Golden State all the way!!! Cause I am predjudiced for one to Rock Island and two I think it was a good train too. Get off in the morning in LA would be better than 11:15 at night in my view. Plus just to say I rode over the Golden State Route! Nuff for me.
Coming from my neck of the woods (NE Wisconsin), I’d have to overnight in Chicago to catch the Santa Fe in the morning, unless I want to leave Green Bay at 2:10am on the “Ashland Limited” and arrive at 7:15am. If I leave at 7:00am, I’ll have 3 hours to Parmalee myself across the La Salle Street for the Rock Island. Curiously, if I wait until 10:30am, I have a Sunday only “Peninsula 400” that will take me right to my station (North Western) but, at 2:25pm, I still have over 4 hours before departure! Nothing to do but watch the C&NW spend the evening rush hour repopulating the northwestern suburbs-I think I’d manage. Still, not being a morning person, I’d opt for the C&NW-UP route, just to sleep as late as possible before departing.
As far as arrival, Santa Fe has the best-right to my hotel and up whenever for a full day in the City of Angels. If I’m going to wait until Monday, then it’s UP-at least I get another hour before the porter wakes me.
So, which way do I go? Probably RI-SP. Somehow, I think I know it’ll be the first to go, so I better get it. Besides, at 2300+ miles, I’m getting my money’s worth!
You left off the one off I would take. A CB&Q/D&RG/WP route. Wasn’t the Zephyr running at that time? That would have been my choice followed by the Super Chief.