This is an extra day on the beginning of #Supercon where a bunch of us degenerates ride the #11 Coast Starlight down to LA instead of flying. I get on in San Jose, but others got on in Oakland, as well as a big group last year who got on in Portland the day before and got an EVEN EXTRA 24 hours of hacking on a train.
This is an informal event, so you just need to make sure you end up on the right train, which is the #11 southbound arriving at LA Union Station on Thursday night, 11/2. The train arrives in LA around 9-10PM, in time for either a late dinner or going straight to your hotels.
Last year I recommended business class since that would ensure that we all ended up in the same car and had access to the diner car, but due to current equipment shortages Business Class is unavailable, so I'm getting a coach ticket. We spent essentially the whole day last year hanging out in the lounge car, so coach vs private room class doesn't matter. I'd recommend packing your own meals if you're in coach, since the diner car only offers meals to coach as capacity allows, and none of the food options on the train are very good. I usually pick up a Subway sandwich on the way to the train station.
