Bakersfield, California
Holiday Inn Select - Convention Center
801 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
805-323-1900
An update on the Holiday Inn Select in Bakersfield, CA. I agree with Ken's report, except that the new Amtrak Station is now open and it's adjacent to this hotel, so all the San Joaquins now go past the parking lot. The station is across "Q" Street. You can walk there via a bridge over "Q" St, which is an underpass. The station is very nice... and even has a kids play
Submitted by Gerard Reminiskey
Rooms on the back (south) side overlook the parking lot -- and the BNSF mainline! We had a model railroad convention there a few years back and the front desk thought we were all crazy requesting rooms overlooking the parking lot. Action is hot and heavy. In addition to everything coming and going over Tehachapi on the BNSF, the Bakersfield switchers sometimes make it as far as the hotel switching the yard. Currently, Amtrak stops short of the hotel (station is a couple blocks to the west), but I think this will change when the new station opens downtown.
Windows in the rooms open, giving clear shots of the rails. In addition, the hotel parking lot backs up to the tracks, giving another angle for photography. Rooms are quite nice, although they may be a little higher than the budget of most railfans on a "foaming" trip. Hotel also has a nice restaurant and there are several eateries in the vacinity.
Submitted by Ken Liesse