Hello everyone. In a few weeks I will be moving cross country by train. The problem is, I have a pet rat. Do you think it would be possible to sneak her onto the train in my backpack? She would be in a small carrier the entire trip. We have a bedroom, so I figure I can have her carrier out while we are in the room and have her hidden in my backpack when we go to our meals so that the sleeping car attendant doesn't stumble upon her. Is this a feasible plan? Or am I just setting myself up to geting kicked off the train?
Sneaking a pet rat onto a LD train?
Started by
Guest_FBT_*
, Jun 09 2012 07:47 PM
75 replies to this topic
#2
Shawn Ryu
-
- Members
-
- 846 posts
Conductor
- Gender:Male
- Location:NYC or Chicago
- Interests:trains baseball hockey
Posted 09 June 2012 - 07:57 PM
No. NO. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I hate rats and I assume I am not alone amongst millions of Amtrak riders.
Is it a gerbil or a old rat caught stealing cheese?
No Pets. Strict Amtrak regulation. I mean if you can manage to hide it go ahead, if you dont get caught its not a biggie, but do it at the risk of getting kicked out of the train.
I hate rats and I assume I am not alone amongst millions of Amtrak riders.
Is it a gerbil or a old rat caught stealing cheese?
No Pets. Strict Amtrak regulation. I mean if you can manage to hide it go ahead, if you dont get caught its not a biggie, but do it at the risk of getting kicked out of the train.
Edited by Shawn Ryu, 09 June 2012 - 07:58 PM.
#4
Blackwolf
-
- Members
-
- 759 posts
Conductor
- Gender:Male
- Location:SAC
- Interests:Public Safety, passenger rail, travel, hunting, fishing
Posted 09 June 2012 - 08:03 PM
You are taking a risk bringing the pet aboard.
Policy is very strict and very clear: NO.
But, if you wish to chance your luck and sneak a pet rat aboard an Amtrak train that is your business. You may get away with it and leave the train with a smile at your planned destination... Or you may not get away with it, and leave the train at an unknown point along the line (possibly a grade crossing in the middle of BFE) and be met by a police officer while forefitting your entire reservation and accommodation. Basically, if found, you are kicked off the train anywhere it stops next. Your bags, tossed with you. Your money, gone.
It is entirely up to you on what it is worth. But if you are seriously asking us, the answer will always be NO!!!
Policy is very strict and very clear: NO.
But, if you wish to chance your luck and sneak a pet rat aboard an Amtrak train that is your business. You may get away with it and leave the train with a smile at your planned destination... Or you may not get away with it, and leave the train at an unknown point along the line (possibly a grade crossing in the middle of BFE) and be met by a police officer while forefitting your entire reservation and accommodation. Basically, if found, you are kicked off the train anywhere it stops next. Your bags, tossed with you. Your money, gone.
It is entirely up to you on what it is worth. But if you are seriously asking us, the answer will always be NO!!!
Amtrak
Capitol Corridor (too many times to count!); Coast Starlight (x20); California Zephyr (x5); Empire Builder (x2); Lake Shore Limited (x3); Maple Leaf (x1); Adirondack (x2); Cascades (x1); Pacific Surfliner (x5); San Joaquin (x7); Capitol Limited (x1); Cardinal (x1)
VIA Rail
Ocean (x3); Windsor Corridor (x2); The Canadian (x1)
#5
OlympianHiawatha
-
- Members
-
- 1,987 posts
Engineer
- Location:Norman, OK
Posted 09 June 2012 - 08:04 PM
I know Rats make great pets as over the years I have had several. But even if they were allowed on a train, it would be very uncomfortable not only for the Rat but for those around her. They tend to become nonstop poop and pee factories when excited and unless you have a proper cage set up, the stench will quickly become overwhelming-not only for you but likely the entire car. On top of that all the jostling from being hauled around and the train movement will make her upset and miserable.
Now I'm curious as to what kind she is-White, Hooded or one of the "newer" varieties.
Now I'm curious as to what kind she is-White, Hooded or one of the "newer" varieties.
