Originally Posted by
wintersummer
Sinbad - thanks for directing me to that site. I've already posted about 10 questions and you're right, those are really train people! I've gotten so many good responses.
Reindeer - I'm so happy I made the right choice with the Empire Builder. Why do you think it's so good? I selected it mainly because of the scenery. Also, I spent several nights at the Issac Walton Inn several years back and it came by the inn and I wanted to get on right then!
Other trains, esp. the CA Zephyr, have better scenery, but the operation is so erratic that I cannot recommend it. The EB offers a recently-upgraded level of service, and operates reasonably well on time, so that is why I recommend it. In fact, I am riding it myself in September, while skipping the Coast Starlight, which I still do not recommend even though it is improving in performance. Scenery on the EB is good in western Montana; the plains can be a bit dull, and the MN/WI is OK, if not particularly special.