So I took the railpass pill on an impulseI get 2 weeks off work (14 days) to use my 10 stopsIdeally I wouldn't spend more than 5 or 6 hours on the train at a time since I want to spend my time seeing shit, not just sitting on the train for the whole timeI'm departing from New York and presumably returning there as wellGiven those constraints, what's the best trip you can put together?
What month?
>>2858012March
>>2858008I've only ever taken the Cascades. It was not bad. Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR. Mountains and Ocean. And lear some Ebonics it's DEI heavy. About 1 in 3 Amtrak employees are brothas.
My favorite train is the California Zephyr. It’s boring from Chicago to Denver but west of there is the best scenery on Amtrak. Glenwood Springs would be a good stopover. That 5-6 hour limit won’t get you very far desu so think about extending your window. Western routes are the best for vibes and scenery and much of the east is boring though you go through some wild ghettos and postindustrial wastelands. I never took the trains from New York to Canada but imagine the New England scenery is beautiful and it would fit more in your time constraints. The Cardinal is also good for Appalachian scenery. I’d think about either flying into Denver to start, or plotting out eastern destinations with the kind of stuff you enjoy.
I’d be happy to share any other Amtrak lore. I’m a train autiste so I won’t sperg out and will keep it neurotypical. Just assume the train will be late. Freight railroads own the tracks and take priority and there all kind of other shit that can go wrong. Imagine you’re in some kind of post Soviet country but with shitty Americaness. Short runs in the northeast are more likely to be on time but longer routes, especially at the end of the run, will probably be late. The food is expensive and sucks so bring as much with you as possible. With your 5-6 hour legs that shouldn’t be a big issue. Same with booze or other intoxicants but don’t get caught smoking or vaping on board. The coach seats are roomy (I’m 6’3”) and with a blanket, eye mask and earplugs it’s easy to sleep, unless you have some fat drunk boomer next to you. The motion and noise doesn’t really bother me. Stations are a mixed bag—some historic structure near hotels and nightlife, or a shack in the middle of nowhere that shuts down after the train leaves. Passengers skew older and are mostly cool. In the east people are just trying to get somewhere, out west it’s more about the experience. You have have good socialization in the cafe/bar car or the Sightseer dome cars out west. Employees are mostly cool but frazzled and overworked. Be prepared for the worst but hope for the best. It can’t be that bad with shorter hops. I’ve done two day trips in coach.