#8
me_little_me
-
- Members
-
- 944 posts
Conductor
- Gender:Male
Posted 09 June 2012 - 08:43 PM
Is his name Hamelin?Please, the poster is just pulling our collective legs (or at least I hope he is).
http://fairytalenews...melins-rat.html
#10
Swadian Hardcore
-
- Members
-
- 3,446 posts
Engineer
- Gender:Male
- Location:Praven
- Interests:Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses, old-fashioned planes, ocean liners
Posted 09 June 2012 - 10:30 PM
NO WAY! Definately do not even TRY to sneak the pet rat in the train, you will probably fail and even if you are successful I would hate it! Besides, you were not very smart telling us about your rat before taking it on the train!
OPERATED BY:
GREYHOUND LINES INC.,
DALLAS, TEXAS,
US DOT 044110
GREYHOUND LINES INC.,
DALLAS, TEXAS,
US DOT 044110
#11
Guest_FBT_*
Guest_FBT_*
-
- Guests
Posted 09 June 2012 - 10:49 PM
Because you are planning on reporting me to Amtrak? What are you going to tell them? Some guy on the internet asked a hypothetical question?
We had made arrangements for her, but they got canceled more or less last minute and I have yet to come up with an alternate solution. If it was simply a vacation, I would not even consider it, she would obviously stay home.
For the record, if I did sneak her on, I would keep her caged the entire trip and out of public view at all times. Just because she is like a pet dog to us, I know many people do not like rats and would not consider exposing her to others, even if pets were allowed by Amtrak. At any rate, she's silent, you can't say that of many dogs. Nor would she be able to run amuck like some "service" dogs. Obviously I will have to find an alternate means of transportation for her, but my wife wanted me to investigate the feasibility of breaking the rules.
We had made arrangements for her, but they got canceled more or less last minute and I have yet to come up with an alternate solution. If it was simply a vacation, I would not even consider it, she would obviously stay home.
For the record, if I did sneak her on, I would keep her caged the entire trip and out of public view at all times. Just because she is like a pet dog to us, I know many people do not like rats and would not consider exposing her to others, even if pets were allowed by Amtrak. At any rate, she's silent, you can't say that of many dogs. Nor would she be able to run amuck like some "service" dogs. Obviously I will have to find an alternate means of transportation for her, but my wife wanted me to investigate the feasibility of breaking the rules.
#12
Swadian Hardcore
-
- Members
-
- 3,446 posts
Engineer
- Gender:Male
- Location:Praven
- Interests:Amtrak trains, Greyhound buses, old-fashioned planes, ocean liners
Posted 09 June 2012 - 10:53 PM
If you choose to argue, then I must relate that your chances of sneaking her on is 0%! So don't do it!
OPERATED BY:
GREYHOUND LINES INC.,
DALLAS, TEXAS,
US DOT 044110
GREYHOUND LINES INC.,
DALLAS, TEXAS,
US DOT 044110
#14
Texan Eagle
-
- Members
-
- 1,095 posts
Engineer
Posted 10 June 2012 - 12:17 AM
The first rule of doing illegal things is not to talk about doing illegal thing on a public forum 
. Ok, you may think you posted as a guest so nobody knows who and where you are.. and it is likely nobody will give a rat's a** (no pun intended) over trying to track down who is attempting to transport as rat on a train but if someone wants to, I hope you know your IP address, and hence your location, can be tracked down.
If you want to break the law, its your life your choice, just like it would be completely upto you if you want to drive at 100 on a highway marked for 65, or buy alcohol at the age of 15, hoping nobody will find out. Do it if you want to but don't come asking if it is okay to break the law if I do it quietly sneakily without inconveniencing anyone around me. The answer is going to be NO! If you tell the cops Hey I barged into my neighbor's home and stole their jewelry but I did it quietly without inconveniencing anyone else so maybe don't arrest me, do you think its gonna work?
Carrying a rat, or for that matter cats, dogs, monkeys, horses, giraffes, dinosaurs.. any kind of pets on Amtrak is illegal. End of story.
. Ok, you may think you posted as a guest so nobody knows who and where you are.. and it is likely nobody will give a rat's a** (no pun intended) over trying to track down who is attempting to transport as rat on a train but if someone wants to, I hope you know your IP address, and hence your location, can be tracked down. If you want to break the law, its your life your choice, just like it would be completely upto you if you want to drive at 100 on a highway marked for 65, or buy alcohol at the age of 15, hoping nobody will find out. Do it if you want to but don't come asking if it is okay to break the law if I do it quietly sneakily without inconveniencing anyone around me. The answer is going to be NO! If you tell the cops Hey I barged into my neighbor's home and stole their jewelry but I did it quietly without inconveniencing anyone else so maybe don't arrest me, do you think its gonna work?
