On August 29, 2005, the Sunset Limited route was truncated at San Antonio, Texas, as a result of damage to trackage in the Gulf Coast area caused by Hurricane Katrina. Sunset Limited had been Southern Pacific's premier train on the southern transcontinental route since 1894. A full-scale federal investigation would discover that not only had the incident been planned, but that the derailment had been orchestrated by a group calling themselves the “Sons of the Gestapo.” I spent 24 hours in Amtrak Coach Class, riding the train from New Orleans to Austin, with a 6 hour layover in San Antonio, Texas. I'll show you what the excitement of a train trip is all about. Be sure to pack a credit card and some cash in case you get hungry. Train status is sourced from Amtrak's excellent Track Your Train Map, which should be considered the authoritative source for train information.This site is not affiliated with Amtrak, and no guarantees are made as to … That part of the train goes to New Orleans. [11], A 1929 consist included:[citation needed]. On a perfect day, the Sunset Limited can travel from Lake Charles to New Orleans in just over six hours. Amtrak Sunset Limited goes the extra distance to deliver premium features to its customers. The entire route is almost 2,000 miles long and is consistently ranked as one of the most scenic Amtrak routes. With Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones. It takes the West Colton line which is what I like to call it as it goes through Alhambra, El Monte, City Of Industry, Ontario, and then West Colton. Latest status for Sunset Limited Train #2, updated 20:11 on 09/29 (unofficial). Service was re-extended to Orlando on October 26, 1997, and the train deadheaded (operated empty) between Orlando and Sanford for servicing. It said that it could not apply for the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) fiscal-year 2017 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety and Improvements (CRISI) funding because Alabama and Mississippi were unwilling to assist with funds. Also in 1950, the train got a new look, with stainless steel cars with red letterboards and white "Southern Pacific" lettering. Before the start of Amtrak on May 1, 1971, the Sunset Limited was operated by the Southern Pacific Railroad. By 1968, the once proud streamliner had three cars: a baggage car, a coach and an automat lunch counter car. Travel time is longer – On a perfect day, I can drive from Lake Charles to New Orleans in four hours. “This is a regional train with a short distance and a few stops in Mississippi.” ‘Isn’t the old Sunset’ Almost five years later, on October 27, 1989, the track segment between Mobile and Flomaton, Alabama, came into passenger train use as part of the route of the Gulf Breeze. [20] In June 2018, the commission missed the deadline for submitting a request for service restoration along the Gulf. The Sunset Limited was Southern Pacific's premier train, built for luxury first-class long-distance travel. ... Heritage Foundation have been posting rail travelogues, photos and other information related to Amtrak to these APRHF Train Web Sites since 1996. SAN ANTONIO, Texas — The Sunset Limited will begin seven weeks of reduced frequencies and adjusted schedules later this month as a result of a major track project in Texas. Wednesday trips start at 1:00am with the last trip at 1:00am. The Sunset Limited travels along America's Sunbelt -- from Southern California through the deep South and to the beaches of Miami, treating you to superb scenery, style and Superliner comfort. The bathrooms are pretty basic and include a toilet, toilet paper and hand sanitizer. It's my first trip and I'm terribly excited. In 1936, the train resumed running to San Francisco and was one of SP's first trains to receive air conditioning. However, most of the route within Louisiana itself was sold to BNSF Railway in 1995 in return for BNSF not objecting to the UP-SP merger. The 1995 Palo Verde derailment took place on October 9, 1995, when Amtrak's Sunset Limited was derailed by saboteurs near Palo Verde, Arizona on Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. Yes, there are bathrooms on Amtrak Sunset Limited trains. However, schedule unreliability caused the Sunset Limited's eastern terminus to be truncated to Sanford on November 10, 1996. The Sunset Limited was Southern Pacific's premier train. Travel between Louisiana and California along our southern-most route. The Sunset Limited makes the run from Los Angeles to New Orleans three times a week, hence the "Limited." Amtrak's Sunset Limited train connects Los Angeles with New Orleans, stopping at numerous cities including Alpine; Seats with reservations start at … All cars except the RPO-Baggage (which had 6-wheel trucks) had 4-wheel trucks. ... Heritage Foundation have been posting rail travelogues, photos and other information related to Amtrak to these APRHF Train Web Sites since 1996. The Sunset Route (originating in New Orleans) is the southernmost of the three gateways to the West Coast envisioned through the Pacific Railroad Acts. As the train … Never made it to the dining car. This was the state of the train when Amtrak took control in May 1971. The other two embarked from Chicago and St. Louis. Latest status for Sunset Limited Train #1, updated 19:11 on 09/29 (unofficial). After traveling through west Texas overnight, it separates from the Texas Eagle in San Antonio. Do you find yourself squished in a regular seat or just love