Train

[riflearm2]

This thread isn't about Herdman's daughter or Fan's niece. I am talking about a real train.

Have any of you taken one cross-country or for a multiple day trip? I think I want to do it cross-country. Will I get bored? Are they uncomfortable?

 

[muthed]

This thread isn't about Herdman's daughter or Fan's niece. I am talking about a real train.

Have any of you taken one cross-country or for a multiple day trip? I think I want to do it cross-country. Will I get bored? Are they uncomfortable?

I know one thing. If you take a train cross country, you won't be able to walk straight for a week. You'll be swaying back and forth mimicking the motion of the train.

 

[-CarlHungus-]

This thread isn't about Herdman's daughter or Fan's niece. I am talking about a real train.

Have any of you taken one cross-country or for a multiple day trip? I think I want to do it cross-country. Will I get bored? Are they uncomfortable?

Not sure if this helps but I took an overnight train (?I think called a sleeper car?) from Krakow to Vienna. I thought it was a great way to travel but not "lose time" during the day. It had a little bunk bed and a private sink. I can't remember if we had a private bathroom or not. Was definitely better than wasting a day of vacation in airport(s).

I slept fairly well as I recall.

 

[greengeezer]

Riding a train across the country has always been in my bucket list. So much so I have done research on everything from Canadian lines to the old Orient Express. The private compartments are all small, but they appear cozy and comfortable with some of the upper end ones having sinks and running water. A must for me.

I too have wondered if sitting watching the scenery pass by hour after hour would eventually get boring. I have also wondered how much time you have at stops alone the way. Can you get off and walk around a bit?

 

[imherdfan]

I took a cross country train trip when I was a kid. My dad was in the Air Force stationed in Washington. My mother, brother and I rode from Washington to Huntington. We had a pullman car for part of the trip. I have taken several train trips in recent years. From Huntington to DC, to NYC and to Chicago. For the NYC and Chicago trips, I got a private coach, thats the only way to do it!! I enjoy train travel, its so much more relaxed than air travel.

 

[30CAT]

I would love to and I plan on taking a 3-4 day train trip. Across country? Nah. I'm guessing it would be similar to taking a 7-day cruise. First 3 or 4 days are great, but the last 2 or 3? You're more than ready to go home.

3-4 day trip is plenty.

 

[riflearm2]

I would love to and I plan on taking a 3-4 day train trip. Across country? Nah. I'm guessing it would be similar to taking a 7-day cruise. First 3 or 4 days are great, but the last 2 or 3? You're more than ready to go home.

3-4 day trip is plenty.

Uggh, yeah. That's how long a cross-country train trip on Amtrak takes. They have a handful of routes across the country that are done in three nights, four days. You may take a little longer so you can take a detour around Colorado Springs, because ya' know, you're scared!

I got a private coach, thats the only way to do it!! I enjoy train travel, its so much more relaxed than air travel.

Individual shower or a shower for the whole car? If the latter, was it disgusting? The planning looks shitty, as some trains have private coach with their own showers while other trains I'd have to take have private coaches but not private showers.

Not sure if this helps but I took an overnight train (?I think called a sleeper car?) from Krakow to Vienna. I thought it was a great way to travel but not "lose time" during the day. It had a little bunk bed and a private sink. I can't remember if we had a private bathroom or not. Was definitely better than wasting a day of vacation in airport(s).

I slept fairly well as I recall.

I've done similar for fairly long train rides (4-7 hours) in Europe. But I'm not expecting American trains to be as good of a system. Hope I am wrong.

 

[30CAT]

Uggh, yeah. That's how long a cross-country train trip on Amtrak takes. They have a handful of routes across the country that are done in three nights, four days. You may take a little longer so you can take a detour around Colorado Springs, because ya' know, you're scared!

😂

Yep. Petrified. Seriously. Glad I left.

Colorado ranked No. 3 most dangerous state in the country by U.S. News

 

[ohio herd]

once from Huntington to Chicago when I was 19. No fond memories to speak of, but it was bearable. I have heard of people doing that and enjoyed doing so.

