Reno Fun Train

This is such a fun and different thing to do. We catch the fun train in Emeryville on a Friday evening and take it up through Truckee and Donner to Reno. This is just a moving party. There’s a dance car, a karaōke car, a few bars, a smoking car, they serve some pretty good, all be it simple food, there’s tons of booze. There’s a little souvenir car which I have purchased some neat little trinkets from. There is a banjo, fiddle, guitar trio that walks through the cars playing and singing popular songs and they take requests. They are really talented. They even did a Beatles songs I requested once. It’s great for groups because I think you get discounts the more tickets you buy. People bring their own food and drink on the train too. Seriously everyone is having a great time. I’m surprised the cars don’t bounce right off the tracks. We get there at about midnight and just gamble all night and sleep till late the next day, Saturday. I get up about 3 and walk around Reno a bit and watch a few shows and gamble some more. We leave on Sunday late morning and take the Snow Train back which is a whole different atmosphere. People are usually sleeping it off and exhausted and a lot of them are broke. There’s a few winners and everyone is pretty content. They pump, like a historical recording through the train about the history of the places we pass. Of course they talk about Donner Pass and the cannibalism that took place there. It’s pretty fascinating. All the other crazy cars I mentioned before are still open and running, but people aren’t really using them at this point. All the people who work there are very nice and accommodating and efficient. I used to go all the time with my dad and a bunch of our friends, but it’s been a few years since I have gone back. I would love to go again someday.

I have mixed reviews of this trip. This was my first time on the Fun Train so I really didn’t know what to expect. I chose the 70’s/80’s Theme trip as a treat to my Mom because they advertised that the DJ in the Dance Car would be Tony Sandoval from 98.1 (my Mom’s favorite radio station). Overall I would give the trip 3 stars but if my Mother were rating it she would give it a full 5 stars. Here’s the thing: I’m introverted and my Mom is VERY extroverted so we had different experiences on the train. I know it’s a PARTY train but I just didn’t care for the LOUD, DRUNK Party people traipsing back and forth on their way to the Dance Car — one of those people being my Mother! I have no problem with folks drinking (I enjoyed a beer or two) I just wish they wouldn’t drink to the point where they’re pissy drunk and slurring their words. Speaking of pissy drunk, I also didn’t care for the pissy toilet seats in the bathrooms because people were too drunk to hit the right spot. But aside from all that, the train ride up and back was nice (but cold because our seats were right by the door connecting the trains and it never stayed closed long enough to keep the car warm because of the LOUD, DRUNK Party people traipsing back and forth). I especially enjoyed the KFC Pot Pie they served going up to Reno.
Getting back to the Party aspect of the trip: there were several people on our train who weren’t there to booze it up and hoop ‘n holler … it would be nice if they added a ‘quiet car’ for folks who want to read, play cards etc. Would I take the Reno Fun Train again? Maybe.

We took the St. Patty’s day Reno Fun Train (3÷15−3÷17÷13) and had a great time. We caught the train in Emeryville. There was a Zydeco band at the station to entertain us and lots of fellow riders in costume. There were a few groups on board, many in costume, some decorating their area, all partying — all in fun though — no one was rude or annoying. The Zydeco band traveled with us in the dance car. There was a pianist in the bar car. A fellow who did amazing card tricks and one of the best Elvis impersonators I have ever seen roamed the cars to entertain us. Our car attendant, Mary, was awesome. She kept us supplied with water, ice, pillows, coffee, etc. It was about a 7 hour trip each way and she never failed to smile and attend to folks. The restrooms were clean. The attendant in the dome car was very knowledgeable about the train and the terrain as we rode through. On the way home, the Zydeco band again entertained us on the platform at Reno and on the train. The other entertainers were also aboard as well as our wonderful attendant, Mary. The ride home was just as fund as the ride up. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and look forward to traveling again next year.