having extra room to sprawl out? Sunset Limited Train 2. Sunset Limited - Amtrak information and ticket information web page.. Sunset Limited Route Schedule Train Of Thought Sunset Limited Route Schedule Map . The grant was matched by funds from Louisiana, Mississippi, and the city of Mobile. Sunset Limited Southern Pacific Premier Train With A Southern Accent Signor SP from $199.75 Amtrak Sunset Limited Railroad Train Sticker Travel Luggage Decal Quality NEW from $3.50 Amtrak's Sunset Limited Transcon DVD NEW Inaugural run 1993 history Amtrak from $29.95 Effective October 12, 2020. Since Amtrak Sunset Limited might sometimes use replacement train vehicles, not all trips are guaranteed to have power points. The tracks between these two points remained unused by passenger trains until April 29, 1984, when an Amtrak train called the Gulf Coast Limited, running between New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, began service, seeking to regenerate some form of regional intercity rail traffic between large cities outside the Northeast. Until 1950 the train was pulled by 4-6-2 Pacific type and 4-8-4 GS-1 Northern type steam locomotives between New Orleans and El Paso, and by 4-8-2 MT-4 Mountain type and 4-8-4 GS-4 Northern type steam locomotives between El Paso and Los Angeles/San Francisco. ; Last updated Thursday, 31-Dec-2020 02:46:04 PST. It covers the two thousand mile journey in forty-eight hours, passing through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana, with stops in Maricopa (Phoenix), Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, and Lake Charles, among others. As for the route in MSTS. It then joins the Texas Eagle just after midnight, and travels overnight through west Texas before arriving in El Paso at lunchtime the following afternoon and dinner time in Tucson and Maricopa. Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel in North America and Europe. In the boom years following World War II, SP decided that it was time for the Sunset to join the streamliner ranks. See Vermonter or Northeast Corridor 2 timetable. With Samuel L. Jackson, Tommy Lee Jones. However, the Sunset Route had two major advantages over the other two routes. It branched from the Crescent's route at Birmingham, turning south toward Montgomery, Flomaton, and terminating in Mobile. No Wanderu Fees • We never add any extra fees. [9] Initially, the Sunset Limited was an all-Pullman train, with sleeping cars and no coaches, running from New Orleans to San Francisco via Los Angeles. As time has passed, particularly since the January 2006 completion of the rebuilding of damaged tracks east of New Orleans by their owner CSX Transportation Inc., the obstacles to restoration of the Sunset Limited's full route have been more managerial and political than physical. St. Albans - Springfield - New York - Washington. With 34 Amtrak Sunset Limited trips per day, there are a lot of great deals to uncover for the bargain hunter and Amtrak Sunset Limited tickets start at just $11.00. Sunset Limited Train#1 - All Aboroad! I'm … At San Antonio, a through coach and a through sleeper from the Texas Eagle combine with the Sunset Limited for the journey westward and split eastward. The Sunset Limited is an Amtrak train that runs between Los Angeles, California and San Antonio, Texas. The Amtrak Sunset Limited train takes you between Louisiana and California through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Coach is good but roommette is better for ling distance, Seat cushion was uncomfortable when reclined it put serious pressure on my tailbone, Enjoy it’s s good way to travel for the buck. The westbound train leaves New Orleans just after rush hour, arriving in Lafayette at lunchtime and just after the afternoon rush in Houston. Johnston, Bob; "At last, a transcontinental passenger train", This page was last edited on 23 December 2020, at 09:41. There are 19 cities along the way and ticket prices currently range between $11.00 and $224.00. Consequently, the Sunset Limited carried the third-fewest passengers of any Amtrak train in fiscal year 2019, 92,827, a 4.4% decrease over FY2018. Step aboard Amtrak's Sunset Limited from Los Angeles to New Orleans. “Sunset Limited is a long-distance train,” he said. I have just had a long celebratory meal and am trying to stay awake to board the Sunset Limited train at 2:45 am–find our sleeper car–and begin our train journey to LA’s Union station. On the three days that the Sunset Limited operates, a coach and sleeper from the Texas Eagle split from the eastbound Sunset Limited in San Antonio and continue to Chicago, combining with the westbound Sunset Limited for the journey to Los Angeles. Twenty-five years after the derailment of Amtrak's Sunset Limited passenger train in Arizona killed the conductor and injured dozens of passengers, … Fri Jan 1 15:26:04 2021 - The Amtrak data feed seems to be … You can generally find one or two sockets per row of seats, so be a good traveller and check if your seat neighbor might want to charge up their devices as well. The Sunset Limited train derailment mystery “It felt almost like being shook to your feet by an earthquake,” she said. Between 1950 and 1958 the diesel locomotives were painted in the Southern Pacific's "Daylight" scheme; in the 1960s and 70s EMD F7 diesel locomotives in SP's "Bloody Nose" scheme powered the train on the entire run. You should purchase your tickets online and make sure you have everything you need to board