Page 214 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL EATING IBERIA

There was a bit of a drama played out aboard of long tunnels in the forest. No roads in sight.
after we left busy Santa Barbara. Meals, which are included in the price of sleep-

A woman leading a tour group was missing one ing-car accommodations, were an adventure. The
of her clients, who apparently took a smoking break food was consistently good, especially the burger
outside while we stopped for a while at the station. and the salmon and the signature steak. We had
He hadn't returned and now she was going from face booked a seating time ahead and presented our-
to face to see if he was aboard as we picked up speed. selves to the dining car manager at the appointed
That presented a good rule: Always keep the train in time. Many people apparently aren't aware of the
sight if venturing off at one of the extended stops dining car tradition that they will be seated with
where outdoor breaks are allowed. Car attendants other travelers -- complete strangers -- for their
staff the doors at each of those stops. And you should meals. But that's the best part of the trip. We dined
keep ears pealed for that demanding call: "All with a couple who were on vacation from duty in
aboard!" Britain's Royal Navy, a man who was passionate en-
Evening the first day brought us to San Jose vironmentalist extolling the carbon-footprint sav-
and the San Francisco Bay Area. We skirted the Bay, ings of rail over air travel, a couple from Alaska who
stopping at Oakland, Emeryville (for connections to explained the hardship of bleak winters, and a man
San Francisco over the Bay Bridge), Martinez and taking his brother from Mexico on his first train ride.
then on to Davis and Sacramento, home to Califor- Trains attract rail fans, and there were many
nia's famed railroad museum as well as the state's aboard our run. You heard them comparing notes on
Capitol. past journeys and the equipment being used on our
After waking up the next morning, with hardly train. One man worked as an engineer on a British
any rocking and rolling, we marveled at the forests railway, and another told stories of Amtrak's survival
of the Cascades while sipping spicy Bloody Mary’s as a government-operated system despite numerous
from ringside seats in an observation car. There was attempts in Congress to shut it down. Still, Amtrak
time to stretch our legs on the platform and take in rolls along, adding more passengers each year and
the crisp mountain air while stopped in Klamath making improvements to service and equipment.
Falls, Ore., near Crater Lake National Park. Later, Our staff, from conductors to car and dining atten-
kids oohed and ahhed as we passed through a series dants were friendly and informative. And, at many

214 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE 2020