm, Silver Star & Silver Meteor, then Sunset Ltd to home!
(Some travel also on the Maple Leaf, Lake Shore Limited and
Northeast Direct Twilight Shoreliner)
- 07/29/97-07/29/97:
Los Angeles, California - Fullerton, California
- via Amtrak's San Diegans
(Unreserved) - Seventh Segment.
- 07/28/97-07/29/97:
San Antonio, Texas - Los Angeles, California
- via the Amtrak Sunset Limited
(Standard Bedroom) - Sixth Segment.
- 07/27/97-07/28/97:
Dallas, Texas - San Antonio, Texas
- via Amtrak's Texas Eagle
(Standard Bedroom) - Fifth Segment.
- 07/26/97:
Tri-State Rail Passenger Meeting
- Dallas Union Station, 2nd Floor, Dealey Room, 9 A.M.
- 07/24/97-07/25/97:
Chicago, Illinois - Dallas, Texas
- via Amtrak's Texas Eagle
(Standard Bedroom)
Hampton Inn, Downtown Dallas, Texas - Fourth Segment.
- 07/22/97-07/24/97:
Richmond, California - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's California Zephyr
(Standard Bedroom) - Third Segment.
- 07/22/97-07/22/97:
Bakersfield, California - Richmond, California
- via Amtrak's San Joaquins
(Unreserved Coach) - Second Segment.
- 07/22/97-07/22/97:
Santa Ana, California - Bakersfield, California
- via Amtrak ThruWay Bus - First Segment.
- 06/24/97-06/26/97:
Chicago, Illinois - Fullerton, CA
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Standard Bedroom)
(Through Train - combination of Capitol Limited and Southwest Chief)
Fifth Segment.
- 06/23/97-06/24/97:
Washington,D.C - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Capitol Limited
(Standard Bedroom)
(Through Train - combination of Capitol Limited and Southwest Chief)
Fourth Segment.
- 06/22/97-06/23/97:
Chicago, Illinois - Washington, D.C.
- via Amtrak's Cardinal
(Standard Bedroom)
Third Segment.
- 06/20/97-06/21/97:
New York City, New York - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited
(Viewliner® Sleeper)
Second Segment.
- 06/19/97-06/20/97:
New York City, New York - Atlantic City, New Jersey
- via Amtrak's Metroliner (Standard & Club Class Service) and
via New Jersey Transit (Coach)
First Segment.
- 05/12/97-05/12/97:
San Bernardino, CA - Los Angeles, CA
- via Amtrak's Desert Wind
(Reserved Coach)
Final run of the westbound Desert Wind.
- 03/25/97-03/28/97:
Chicago, Illinois - Los Angeles, CA
- via Amtrak's Texas Eagle
(Standard Bedroom)
Fourth Segment.
- 03/24/97-03/25/97:
New Orleans, Louisiana - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's City of New Orleans
(Standard Bedroom)
Third Segment.
- 03/22/97-03/23/97:
New York City, New York - New Orleans, Louisiana
- via Amtrak's Crescent
(Viewliner Sleeper)
Comfort Inn - Second Segment.
- 03/21/97-03/21/97:
Los Angeles, California - New York City, NY
- Flight from Amtrak Air-Rail Vacation Plan
Hotel Pennsylvania - First Segment.
- 01/27/97-01/29/97:
Chicago, Illinois - Fullerton, California (Third Segment)
- via Amtrak's Desert Wind
(Standard Bedroom).
- 01/24/97-01/26/97:
Seattle, Washington - Chicago, Illinois (Second Segment)
- via Amtrak's Empire Builder
(Standard Bedroom).
Note: Also included is a travelogue of an unplanned ride from
Seattle, Washington to Portland, Oregon on the
Mt. Adams Talgo Train
- 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.
- 10/30/96-11/01/96:
Chicago, Illinois - Oakland, California
- via Amtrak's California Zephyr
(Economy Room)
Attending RailPAC Northern California meeting.
- 10/26/96-10/28/96:
Fullerton, California - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Economy Room)
Unexpected business trip to Chicago to install equipment.
- 09/27/96-10/09/96:
Los Angeles, California - Deerfield Beach, Florida
- Round-Trip via Amtrak's Sunset Limited
(2 Economy Rooms going & Family Room returning)
National Association of Computer Consulting Brokers (NACCB) Convention.
- 06/23/96-06/24/96:
Seattle, Washington - Los Angeles, California
- via Amtrak's Coast Starlight
(Economy Room) / Purely vacation!
- 06/18/96-06/20/96:
Chicago, Illinois - Seattle, Washingon
- via Amtrak's Pioneer
(Economy Room) / Purely vacation!
- 06/15/96-06/17/96:
Fullerton, California - Chicago, Illinois
- via Amtrak's Southwest Chief
(Economy Room)
Part Business to our Chicago office, but mostly vacation!
- 05/10/96-05/13/96:
Oakland, California - Denver, Colorado
- via Amtrak's California Zephyr
(Economy Room)
Second Segment of trip to cross the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains.
- 03/15/96-03/27/96:
Los Angeles, California - Orlando, Florida
- via the Amtrak Sunset Limited
(Family Room)
Walt Disney World,
Chirldren's Spring Break Vacation.
- 12/15/95-12/22/95:
Los Angeles, California - Chicago, Illinois
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Economy Room)
Business Trip to our Oak Brook, Illinois office.
- 12/08/95-12/09/95:
Fullerton, California - Flagstaff, Arizona
- via the Amtrak Southwest Chief
(Economy Room)
Business Trip to our Prescott, Arizona office.
- 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.
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