before you arrive at the station. Directed by Tommy Lee Jones. After dieselization Alco PA A-A Unit diesel locomotives powered the train between New Orleans and El Paso, and EMD E7 and E9 diesel locomotives in A-B-B sets pulled the train between El Paso and Los Angeles. Check out some of the latest and greatest deals snatched up by Wanderu users. The Sunset Limited was even combined with the Golden State passenger train west of El Paso in 1964. Officials announced plans for up to four daytime rail trips per day within 24 months, serving the cities of New Orleans, Bay St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula. Amtrak Sunset Limited. Amtrak: Sunset Limited - Los Angeles to Houston - See 1,555 traveler reviews, 875 candid photos, and great deals for Boston, MA, at Tripadvisor. Leaving Orlando for Los Angeles I hope seeing Sunset Limited again. However, this train only lasted until January 6, 1985. Resuming the second day of the trip, it arrives in Houston at lunchtime, Lafayette at rush hour, and the middle of the night in New Orleans. Valley Flyer. However, the exact departure and arrival times vary depending on the day and route. Additionally, the other two routes had to assault the front range of the Rockies. It is the oldest named train in the United States, introduced in 1894 by the Southern Pacific Railroad, and acquired by Amtrak upon its formation in 1971. You can use your smartphone to show this eTicket to the ticketing agent as you board. Out of Los Angeles. The Gulf Breeze was discontinued in 1995. Westbound trains leave New Orleans on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Amtrak Sunset Limited Train 2 Status. It is the middle of the night at the Sunset Station in San Antonio and there is a slight chill in the air. Instead, an eTicket is sent to you by email when you make your reservation. Yes, Amtrak Sunset Limited requires you to present an ID to an agent to be allowed to board the train. Sunset Limited Derailment In the early morning hours of October 9th, 1995, Amtrak’s Sunset Limited derailed in the middle of the Arizona desert. Around 100,000 passengers ride the Amtrak Sunset Limited every year, although not everyone travels the entire way from San Antonio to LA. However, up until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, it ran between Orlando and Los Angeles, and from 1993 to 1996, continued on to Miami (via the Silver Meteor's route). Latest status for Sunset Limited Train #2, updated 20:11 on 09/29 (unofficial). Advocates for the train's restoration have pointed to revenue figures for Amtrak's fiscal year 2004, the last full year of coast-to-coast Sunset Limited service. In addition, opened 20 years before the Panama Canal, the Sunset Route vastly shortened the time to reach the West Coast from the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, as New Orleans was already an established seaport for Atlantic shipping lines’ passengers, seeking to reach the US interior. When you make your reservatoins be sure to be on The Sunset Limited (train #2). Will do it again, Cushionvon your seat needs work we had our pillows and blankets and we used them to give us more cushion, Bring pillow and blsnket a good book and enjoy Effective October 5, 2020. The journey takes two days to complete in each direction. The positive side of this is that your employer can't bug you with constant calls when you're riding the Sunset Limited. One way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Los Angeles to New Orleans on the Sunset Limited®; from New Orleans to Washington, DC on the Crescent®; from Washington, DC to Chicago on the Capitol Limited®; from Chicago to Seattle on the Empire Builder®; and from Seattle to Los Angeles on the Coast Starlight®. Sunset Limited Train 1. Map Map. A $15 million order for 73 cars was placed with the Budd company in 1948. First introduced in 1894, it was handed to AmtrakAmtrak This made Phoenix one of the nation's largest cities without direct passenger service; although the designated Phoenix-area stop is in Maricopa, a suburban community about 40 miles (64 km) south of downtown Phoenix. Unfortunately I got train sick from the rocking/rolling and I have mobility problems. In January 2016, Amtrak and the Southern Rail Commission announced jointly that a Gulf Coast passenger rail inspection trip was to be made from New Orleans to Jacksonville, with elected officials among those on board during the February 18–19 excursion. For the remainder of the week, the Texas Eagle runs independently between Chicago and San Antonio. The Sunset Limited is a long distance Amtrak train service between New Orleans and Los Angeles with stops in Houston, San Antonio, and Tucson. It had a total revenue of $10,769,179 in 2016, marking a 7.5% decrease over FY2015. Amtrak Sunset Limited. Since 1981, the Sunset Limited has run in tandem with the Texas Eagle. A $15 million order for 73 cars was placed with the Budd company in 1948. In late October 2005, service was restored between San Antonio and New Orleans, as the line through Louisiana had been repaired. It was an all-weather, year-round route that did not face the crippling snows of the Wasatch or Sierra mountain ranges to reach the Pacific Coast. The best way to find the exact schedule for your trip is to use the search tool on this page. The train was dieselized in late 1949. However, Amtrak still lacks the equipment and funds needed to move to daily service. Wonderfull expierience . The Sunset Limited is a train that will take you across a continent – from bayou country through the inhospitable Texas rangelands to the Californian mountains. The three states' cooperation was needed to secure the $35.5 million in federal CRISI funds. The Sunset Limited service between Orlando and New Orleans has been suspended. No stairs getting to the bathroom. 