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1996 Amtrak Cross Country Trip
Since childhood I have always been a railfan. During high-school and college I had other priorities but I would always stop to watch a train if the situation presented itself rather than go hang out by the tracks like in my early days of railfaning. I'm working full time and have the finances to make my dream come true, so I did. From April 2-10, 1996, I traveled over 6,700 rail miles from Santa Barbara to Washington DC and back. This is a report of that trip which describes my impressions and activities during that trip. Enjoy!
Trip Itinerary
- April 02, 1996
- Depart Santa Barbara on San Diegan train #786 at 6:15pm.
- Arrive LA at 8:30pm,
- transfer to Sunset Limited (train #2) and depart at 10:30pm.
- April 05, 1996
- Arrive Jacksonville, FL 2:05pm.
- Depart on Silver Star (train #92) at 10:35pm.
- April 06, 1996
- Arrive Raleigh, NC at 7:36am.
- Depart Raleigh, NC at 11:55am on The Carolinian (train #80).
- Arrive Washington DC at 1:30pm.
- Spend night in Vienna, VA with sister-in-law & her family.
- April 07, 1996
- Depart Washington DC at 4:05pm on Amtrak's Capitol Limited (train #29).
- April 08. 1996
- Arrive Chicago, IL at 9am.
- Depart Chicago on The Desert Wind at 3pm for Los Angeles (train #35).
- April 10, 1996
- Arrive Los Angeles at 3:10pm.
- Depart on The San Diegan to Santa Barbara at 3:13pm. (train #779)
Note: If Desert wind is late, take 5:30pm San Diegan to Santa Barbara, arriving at 8:40pm (train #781).
Due to the length of this trip report, I have divided it up into
four parts plus a photo gallery. All aboard!
Travel Map--Follow the pink highlighter line to view my route taken
