Would this be an unreasonable request for a SCA?

I'll be on an Eastbound Empire Builder. I want to be up, showered, dressed, and have had, or eating, breakfast as the EB approaches Glacier National Park, specifically the West Glaciar Park station.

This train's on-time consistency has recently been highly variable.

I really don't want to arise too early for the trip through the Park if the train is running late. But, I also don't want to arise too late either, if we are on time, or close to it.

Is it asking too much of a SCA to let me know when it would be the best time to "rise and shine" based upon the train's performance that day?

There will probably be a broad spectrum of opinion here, but I wouldn't do it.

I'd pick out a location I wanted to be awake by, set an alarm for scheduled time there, and check where we are when I woke up, going back to sleep if the train was late enough.

I recall an IOS app from a few years ago where you could set a geographic location and an alarm clock would ring on the smartphone or tablet when the device got within a certain distance of that location.

I think it was called "ialarm".

I think Ryan's response is most reasonable and sensible.

JayPea said:

I think Ryan's response is most reasonable and sensible.

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... said nobody ever.

It's best to be self reliant. Some attendants have a better awareness of the route than others. If you are headed eastbound, then set your alarm to be awake at Whitefish. If you want more time than that, set it for 30 minutes earlier, or whatever you prefer.

If you have motion x GPs maps down loaded on your smart phone you can then determine where the train is when you wake up. Download the parts of the map that you will use ahead if time. This app will work with no cell signal if you download the maps ahead of time.

I agree, Whitefish is your key station. For me I want to be finished with Breakfast or close to finishingituation when I get to Whitefish. Typically, in the summer, I try to be up at the state line, so I can shower, get dressed, and have a leasurely breakfast. At Whitefish, I enjoy a walk along the train, especially if the air is brisk. Then before the train departs, I get settled into the SSL for picture taking over the next few hours. I set the alarm on my phone, never rely on the SCA because even the good ones can be distracted by a situation and be late waking you. I have always relied on myself, never trust hotel wake up calls, etc.

I like Lonestar's suggestion. Whitefish is a designated fresh air break and crew change stop and on my recent eastbound trip June 15 most on the train were up and breakfast already being served in Whitefish. I chose to enjoy the fresh air break and then ate breakfast as we departed Whitefish giving me ample time to be in my roomette before West Glacier. Not a problem to request the SCA to awaken you say half hour before Whitefish.

State Line... you mean Idaho/Montana? That's quite early in the morning!

Yes it is early, but in the summer there are some great views to be seen. Besides I like to shower early, be freshened up and drinking a cup of coffee.

I cannot speak for the Empire Builder, but recently I was to disembark from the eastbound Capitol Limited in Pittsburgh. The actual arrival time for the scheduled 5:05 is a crap shoot at best. The SCA told me not to set my alarm; he would awake me 30 minutes before arrival. Really great of him to offer. I am guessing this kind of service is very rare.

Yes your request is unreasonable.

Completely unreasonable to have a wake up call base on a landmarks. Maybe you can get the conductor to wake you up for the station stop. However that is also a unlikely scenario.

You need to do it yourself. Sleeping Car Attendant have time off and are not available to you 24/7. Conductor has responsibly that does not include you.

A geo fence alarm is what you need, otherwise just wing it.

Asking the SCA or Conductor is unreasonable.

PaTrainFan said:

I cannot speak for the Empire Builder, but recently I was to disembark from the eastbound Capitol Limited in Pittsburgh. The actual arrival time for the scheduled 5:05 is a crap shoot at best. The SCA told me not to set my alarm; he would awake me 30 minutes before arrival. Really great of him to offer. I am guessing this kind of service is very rare.

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It's not rare for a SCA to wake you up before your stop. They don't want you to miss getting off. The OP is asking to be awaken so he can see the sights, not because he's getting off.

A lot can happen over night to make an on time train at bed time, 3 hours late in the morning. One thing for sure, its not going to gain much time overnight. If its late your not going to miss anything, based on where its running when you go to bed set your alarm. If you get up too early don't expect coffee.

On time the eastbound EB doesn't get to West Glacier until 8:15 am.

TA-SCs seem to usually be up and about by 6 am so they can have coffee ready by 6:30 or so.

IMO it is entirely reasonable to request a morning wake up - for any reason. The TA-SC will let you know if they will or won't do the wake up.

When I ride LD trains I'm always up about 5:30 - 6 am, though at home I don't rise that early, and few if any other sleeper passengers are also up that early.

I love to watch daybreak progress as I enjoy a cup of coffee.

If you want to be woken up before West Glaciar Park station then buy a sleeper ticket that changes accommodation to coach at West Glaciar Park station. Your friendly SCA will make absolutely sure you're wide awake and ready to move based on proximity to location and ETA.

PaTrainFan said:

I cannot speak for the Empire Builder, but recently I was to disembark from the eastbound Capitol Limited in Pittsburgh. The actual arrival time for the scheduled 5:05 is a crap shoot at best. The SCA told me not to set my alarm; he would awake me 30 minutes before arrival. Really great of him to offer. I am guessing this kind of service is very rare.

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I recently got off #30 in PGH, and the SCA occupying the roomette right across the aisle told me he'd wake me 30 minutes prior. He did so five minutes before PGH! And rushed me even more as he said he had a new passenger getting on in PGH to occupy my roomette. Good thing PGH is an extended stop or we'd all been SOL.

It is not unreasonable to make this request, but it is unwise to absolutely rely upon your SCA to follow through on it. In other words, ask...but also set an alarm.

As the OP, I appreciate the advice to my question. As another poster said, I am not an early riser anymore at home. One of those "been there and have done that" situations once I retired. But, I do think that I ought to be so on my EB trip. The scenery from Libby East ought to be worthwhile. And, if coupled with a good Sunrise, it should be worth making the effort. I can always "sleep in", I guess, the morning before Chicago.

I've also learned, on overnight trains, to shower at bedtime rather than in the morning. (Even though that's not my habit at home.) In the morning you risk a line for the shower, while precious minutes of daylight are ticking away. Goal is to roll out of the berth, dress, brush my teeth, and put on a minimum of makeup (guys may substitute "shave"), and be drinking coffee in the dining car or SSL in 7 minutes.

When it comes to taking showers I guess I have an advantage, if you could call it that. I have worked the graveyard shift for 19 years and am used to being wide awake at odd hours. So I take my shower around 3 to 4 am. No lines and the shower is always clean besides!!

I've done the night before shower and the early morning shower. Especially timed with a station stop.

chakk said:

I recall an IOS app from a few years ago where you could set a geographic location and an alarm clock would ring on the smartphone or tablet when the device got within a certain distance of that location.

I think it was called "ialarm".

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I use a similar Android app, that is basically a GPS alarm. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sandyapps.alarmgps

There are several others too.

Generally, I wake up on the train about 30 minutes before sunrise, since I note when the sun will rise and set for each location and day on my trip. I shower and dress so I am ready as the day starts to break. I don't rely on the SCA, I set my alarm. If we are late, we are late, I can sleep the next day.