Originally Posted by
Mary2e
Considering taking Amtrak from NJ to LA. Anyone else do it in first class?
Yes, and I hope to do it again. However, my sister-in-law took the train in sleeper class from northern California to Washington and was bored to the point of "Never again."
Do you have any specific questions? I would recommend a train to Chicago and then the Southwest Chief (or the California Zephyr and Coast Starlight). In other words, I would recommend avoiding the Crescent and the Texas Eagle (due to regular reports of substandard food and rude train crews).