Carrying a rat, or for that matter cats, dogs, monkeys, horses, giraffes, dinosaurs.. any kind of pets on Amtrak is illegal. End of story.
#16
Guest_FBT_*
Guest_FBT_*
-
- Guests
Posted 10 June 2012 - 02:11 AM
Yes, I know exactly what my IP is and where it shows I am from. I hardly see how ASKING how ill advised it is to try to move a family pet by train to try to avoid having two very disappointed little boys when we have to get rid of her compares to STEALING from someone. Like I said, we originally had other plans for getting her to our destination.
Thanks Anthony, you and OlympianHiawatha are the only people that have shown a modicum of kindness. People here have ultimately dissuaded me from taking the rat, but also from actually signing up for the forums.
It would have been one thing if people had said "this is a very bad idea, but have you considered X instead?" Alas, it seems that was far to much to ask of this group. We are big train people in this family, we may even know some of you in real life, but I don't see any point in staying to find out or to share stories or photos.
Thanks Anthony, you and OlympianHiawatha are the only people that have shown a modicum of kindness. People here have ultimately dissuaded me from taking the rat, but also from actually signing up for the forums.
It would have been one thing if people had said "this is a very bad idea, but have you considered X instead?" Alas, it seems that was far to much to ask of this group. We are big train people in this family, we may even know some of you in real life, but I don't see any point in staying to find out or to share stories or photos.
#17
caravanman
-
- Members
-
- 1,525 posts
Engineer
- Gender:Male
- Location:Nottingham, England.
- Interests:Open minded travel, in which the journey is often as interesting as the destination...
Posted 10 June 2012 - 04:17 AM
Hi,
I think you should take your pet on the train, especialy if it upsets ******* ! If you get discovered, make out that its not your pet and then blame Amtrak for having rats on the train... you might even get loads of $ in compensation!
Ed
I think you should take your pet on the train, especialy if it upsets ******* ! If you get discovered, make out that its not your pet and then blame Amtrak for having rats on the train... you might even get loads of $ in compensation!
Ed
#18
Everydaymatters
-
- Committee Member
-
- 2,147 posts
Engineer
- Gender:Female
- Location:Just North of Normal, Illinois
- Interests:Travel, antiques, reading, pinochle, grandkids
Posted 10 June 2012 - 05:47 AM
Again, this is hypothetical...If you did take the rat on the train, what would you do about the stench? It seems this would cause a lot of problems. Have you thought about how you would be able to keep the cage clean?
Just asking.
Just asking.
Routes Traveled: Desert Wind, Southwest Chief, Missouri Mule, Empire Builder, Capitol Ltd., Lincoln Service, Lake Shore Ltd., Missouri River Runner, City of New Orleans, Cardinal, Silver Meteor, Texas Eagle, Cascades, Broadway Ltd., Acela, Downeaster, Sunset Ltd., Coast Starlight, California Zephyr 64,137 Amtrak miles
#19
Henry Kisor
-
- Members
-
- 177 posts
Lead Service Attendant
Posted 10 June 2012 - 05:53 AM
This problem seems to have been solved, but I want to say that one of my sons had three pet rats (not all at the same time), all of the hooded variety. Pippin, Frodo and Bilbo were all quiet and polite, and remarkably intelligent as well. And they did NOT smell. There was no reek. In the wild these rodents may be loathsome, but as domesticated pets they are lovely. The downside is they don't live long, only about two years.
Author of Zephyr: Tracking a Dream Across America, now available as Kindle and Nook ebooks.
#20
cirdan
-
- Members
-
- 644 posts
Conductor
- Gender:Male
Posted 10 June 2012 - 06:05 AM
Folks (especially Swadian) -- the OP asked a simple question, and ultimately got a simple answer and some advice. There is no need to continue to beat this person down with such vitriol!
+1
absolutely in agreement.
Reply to this topic
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users
