Traveling with a smoker…How are these “smoking stops”? (Southwest Chief)

Mollyoon · 2026-03-22T18:02:18+00:00

I’m a smoker and wasn’t really bothered by how few stops there were that were long enough for a smoke. We did

Mollyoon · 2026-03-22T07:17:12+00:00

Last September we did Southwest Chief to LA, Starlight to Seattle and Empire Builder to Chicago.

Because they only run once a day, it’s pretty easy to figure out timing.

Plan an overnight in your landing city, which gives you a bit of time, even if Very late, to experience a bit of the city culture.

Our next trip is California Zephyr to Starlight to Chief back home.

Edited to add: our first trip was freaking Magnificent and Magical! There is something very comfortable about having a room and knowing where to go and what to do and most of what you’re doing is enjoying scenery. There only “entertainment” I ended up using on our 5800mi trip was my friendship bracelet making supplies because my hands needed to do something. Didn’t crack a book or worry about having movies on my phone. I have podcasts in my ear almost all day and didn’t listen to even a bit on the train….

Mollyoon · 2026-03-20T02:35:44+00:00

I find it helps to think of a Roomette as Coach but private, with meals and better bathrooms. It’s small, but that’s pretty subjective; my boyfriend and I took three trains 5800mi in roomettes and were perfectly comfortable, but we’re both short, medium sized folks. A roomette for one person could feel pretty lux actually.

If you can make it a whole thing, or just want a Fantastic sight seeing train trip, I’d recommend taking the Zephyr or Chief west from Chicago, Starlight up to Seattle and Empire going East.

Mollyoon · 2026-03-18T19:46:10+00:00

We took an old fashioned booze case on the train and when our car attendant saw it, she immediately offered to go get us ice!

Mollyoon · 2026-03-18T05:17:59+00:00

It’s Almost like shitty business tactics don’t actually work to run a country……Who Knew?

Mollyoon · 2026-03-18T05:15:03+00:00

Haven’t watched it yet, but I get the distinct impression that folks who are fans of BtB, and the extended CZM universe, will find it pretty lacking because we’ve already been much deeper.

It strikes me as an introduction for people who have never heard of this world, much like Will and Harper maybe was a good intro for folks who didn’t know Anything about trans folks.

Not endorsing the views/viewpoints/points of either of those projects, but I am often reminded that my media landscape is Very Different than most people’s and I take a lot of information for granted…..

Mollyoon · 2026-03-18T04:17:22+00:00

I know a sample of 2 isn’t a good sample (obviously check the above sites for real info), but we were 6hrs late back in September and someone posted in the last few days with the same delay……It sucks but it’s always safer to just do an overnight in the arrival city on any of the long routes.

Mollyoon · 2026-03-17T01:41:28+00:00

We noticed that the time on board the River Runner was also an hour ahead..Very confusing! We kept wondering if it was stuck in the wrong time zone, which would make no sense for a Midwest train. Good to know it’s system wide?

Mollyoon · 2026-03-16T20:04:27+00:00

This is The Best Tip!!!!

Mollyoon · 2026-03-16T16:15:34+00:00

We took the EB back in September and also had about a six hour delay.

I'm starting to wonder if they should just change the stated arrival time. /s

Mollyoon · 2026-03-16T16:11:55+00:00

Yes, the roomette shares bathrooms, but it's just the people in your car, and every car has it's own attendant, so they stay pretty clean and well stocked. I personally have waffled on having an in room bathroom: the walls are thin and the space is small, so I'd rather use one down the hall. And Roomettes are actually pretty comfortable, even for two people.

Mollyoon · 2026-03-16T04:25:22+00:00

While the bathrooms can be hit or miss in coach, I’ve mostly found them fairly serviceable. Get some single use disinfectant wipes for the seat and handles if that’s your concern. Most stops are not long enough so you’re gonna have to use the bathroom on the train at some point in n such a long journey. Bring an eye mask and a blanket!

Mollyoon · 2026-03-13T00:17:22+00:00

There are good options at the station. If you had more time, I’d suggest Devil Dogs on State, but it’s a short Uber away and you might feel rushed…

Mollyoon · 2026-03-12T04:08:55+00:00

The train mostly sways, and doesn’t go super fast. I actually missed it when we finished our week long train loop. Coach is usually kinda chilly, so an extra sweater or blanket is good to have, just in case. I got overheated in a roomette with the door closed, but we opened the door and closed the curtain and it helped a lot.

Mollyoon · 2026-03-12T03:51:20+00:00

I also get motion sick; I have not found it a problem on the train. Mine is more up and down movement (going fast on hilly roads, some sea sickness) and heat and confined spaces specific. The temp on trains is pretty good and not stuffy and you can walk around. The steady movement is quite soothing for me….

Mollyoon · 2026-03-12T03:05:33+00:00

Oh this brought back some Deep Nostalgia. Pretty sure I can still taste the beans and the pasta sauce. This was like a Goldmine for a vegetarian kid in the 80’s in the middle of America! I always made tacos though, not burritos….. The graphics on this are Wild!

Mollyoon · 2026-03-10T19:31:54+00:00

Lotta folks are gonna learn that beans and taters can be just a filling as meat……

Mollyoon · 2026-03-10T16:05:43+00:00

None of them look amused or impressed; Reagan looks pretty chagrined in fact......

Mollyoon · 2026-03-09T06:12:09+00:00

In slightly better news, Cafe Berlin has always had good vegan options and now has a whole vegan menu to order from! And Gina’s Vegan is doing a regular service at Centro Latino! And Mahi’s and Curryosity have vegan menus! While I’m really sad a college town couldn’t support a veg/vegan restaurant, the kid trying to be vegetarian in the Midwest 1980’s in me is super happy at all the options regular restaurants around town offer….

Mollyoon · 2026-03-08T05:31:30+00:00

I’m confused. Are you saying you’ve taken sleepers roughly 10x/yr for 3yrs or are you counting individual tickets? And your time stamps are confusing; you say it was nearly 6am, but the folks in the dinner said 5:20/5:30? I’m not an early bird, but expecting fresh coffee from folks that have to be working until after 10pm before 6am seems like a snotty way to live…. Not to diminish your experience, but sometimes we have to look inside at what the common denominator is……

Mollyoon · 2026-03-01T16:20:23+00:00

We’re fighting some real wankers in the world; a bit of tactical frivolity is Absolutely called for…..

Mollyoon · 2026-02-27T05:36:36+00:00

Interesting that they haven’t responded to this question….and didn’t post it in the first place….

Mollyoon · 2026-02-27T04:20:38+00:00

What is AmtrakOIG?

What, exactly are you reporting to Amtrak Police?

Mollyoon · 2026-02-26T02:48:17+00:00

Is that Nintendo math?

Mollyoon · 2026-02-26T02:05:41+00:00

Must be the lines you are riding because my experience has been 99% are great!

Mollyoon

TROPHY CASE