Whistling Rails ~ From Sea to Shining Sea: #3, Old Sacramento

February 12, 2022

Dawn was just breaking as we rolled into Sacramento. I could see a few shaggy palms against the glow of the skyline. After disembarking there was quite a walk from the platform to the classic brick station. The inside is beautiful and old, with well-varnished wooden benches, painted details on the ceiling and huge chandeliers.

Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station

Across one end of the room is this beautiful mural, depicting the groundbreaking for the first Transcontinental Railroad, which took place midway through the Civil War.

Mural of First Transcontinental Railroad, Sacramento Valley Station

On the Coast Starlight, there’s an old-school percolator bolted to the counter in each sleeper car. However, it isn’t turned on until 6:00 am, so I missed out on both coffee and breakfast. At the station there was a coffee shop, but it didn’t open until 10:00. I asked both a ticket agent and a security guard for suggestions on any place nearby and they both assured me that nothing would be open yet. Slowly it began to dawn on me that I was going to have to function the whole day with no caffeine. By the time I boarded the California Zephyr, bound for Chicago, it would be too late in the day. I had some nut bars in my backpack, so took myself to a bench outside for a little breakfast. As I took my first bite, an old taxi pulled up and began a U-turn in front of the station. I put a hand to stop him, and after he rolled down his window I asked if there was anywhere I could get coffee or breakfast. He said there was a Denny’s, so I jumped in, luggage and all, and off we went. It was so close that he never even put on his seatbelt! Goes to show, sometimes you just need to persevere.

Moons Over My Hammy and The Best Cup of Coffee

I would not deny that there was a considerable pool of grease under my hashbrowns but still the food was delish and the coffee so good. One man ran all the tables as well as lots of to-go orders so he was kept at a trot the whole time. As I drank my third cup, I downloaded both the Lyft and Uber apps and then got a Lyft ride back to the station. Just as I settled onto one of the wooden benches to wait out the next two hours, I got a phone call from the station letting me know that they had a lounge for sleeper car passengers. They’d tried to catch me earlier, but my phone was off. It really was just a dark corner partitioned off but had snacks and coffee. The attendant suggested that instead of sitting there, they would hold my luggage and I could go for a walk. Armed with a local map, I set out to explore a bit.

Walking down the station parking lot, and then under a multi-laned freeway, I soon found the walkway to Old Town Sacramento.

Walking Under the Freeway

Gateway to Old Sacramento

Beautiful Blooming Trees by the Railroad Museum

These blocks along the Sacramento River are all things railroad and gold. Museums and shops abound, and even though most weren’t open yet, it was relaxing and fun to just take in the sights.