1/3 of the train out of Los Angeles is called The Texas Eagle (train #22/422) and it splits off in San Antonio TX at midnight to head to Chicago. [13], The Sunset received a better schedule on May 7, 2012, moving its westbound movements from New Orleans to a Monday, Wednesday, Saturday circuit. Mar 09, 2005 - New Sunset Limited Daylight Schedule - Chris Guenzler Mar 09, 2005 - New Sunset Limited Daylight Schedule - Carl Morrison Feb 06, 1998 - Amtrak California Texas Eagle Inaugural Run Thu Nov 26 16:01:05 2020 - The Amtrak data feed seems to … The play was published in a paperback edition about the same time that it opened in New York. Thu Nov 26 16:01:05 2020 - The Amtrak data feed seems to … The Texas Eagle, which runs daily between San Antonio and Chicago, operates as a section of the Sunset Limited on the days the latter train operates. This video is about our amtrak journey from LA to Tucson on the Sunset Limited / Texas Eagle Amtrak Line. The 1995 Palo Verde derailment took place on October 9, 1995, when Amtrak's Sunset Limited was derailed by saboteurs near Palo Verde, Arizona on Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. The operating railroad CSX restored the line itself between New Orleans and Jacksonville. See Vermonter or Northeast Corridor 2 timetable. As you will be using a bathroom on a moving vehicle, please use caution and hold on to a rail at all times. Texas Eagle. While onboard the Sunset Limited, settle back and watch the Bayou Country, Mexican border, southwestern deserts and … The Sunset Limited is a play by American writer Cormac McCarthy.McCarthy's second published play, it was first produced by the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago on May 18, 2006, and it traveled to New York City later that same year. During the 1960s, amenities were progressively cut back, culminating in the elimination of the dining car, lounge car and all sleeping cars. In San Antonio, westbound Sunset Limited train is combined with Texas Eagle train from Chicago and continue to Los Angeles. A typical consist from the early 1950s included:[citation needed]. [21], In June 2019, the Federal Railroad Administration announced a grant award of $33 million to restore Amtrak service between New Orleans and Mobile, and to upgrade tracks, stations, and other facilities to support improved passenger rail service. The Sunset Limited train derailment mystery “It felt almost like being shook to your feet by an earthquake,” she said. [2] [3]. When you make your reservatoins be sure to be on The Sunset Limited (train #2). Sunset Limited. On October 9, 1995, saboteurs derailed the Sunset Limited near Harqua, Arizona by removing 29 spikes from a section of track, and short-circuited the signal system to conceal the sabotage. Amtrak Sunset Limited provides snacks to satisfy your hunger during your travels. the_traveler Conductor. On the portion of the route east of New Orleans, service was suspended after Hurricane Katrina. The last car of the train was a sleeping car with a blunt rear end and a lighted neon sign with the train name on the rear door. When combined with the Sunset Limited, the Texas Eagle is numbered as 421 westbound and 422 eastbound. The Amtrak Sunset Limited train takes you between Louisiana and California through Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. In its present form, the eastbound Sunset Limited leaves Los Angeles in the late evening, traveling overnight through Arizona before arriving at breakfast time in Tucson and mid-afternoon in El Paso. Friday and Sunday trips start at 10:50am with the last trip at 1:00am. A collection of video clips from my ride on the Sunset Limited from Los Angeles, CA to New Orleans, LA. The Sunset Limited makes the run from Los Angeles to New Orleans three times a week, hence the "Limited." Since there is no standard of what extra legroom is, the extra space you get may vary between train lines, but getting extra is always good. [15], Section 226 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 16, 2008, gave Amtrak nine months to provide Congress with a plan for restoring service that "shall include a projected timeline for restoring such service, the costs associated with restoring such service, and any proposals for legislation necessary to support such restoration of service. It forecast an incremental improvement of more than 100,000 passengers from the daily service, which is already running in excess of 100,000 a year. Most bathrooms don’t have running water. No, Amtrak Sunset Limited does not offer will call tickets. The Louisiana governor, on the other hand, was willing to provide the funds. ... What I do now is when the train is very near the border (especially around ELP) I turn roaming off! Currently, the segment of the former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad between DeLand and Orlando is owned by Orlando's commuter service SunRail. In 2016 Amtrak proposed to return the Sunset Limited service to Florida in the near future. It is the oldest named train in the United States, introduced in 1894 by the Southern Pacific Railroad, and acquired by Amtrak upon its formation in 1971.