 

[goherd73]

Coast to coast on Amtrak is 3 nights.
Most change in Chicago but one train changes in New Orleans.

In sleeper cars there are two types of sleepers: Roomettes with toilet and showers down the hall
and bedrooms which are larger with ensuite toilet and shower.
If you are in a sleeper all meals in the dining car are included.
On the western part of the trip you'll have a sightseer lounge car with glass windows going up and over the ceiling.
That car is available to coach and sleeper passengers.

I feel you have to have a certain mindset to travel by train in the US.
First, you can't be in a hurry. You've got to look at the train trip as part of your vacation. You'll see America at "see" level that you can't get from air or driving on the interstate.

My favorite part is the people you meet in the dining car or lounge car. There are some interesting stories. You don't usually get that on a two hour flight.

Also there is some great scenery along the rail in the US. Some of it is breathtaking.

I've found the sleepers to be clean and comfortable with a car steward that keeps the showers clean and changes your sleeper from daytime seating to nighttime bedding.

It's unfair to compare Amtrak to trains in Europe. The countries of Europe are so much smaller than here.
Europe puts a lot more money into rail than we do.
Almost all Amtrak service is on the tracks owned by Freight railroads. They control the quality of track, speed of the train and if Amtrak has the right of way over their freight movements.

Hope this helps.

 

[imherdfan]

Individual shower or a shower for the whole car? If the latter, was it disgusting? The planning looks shitty, as some trains have private coach with their own showers while other trains I'd have to take have private coaches but not private showers.

No shower, it wasn’t equipped for multi-day trip, just an overnighter. You do have a sink and private toilet. I dont remember on the cross country trip, I was about 6-7 yrs old on that one.

 

[-CarlHungus-]

Coast to coast on Amtrak is 3 nights.
Most change in Chicago but one train changes in New Orleans.

In sleeper cars there are two types of sleepers: Roomettes with toilet and showers down the hall
and bedrooms which are larger with ensuite toilet and shower.
If you are in a sleeper all meals in the dining car are included.
On the western part of the trip you'll have a sightseer lounge car with glass windows going up and over the ceiling.
That car is available to coach and sleeper passengers.

I feel you have to have a certain mindset to travel by train in the US.
First, you can't be in a hurry. You've got to look at the train trip as part of your vacation. You'll see America at "see" level that you can't get from air or driving on the interstate.

My favorite part is the people you meet in the dining car or lounge car. There are some interesting stories. You don't usually get that on a two hour flight.

Also there is some great scenery along the rail in the US. Some of it is breathtaking.

I've found the sleepers to be clean and comfortable with a car steward that keeps the showers clean and changes your sleeper from daytime seating to nighttime bedding.

It's unfair to compare Amtrak to trains in Europe. The countries of Europe are so much smaller than here.
Europe puts a lot more money into rail than we do.
Almost all Amtrak service is on the tracks owned by Freight railroads. They control the quality of track, speed of the train and if Amtrak has the right of way over their freight movements.

Hope this helps.

This is a really informative post. Thank you.

What type of cost would it be for the private bedroom one with your own shower from coast to coast?

 

[Raoul Duke MU]

It's been a while, mid 90s, but I did a round trip from WV to Colorado on Amtrak. My opinions below still fit this info.

I feel you have to have a certain mindset to travel by train in the US.
First, you can't be in a hurry. You've got to look at the train trip as part of your vacation. You'll see America at "see" level that you can't get from air or driving on the interstate.

My favorite part is the people you meet in the dining car or lounge car. There are some interesting stories. You don't usually get that on a two hour flight.

Also there is some great scenery along the rail in the US. Some of it is breathtaking.

This is absolutely accurate. It was slow.

But holy shit, from Denver to Glenwood Springs was worth it. What a spectacular ride.

Even the "boring" parts before Denver were cool, because unlike the interstate that bypasses small towns, you get to see small town America. Or in Chicago, stolen and burned-out automobiles along the tracks lol.


It's not the way to travel every time, it takes too long, but I highly recommend doing it at least once.

