California Zephyr
Wednesday night I stepped onto Train 6, the California Zephyr as I rode out to Iowa from Denver. I think I might end up on a train again. For what I needed the train was the perfect mode of transportation. The train left denver about 4.5 hours LATE, which I didn’t mind too much as I enjoyed and used the extra hours I had between getting off the plane from my mexico adventure and stepping on a train.
The seats looked comfortable. Big seats, folding out leg rest. They were VERY comfortable for computing, but as I started fading to sleep, I had to find some creativity to find some configuration of my body that would allow sleep. I decided the hoodie was a major ingredient of sleep; you pull the hood over your eyes, the warmth helped fight the cold cabin, and the padding muted the sound. Second ingredient was nice headphones that covered your ears, I wore my headphones as they really muted the sound, even with nothing playing. I was amazed at the comfort.
One thing you’ll never experience outside of a train is the social dynamics. Most people are VERY social, which I enjoyed. The Train is very flexible as you could join that new friend, once stranger, to breakfast or lunch at the dinning car, you can head up to the observatory car and play cars at a booth, or find a few empty seats to hang out. Or if you do any of the things I just listed by yourself, you are sure to bump into someone by themselves willing to chat.
I passed the time by taking a nap to make up for the hours in the morning you speed conscious. I had a great, affordable, and socially pleasing breakfast in the dinning car. Had a coke and read in the observation car. Played/worked on the computer at my seat. Watched the scenery pass with the headphones on. Learned about a few different people’s lives and why they were riding the train.
I was picked up in Mount Pleasant to help my father and grandpa move great aunt’s things to Colorado as she passed away about a month ago.
Bellow is some of the people I meet.
Who’s on the train
Debbie - Drove with her son out to Boulder where is he is starting a chef job on pearl street. She’s on her way home, does physical therapy type work. I meet her as we were getting train assignments.
Blue Vest Breakfast Man - Living in a 5th wheel trailer just outside of Golden, CO. Between houses, trying to sell a house in Chute, and move into denver. It costs around $520 a month for living out of a
Ms. Gleenwood Springs - On her way out to go to a aunts funeral and visiting her sick grandma.
Mr + Mrs Freeman - Mrs idea was to try something different and ride the train, as she doesn’t enjoy flying, and doesn’t drive. Mr Freeman has worked for the railroad for over 20 years but has never been on it before. They are going to Texas for a family reunion. After 6 hours on the ride, Mrs said she’d NEVER do it again. They are riding from Co to IL, to catch that train to texas. At least 2 nights on the train (each way.)
Grandma and Grandpa Amash - They are on their way back home from visiting their son who lives in Denver. Going to Princeton.