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I live next to Denver Union Station and coincidentally I took the California Zephyr for the first time yesterday (Saturday). I wanted to experience the train go

I live next to Denver Union Station and coincidentally I took the California Zephyr for the first time yesterday (Saturday). I wanted to experience the train going up into the Rockies and back. I was surprised that seats were assigned; I got an aisle seat. I could mostly catch the scenery anyway, but that was a downside. They were passing out tickets to give more people a turn in the observation car, but they weren't switching until after I was scheduled to get off. I went up to Granby, CO and back. It was a beautiful day (maybe the last one for the season?). Friday, near Oakland, the train that was taking me back was stuck waiting for a bridge malfunction, so it was 4 hours behind. By the time it got to Granby, it was supposed to be 2.5 hours late, but as the day went on the timeline got pushed back until it was 3.5 hours late. It picked me up as it was getting dark after sunset, and the ride back was in the dark. The trip was amazing and disappointing at the same time.

boulos 2y ago
Wow, that's really unfortunate. As I just wrote in a top-level comment, Denver to Salt Lake is definitely the highlight. You get to be up high above some of those creeks and passes where the road doesn't go. I hope you're able to try again in the future and sit in the panorama car.
- drivers99 2y ago
  It's definitely feasible to go almost any time I want, so I will do that!
cdrini 2y ago
Ah that's a shame! Haha yeah, I've found I've got to be a bit more flexible with timings, I've only taken the train a handful of times, but have already experienced a cancellation, and, separately, multi hour delay. But when the train is kind of the destination, a delay isn't too bad, tbh. I wonder if I've gotten lucky with emptier trains because I generally tend to travel early in the morning? Not sure, it might just be luck; I hope you get to experience another train trip with fewer problems!

boulos 2y ago

Wow, that's really unfortunate. As I just wrote in a top-level comment, Denver to Salt Lake is definitely the highlight. You get to be up high above some of those creeks and passes where the road doesn't go. I hope you're able to try again in the future and sit in the panorama car.

drivers99 2y ago
It's definitely feasible to go almost any time I want, so I will do that!

cdrini 2y ago

Ah that's a shame! Haha yeah, I've found I've got to be a bit more flexible with timings, I've only taken the train a handful of times, but have already experienced a cancellation, and, separately, multi hour delay. But when the train is kind of the destination, a delay isn't too bad, tbh. I wonder if I've gotten lucky with emptier trains because I generally tend to travel early in the morning? Not sure, it might just be luck; I hope you get to experience another train trip with fewer problems!