Thinking about taking a train trip?

[steveindixon]

Okay, I've been back a week from my train trip cross country and back. To be honest, 6,000 miles on trains in just under 2 weeks takes a toll on one's body! But, you will meet some VERY nice people! You will see scenery you've only seen in magazines or tv or movies. I went coach both ways. Seats are VERY comfortable to sit in, miserable to try and sleep in. My nex trip next year I'm going to get a room and see how that goes. I do think they need a class to show people how to walk on a moving train! I felt bad because I was carrying a bag and I nailed a couple of passengers with it! And then the train is smooth sailing so I don't grab anything. And before I know it, I'm sitting on a woman's lap! She got a kick out of her, her husband did not! Yes, train traveling CAN be rough if you want to walk. Overall the train was very clean. All 3 toilets in my car were broken by the end of the trip. And the water fountain didn't work. But, every car has toilets so that's no biggie. Staff very nice! I enjoyed the "smoke stops" even though I don't smoke. It's fun to get out and look around the small towns. I heard the train whistle and I started looking for another train. I couldn't see it! Then I realized after I saw people running for my train that the horn was to alert passengers we're leaving. Don't wander off too far on a train stop!

If you do take a train, you canNOT have a time schedule! You're kind of like on Hawaii time...i.e. there is no time! You arrive when you arrive, period.

Happy railing everyone!

Steve

 

[GG-1]

Seats are VERY comfortable to sit in, miserable to try and sleep in. My next trip next year I'm going to get a room and see how that goes.

I was on 2 full trains last month and had no trouble sleeping, but a bed is better

I do think they need a class to show people how to walk on a moving train! I felt bad because I was carrying a bag and I nailed a couple of passengers with it! And then the train is smooth sailing so I don't grab anything. And before I know it, I'm sitting on a woman's lap! She got a kick out of her, her husband did not!

I have bad knees and had no trouble. And carrying 2 cameras I didn't bump into anyone accidentally.

If you do take a train, you canNOT have a time schedule! You're kind of like on Hawaii time...i.e. there is no time! You arrive when you arrive, period.

Hawaiian Time? we got lots; Time to eat, time to fish; time to enjoy the sun/water/opposite sex; just no money and trains :huh: :blink:

Aloha

 

[Shotgun7]

Okay, I've been back a week from my train trip cross country and back. To be honest, 6,000 miles on trains in just under 2 weeks takes a toll on one's body! But, you will meet some VERY nice people! You will see scenery you've only seen in magazines or tv or movies. I went coach both ways. Seats are VERY comfortable to sit in, miserable to try and sleep in. My nex trip next year I'm going to get a room and see how that goes. I do think they need a class to show people how to walk on a moving train! I felt bad because I was carrying a bag and I nailed a couple of passengers with it! And then the train is smooth sailing so I don't grab anything. And before I know it, I'm sitting on a woman's lap! She got a kick out of her, her husband did not! Yes, train traveling CAN be rough if you want to walk. Overall the train was very clean. All 3 toilets in my car were broken by the end of the trip. And the water fountain didn't work. But, every car has toilets so that's no biggie. Staff very nice! I enjoyed the "smoke stops" even though I don't smoke. It's fun to get out and look around the small towns. I heard the train whistle and I started looking for another train. I couldn't see it! Then I realized after I saw people running for my train that the horn was to alert passengers we're leaving. Don't wander off too far on a train stop!
If you do take a train, you canNOT have a time schedule! You're kind of like on Hawaii time...i.e. there is no time! You arrive when you arrive, period.

Happy railing everyone!

Steve

I just got back from my last trip yesterday, Florida to New Haven and back. I used to have the same walking troubles as you until I read a post by greenmanedlion saying that if you walk down the aisles real fast, you'll cancel out the motion... and he was right! I went 2 straight days on trains without toppling over onto anybody's lap a single time!

 

[Rail Freak]

Okay, I've been back a week from my train trip cross country and back. To be honest, 6,000 miles on trains in just under 2 weeks takes a toll on one's body! But, you will meet some VERY nice people! You will see scenery you've only seen in magazines or tv or movies. I went coach both ways. Seats are VERY comfortable to sit in, miserable to try and sleep in. My nex trip next year I'm going to get a room and see how that goes. I do think they need a class to show people how to walk on a moving train! I felt bad because I was carrying a bag and I nailed a couple of passengers with it! And then the train is smooth sailing so I don't grab anything. And before I know it, I'm sitting on a woman's lap! She got a kick out of her, her husband did not! Yes, train traveling CAN be rough if you want to walk. Overall the train was very clean. All 3 toilets in my car were broken by the end of the trip. And the water fountain didn't work. But, every car has toilets so that's no biggie. Staff very nice! I enjoyed the "smoke stops" even though I don't smoke. It's fun to get out and look around the small towns. I heard the train whistle and I started looking for another train. I couldn't see it! Then I realized after I saw people running for my train that the horn was to alert passengers we're leaving. Don't wander off too far on a train stop!
If you do take a train, you canNOT have a time schedule! You're kind of like on Hawaii time...i.e. there is no time! You arrive when you arrive, period.

Happy railing everyone!

Steve

I just got back from my last trip yesterday, Florida to New Haven and back. I used to have the same walking troubles as you until I read a post by greenmanedlion saying that if you walk down the aisles real fast, you'll cancel out the motion... and he was right! I went 2 straight days on trains without toppling over onto anybody's lap a single time!

Why do I get the feeling this is a set up!!!!!? :lol:

 

[Joel N. Weber II]

One other thing with walking on trains is that I think when you're walking between cars, it is desireable to avoid there being any point in time when you have a foot on each car. Just as your foot is about to reach the floor on the car you're moving into, I think you want to quickly pick up the foot on the car you're moving out of.

I also have found on the MBTA Red Line that if I am carrying moderately heavy bags that are fairly close to the floor of the car, that seems to improve my overall stability. I haven't really done any experimentation to see if this is equally true on Amtrak.