I love trains and am willing to travel anywhere by rail. On my first visit to the USA at the fag end of the last century, I even took the 12-hour Starlight Express between San Francisco and Los Angeles to see the vast beauty of the West Coast of the U.S.

When I mentioned a train ride, people in my circle of friends thought I was ‘Nuts’ or typically Nat! People jumped into cars and hit the highway or took a shuttle between these two city airports. Trains like the BART or Caltrain were for commuting within the Bay Area. Nobody thought about Amtrak trains or wasting a whole day travelling. However, I had plenty of time and my son decided to indulge me.

Photo Credit: Jexkids.blogspot.in

We went to the station in San Francisco (I think it was Emeryville..but not sure) and my son made sure that I got into the train. The train was an impressive double decker Superliner train. It had an observation lounge with picture windows on both sides that gave a panoramic view of the countryside. There was a diner and the seats were spacious and I could recline comfortably in it. All this was quite a change from Indian trains.

The train left early in the morning and gradually wound its way through the seabound hills of the Bay Area. After a glimpse of the Diablo Mountains, the tracks were running along the California Pacific Coast. The scenery was stupendous both on the coast and inland where farm produce was abundant in California's great agricultural valleys.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Next stop was Oakland and then it was lunchtime. Being a vegetarian there was nothing, zilch for me to eat. I could get a packet of biscuits, a cupcake if I remember rightly and tetra packs of juice….no tea for a non coffee drinker.

The scenery distracted me sufficiently from my hunger pangs and we passed through San Luis Obispo. The sea was choppy and we kept peering for a sight of dolphins and whales. And after Pismo Beach,the next stop was Santa Barbara!! Remember that was the time when the serial with the same name was on and like all star gazers I gawked and gawked…but did not see anything familiar from the TV screen.

Photo Credit: Mike Bjork

Some more of moviedom was waiting for us for after Oxnard the train goes through the Simi Valley, the outdoor location for Hollywood westerns. The terrain waspopular for cowboys and Arabian movies with familiar rocks dotting the area. It was sundown when we reached LA…and the train was late by a few hours!

This train trip is great anytime of the year but in September, the hillsides are decked with beautiful shades of tan and brown as the wild wheat comes to fruition. The California Scrub Oaks dot the landscape towering in their majesty.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

The Coast Starlight is a wonderful way to travel. You can stretch your legs, no cramped seating and good toilets. Just imagine..no tedious security lines, no taking of shoes and jackets, no baggage restrictions. The added interest are the people watching, breath taking sea capes including an iconic lighthouse, coastal scenery and the leisurely meandering through hills and vales, fields and seaside. This is the best way to do California.

There are times when the train sits on the tracks waiting for freight trains to pass. Yet, the entire journey was alongside the sea. The train was great with its observation decks, dining cars, sleeper couches and other features. Vegetarian food? You guessed right. It was a nightmare as I was not equipped with my tuck box of idli, tamarind rice and curd rice!