For all you Unilocalers & maybe non Unilocalers. I decided to take the snow train to Reno on Feb. 5 – 7, 2012 for a relaxing midweek birthday celebration. Well this is exactly what I got. My cousin & a couple of friends took it & was pleased. I read reviews & they were not good. But everyone has their own experiences. You have to go remembering that this is a means of transportation & it may not always go as planned as things do happen. Be any type of travel you take, car, plane or boat. THINGS HAPPEN that you can’t control.
You get a choice of 2 types of travel. Regular first come first serve seating with lunch. Or you can upgrade to the Gold Service. Reserved seating with 3 course meal, 3 mixed drinks, wine or beer with lunch, up & back. You get to choose for 6 – 7 hotels in Reno. some walking distance from the train station others have a shuttle.
Well let me tell you, I am so glad I did the Gold Service! The price was worth every penny and more.
My trip started out by taking bart to the Richmond station as the Amtrak station was just 50 yards away. So convenient. Since the train was to arrive at 10;15 am It could of been I commuters nightmare if there was a accident. I arrived early so I waited for the train with excitement. 1^st train came & was told the snow train was behind it. 2^nd train came & they said the same. 3^rd train came, same. I started to worry that the reviews were true.
Finally this train came around the corner with a big white teddy bear tied to the front. There it was, my snow train. As the train came to a stop, the gentleman quickly jumped off to greet me with a smile & take my bag. I boarded the dome car & we were in a flash. it was only ½ hr behind. Not bad. They had your name where your assigned seat was.
Before I even reached it there was a gentleman by the name of Jeremy, ready to assist me. Found it no problem. I was greeted with a complimentary mimosa. Woo hoo, my kind of greeting. They served a mixture of muffins & cakes for your arrival. Very good. We also had Tony who was quick to help if Jeremy was busy with someone else. Both were always so polite & big smile. Thanks guys for all you did to make our trip great.
Seating was great. 4 to a table & big enough to play cards or games.
As we traveled along the shore of the bay the ride was so smooth. We stopped a several stations picking up passengers for our journey through the Sierra’s.
They gave us a choice of seating times for lunch which I thought was great. I opted for the 11:30 time to give the later boarders time for their lunch.
As it was time for lunch I headed downstairs to the dining part of our dome car. WOW!!! Was I surprised to see this. Real plates, no paper. Cloth napkins & tablecloths with silverware, no plastic. Except for the glasses. Well we are on a train. Elegantly decorated. Very nice.
We got a menu with choices of 2 salads, 4 entrees & 3 desserts. Wow, I been to really nice restaurants that the foods wasn’t even this good. I had chicken with brown rice, so good. Caesar salad, & apple turnover for my trip up. Hamburger, Strawberry Spinach salad & brownie. The food was to die for. I didn’t get to personally talk with the chef so I have no one but put my hands together for the great job he did preparing the meals in what looked like the size of my closet of a kitchen. The gentleman Paul, & I’m sorry but I forgot the other ones name were awesome! Making sure you were served promptly & always with a smile.
With the Gold Service you get access to all cars, which have lots to explore. one special thing I like was that with this service, if you don’t have it you are not allowed in the dome car which makes for a quiet trip so you don’t have to worry about the riff raff. LOL
Make sure you bring your cameras as the views you will see you don’t get to see from your car if you have ever driven up. They definitely made up time climbing the mountain as we arrived in Reno on time. These guys are good as we exited the train they were quick to have our bags off & ready for us.
The station in Reno is fairly small so getting through it was a little tough but we managed. I picked Harrah’s as on the brochure it showed close to the station. Wow was I lucky as it was 100 yards to the door. Check-​in was simple & easy. They had all the train travels in a separate box & ready with keys in it.
I want to say that I will be definitely be doing this trip again & I won’t travel any other way but Gold Service. Thanks to all the Chicago boys for all their wonderful hard work in making this a awesome mini vacation. Thanks to Key Holidays for this trip possible with the great employees that were on the train. Couldn’t have happened without them.
May I suggest that if you want a relaxing train ride you do the midweek. If you want to party hardy, go for the weekend one cause from what I heard from previous travelers that it can get pretty wild. I would recommend this trip to everyone.

All I can tell you about the company that runs this trip — Key Holidays is — BUYER BEWARE. We recently took this train, and prior to the trip tried to contact Key Holidays due to an impending storm in the Sierras. They put us on hold, told us to call Amtrak and really gave us the runaround. A 6 hour train ride turned out to be «the longest ride in history» as announced by the people running the trip. 20 hours later, we arrived in Reno, and we boarded in Martinez. They didn’t even offer a free cup of coffee on the ride back.

If you are thinking about this trip — BUYER BEWARE. We took this trip the weekend of Feb 25 –27 and we called prior to the trip because of the huge storm that was coming in to make sure that the train would be able to get thru. We got the big run around and were put on hold for 30 minutes 3 times. This was Gilligans Island — «a 3 hour tour». A 5 hour tip turned into a 24 hour nightmare. Instead of arriving in Reno at 5:30 PM on Friday, we got into Reno at 6:00 Am on Saturday mroning. The weekend was a a disaster. On the return ride, they didn’t even offer us a free cup of coffee for the inconvenience.

It truly does not get any better than this! Picture a train, travelling through the beautiful Sierra Nevada mountains, with a wild group of people that love to party, 21 and up, where you can bring all the booze you could possibly consume with you! Freaking AWESOME!
Does this sound like your kind of party? Well, welcome aboard the Reno Fun Train!
We flew to Sacramento the night before and stayed at the Vagabond Inn that is closest to the Amtrak station. It is one street away from Old Sacramento, so we were able to do the touristy stuff, take a carriage ride, etc. and had a lot of fun.
We arrived at the train station with lots of time to spare with the free shuttle from the Vagabond Inn. Good thing, too, since we forgot our camera and had to return to the hotel ! (Parking is SUPER LIMITED at the train station, but there is a parking garage a block away).
The party had already started on the platform, plenty of people were already imbibing freely before boarding the Fun Train, and the police were not hassling anyone as most were discreet about it.(See photos)
Our Mardi Gras Fun Train was late to depart, as apparently freight trains are given preference ahead of passenger trains, but since we had plenty of drinks to sustain us, nobody seemed to mind the cold!
A great cheer arose as our train made it’s way down the tracks and we all boarded (with quite a bit of confusion, since the car numbers were not super obvious and alcohol had been flowing freely).
Yay ! We were on our way to Reno. They have live music to dance to in the Dance Car, you can sing along in the Piano Lounge (that also has a bar with super reasonably priced drinks), they even have *gasp*, a Smoking Car,(don’t worry non-​smokers, it’s way the hell at the end of the train), so pretty much, anything you could possibly want!
They also have strolling musicians, a Dome Car where you can admire the passing scenery AND they feed you a decent chicken pot pie. You can bring any snacks and beverages you want, they provide cups, ice, water and cans of Lipton’s tea.
We met with a group of people we met on facebook and had a GREAT time, I highly recommend this trip to anyone. You can get «Train only «packages or one with the 2 nights hotel accomodations– they have many to choose from– we chose the El Dorado because it had the highest rating on Trip Advisor, and loved it.
They have all kinds of fun themes for these trains: Wine tasting, St. Patrick’s Day, Hawaiian, Country Western, Mystery, etc.
One caveat: if the train doesn’t have enough people, it can be cancelled, so get a bunch of friends together and PARTY!!!