June 7-June 15, 2008

Join us for a special great circle trip from Los Angeles to Chicago and then on to Denver and the Bay Area and back to Los Angeles during Memorial Day, 2008.  Our eight-day journey will be in traditional Pullman style aboard two vintage and full restored private cars.  You will be able to see the spectacular and awe inspiring scenery of the Southwest, the heartland of America, and the Rocky Mountains and the California Sierra Mountains of unmatched splendor.  The sleepers “Pacific Sands”  and  “Salisbury Beach” will be placed at the head end of the trains to Chicago and the Bay Area, enabling passengers to enjoy the dining cars and lounges of the Amtrak trains.  Meals will be on an individual settlement basis.  Free light snacks and beverages will be available throughout the trip in the sleepers. 

Trip Itinerary

Saturday, June 7

You will leave Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal at 6:45pm.  Our private cars will be attached to the front end of the “Southwest Chief” allowing passage to the rest of the train via a short stairway.  You may choose to have dinner in the diner on our departure as the train leaves the Los Angeles area and heads up and over the Cajon Pass.  We will offer a tray of hor d’ oeuvres in each sleeper to celebrate our departure on our exciting great circle train journey.  Settle in and relax before retiring to your Pullman berth for the night. 

Sunday, June 8 

As you awake, we will be crossing the Arizona desert and into western New Mexico.  We will arrive in Albuquerque at noon and you will have ample time to take a stroll on the station platform.

 Monday,  June 9

Arrival in Chicago is in mid-afternoon.  Our cars will be taken to the Amtrak coach yard for servicing.  Departure for Denver and the Bay Area is not until 1:50 PM on Wednesday.  Our Pullman cars will serve as our hotel throughout the trip and tonight and Tuesday night will remain in the Coach Yard.  Chicago has a multitude of places to see and to dine.  Access to taxis and public transportation is a very short distance away. Safety in the Coach Yard is a high priority and everyone is asked to be alert and watchful.

Tuesday, June 10 

A free day in Chicago.
Ride the El, the South Shore, the old Burlington, Milwaukee, Rock Island or C&NW commuter lines. Visit all of the Chicago railfan hot spots during our 3 days in downtown Chicago. Railfan photography problems? Take all the pictures you want from private property – our open vestibule window!

Wednesday, June 11 

A free day in Chicago.

Thursday, June 12 

Our cars will be attached to the head end of the “California Zephyr” bound for the Bay Area of San Francisco and Oakland.  Our train will actually complete its journey in Emeryville, in the Bay Area.  Our early afternoon departure at 1:50PM means that we will be in Iowa at dinnertime.  The steward will be taking our reservations for dinner in the diner.  We will reach Omaha later in the evening and cross Nebraska during the night.

Friday, June 13 

Arrival in the mile-high city of Denver is scheduled at 7:35 AM.  We will then begin to climb up into and across the Rocky Mountains during daylight hours, reaching Salt Lake City just before midnight. 

Saturday, June 14 

During the night we cross Nevada reaching Reno mid-morning.  Today is the day we cross the Sierra Mountain range following the former Central Pacific rail line through Donner Pass and on to the capital of California, historic Sacramento.  Then, in the early evening we reach Emeryville and the San Francisco Bay Area. 

Sunday June 15

Today we will be switched on to the southbound “Coast Starlight” for the run to Los Angeles.  Since we will be attached to the rear of the train, we will have a Continental Breakfast available on departure.  While light snacks and beverages will be available in the sleepers,  passengers may wish to ride between stations in the dining and lounge cars to obtain their meals.  Each passenger will have a badge identifying themselves to the train crew as passengers in the private cars. 

Our journey today will traverse over 113 miles of coastline.  Weather permitting, these are some of the most spectacular views on the Amtrak system.  Arrival  this evening  is scheduled at 9 PM in Los Angeles., the end of a great circle journey that has crossed eleven states and brought a new appreciation for the diversity and beauty of our great nation.

Trip cost is only $1295 which includes travel and stay aboard the train in Chicago. All meals are on your own. One way is also available. Call for details but reserve now!  Deposit required to hold space.

First Class sleeping accommodations aboard the Pacific Sands and Salisbury Beach:

The Pacific Sands features traditional single person "roomettes" and two person "double bedrooms". All rooms have toilet/sink facilities, individual temperature control, fans, small closet. Couples have the choice of a double bedroom, (Upper and Lower berth) or in individual "right across the aisle" roomettes. Two Double Bedrooms may also be joined together to form a suite for a family of four. The car is equipped with a shared shower and also features a kitchenette at the end of the car.