In sleeper cars there are two types of sleepers: Roomettes with toilet and showers down the hall
and bedrooms which are larger with ensuite toilet and shower.

I found the roomette to be enough for me and my then gf. I can see wanting your own toilet and shower, but I'm a cheap bastard, even back then, and the roomette was fine.

Oh, and the ride was not rough at all.

 

[goherd73]

This is a really informative post. Thank you.

What type of cost would it be for the private bedroom one with your own shower from coast to coast?

I just did a ghost booking, DC to San Fran in mid November. 3 nights/4 days.
Coach seat is $289
Sleepers:
Roomette $806 (for1)
Bedroom $2434

Not sure I could handle a coach seat for three nights even though a coach seat on Amtrak is like first class in air. Good recline, leg rest, wide seat and probably 2 feet of legroom.

If money’s no object like one or two on here, go bedroom.

 

[riflearm2]

Coast to coast on Amtrak is 3 nights.
Most change in Chicago but one train changes in New Orleans.

In sleeper cars there are two types of sleepers: Roomettes with toilet and showers down the hall
and bedrooms which are larger with ensuite toilet and shower.
If you are in a sleeper all meals in the dining car are included.
On the western part of the trip you'll have a sightseer lounge car with glass windows going up and over the ceiling.
That car is available to coach and sleeper passengers.

I feel you have to have a certain mindset to travel by train in the US.
First, you can't be in a hurry. You've got to look at the train trip as part of your vacation. You'll see America at "see" level that you can't get from air or driving on the interstate.

My favorite part is the people you meet in the dining car or lounge car. There are some interesting stories. You don't usually get that on a two hour flight.

Also there is some great scenery along the rail in the US. Some of it is breathtaking.

I've found the sleepers to be clean and comfortable with a car steward that keeps the showers clean and changes your sleeper from daytime seating to nighttime bedding.

It's unfair to compare Amtrak to trains in Europe. The countries of Europe are so much smaller than here.
Europe puts a lot more money into rail than we do.
Almost all Amtrak service is on the tracks owned by Freight railroads. They control the quality of track, speed of the train and if Amtrak has the right of way over their freight movements.

Hope this helps.

Thanks. If solo, I think I'd be fine with just the roomette. For $2450/person, no way I am paying two tickets for that . . . plus a flight back home. That's a minimum of $6k, which I could fly just about anywhere for and have 3-4 nights in a top hotel.

 

[goherd73]

Thanks. If solo, I think I'd be fine with just the roomette. For $2450/person, no way I am paying two tickets for that . . . plus a flight back home. That's a minimum of $6k, which I could fly just about anywhere for and have 3-4 nights in a top hotel.

For 1 person the Roomette is great. The shower down the hall is actually larger than the ones in the bedroom. It also has a changing area. The attendant keeps it clean with plenty of towels and soap. Showering on a moving train is a new experience.
What else is there to do while crossing Kansas?

 

[marshallisqbu]

The wife and I go from Va to NYC every year for Christmas.
We do the private boxcar. It’s nice, and I would like to do all across Canada but I’m afraid I would go stir crazy after one day.

 

[greengeezer]

I’m afraid I would go stir crazy after one day.

I believe I would enjoy the slower travel pace and the solitude. Not sure if I want to drop the $4500 (sleeper with private bath) to find out.

 

[marshallisqbu]

I believe I would enjoy the slower travel pace and the solitude. Not sure if I want to drop the $4500 (sleeper with private bath) to find out.

Agreed. But that’s bc well, ya know, we aren’t rich. 😀

 

[riflearm2]

Agreed. But that’s bc well, ya know, we aren’t rich. 😀

I am rich, and I still am not spending $4500 on that . . . unless it includes some diamond jewely, premiums Mets seats to multiple games, or a few high-end pairs of shoes.

 

[MichiganHerd]

I've rode trains many times. Afterwards, my dad would always get me a hot dog and a Pez toy at the Cass general store.

 

[greengeezer]

I had read where Jim Justice was refurbishing his own private rail car. He stopped the project when he ran into permit problems he couldn’t bully CSX (?) to waver. Wonder whatever happen to the unfinished car?