Pretty rough...glad I did the rail/fly package...think I would have died on the way back.
The good
1. Stopping at all the old train stations along the way.
2. Scenery west of the Rockies.
The bad
1. Food and bar car stuck in snow storm...neither available during the entire trip. (they picked up bagels and cream cheese for breakfast and Kentucky fried chicken for dinner)
2. Because we were stuck in SLC for an extended period, missed a lot of Rockies scenery(night).
3. The moron attendant going in and out of cars in below zero temps all night long. (I noticed an older couple ahead of me and the old guy was freezing, unable to sleep...I offered him my winter coat and he fell out soon after, which the wife very much appreciated ; )
4. The scenery east of the Rockies(flat and dead...thought we were going in circles).
I was supposed to connect to Port Huron, MI from Union Station in Chicago, but we got in so late I would have had to spend the night there...decided to hop a southwest flight out of midway instead.
Would I do it again?
Maybe, but DEFINITELY not in January, and probably only if I got a sleeper(expensive).
You rode the California Zephyr. I’ve been on that one twice. I love the view. I’d do it again tomorrow.
Do you know the approximate cost per day?