Most interesting encounter(s) on a train

[Seaboard92]

Now have you ever broken the rule, on Amtrak or elsewhere?

I can neither confirm nor deny this.

Now if you know where to look in Europe you can find some lovely secondary trains that still have the half open window cars. And those you can get just about the same experience. Not quite as nice but still decent.

 

[jis]

I can neither confirm nor deny this.

Now if you know where to look in Europe you can find some lovely secondary trains that still have the half open window cars. And those you can get just about the same experience. Not quite as nice but still decent.

Travel the route of the Glacier Express but on local trains, and you can have an experience of your life, quite distinct from the packaged tourism experience of Glacier Express

 

[Seaboard92]

Travel the route of the Glacier Express but on local trains, and you can have an experience of your life, quite distinct from the packaged tourism experience of Glacier Express

Beautiful route too. I remember when the Mittenwald Railway had those old school cars before they replaced it with EMUs. Those were the fun days. Unfortunately everything is going to EMU equipment and I have a feeling the RHB will eventually go down that road for everything.

 

[west point]

The pictures seen of open platforms is that the top of railings are too low IMO. Residential codes around here for porches vary ( are you surprised? ). It can be anywhere from 32 - 48 inches in height. All openings must be 4 inches or less below the top rail. A few 3-1/2 inches or less.
Any upgrades must meet these requirements.

 

[BlackDiamond]

The pictures seen of open platforms is that the top of railings are too low IMO. Residential codes around here for porches vary ( are you surprised? ). It can be anywhere from 32 - 48 inches in height. All openings must be 4 inches or less below the top rail. A few 3-1/2 inches or less.
Any upgrades must meet these requirements.

Agreed. Especially on the D&SNG with those low railings one had to hang on for dear life as we went around curves with nothing besides the railing between you and a 100 foot drop into a canyon . Of course these cars were built a long time ago before people worried about sissy stuff like safety

 

[neroden]

It can't be a strict FRA rule given that they let you on the open platform at Grand Canyon Railway (I spent most of the trip there). I wonder what the exact rule is. If it's something about railing height or railing structural integrity, GCR might have retrofitted their cars, and others might not have.

 

[CCC1007]

It can't be a strict FRA rule given that they let you on the open platform at Grand Canyon Railway (I spent most of the trip there). I wonder what the exact rule is. If it's something about railing height or railing structural integrity, GCR might have retrofitted their cars, and others might not have.

I tried to find any rules in the CFR, but I couldn't determine the exact rule that applies to the open platforms. Best guess is that it is an off shoot of the vestibule rules, since they restrict when vestibule doors, traps, and windows can be open, and who can do so. Most of the time, the open platform is where the vestibule for the car is, so that may be what the rules interpretation is coming from.

 

[west point]

How high is the lower door in a vestibule?

 

[neroden]

I tried to find any rules in the CFR, but I couldn't determine the exact rule that applies to the open platforms. Best guess is that it is an off shoot of the vestibule rules, since they restrict when vestibule doors, traps, and windows can be open, and who can do so. Most of the time, the open platform is where the vestibule for the car is, so that may be what the rules interpretation is coming from.

Would make sense. GCR's end platform is not a vestibule and cannot be used for boarding or deboarding. Strictly a balcony.

 

[Steve4031]

How high is the lower door in a vestibule?

about waist high on the lower ones. About chest high on others. I’m 5’11

 

[vinceg723]

Resurrecting an old thread here with a related question: Do you think the nature of our train system draws a more interesting subset of people? Or are people more inherently interesting than we realize, and is it the nature of the trains, specifically the sightseer lounge, that facilitates conversations and brings out people’s interesting stories. Personally, I think it’s a combination of both.

As I’ve mentioned here months ago, I am working on a master’s capstone project about long-distance passenger rail in the United States, looking at it through the lenses of environmental psychology and environmental justice. One of my points is that riding on an Amtrak train connects fellow travelers in a way no other form of travel can.

The *very rough draft* of the project is live at slowspeedrail.com. All comments/feedback welcome.

Also -- if anyone here is up for a more extended conversation about their experiences aboard LD trains (especially if you’re someone who prefers the speed of Amtrak as it is, and would choose to travel that speed over high-speed rail) let me know, I’d love to chat more for my project

 

[Maglev]

Resurrecting an old thread here with a related question: Do you think the nature of our train system draws a more interesting subset of people? Or are people more inherently interesting than we realize, and is it the nature of the trains, specifically the sightseer lounge, that facilitates conversations and brings out people’s interesting stories. Personally, I think it’s a combination of both.

As I’ve mentioned here months ago, I am working on a master’s capstone project about long-distance passenger rail in the United States, looking at it through the lenses of environmental psychology and environmental justice. One of my points is that riding on an Amtrak train connects fellow travelers in a way no other form of travel can.

The *very rough draft* of the project is live at slowspeedrail.com. All comments/feedback welcome.

Also -- if anyone here is up for a more extended conversation about their experiences aboard LD trains (especially if you’re someone who prefers the speed of Amtrak as it is, and would choose to travel that speed over high-speed rail) let me know, I’d love to chat more for my project

If anything, there are more weirdos in the general populace than one finds on a train.

 

[cirdan]

I would say (without having any evidence to back this up) that yes, trains do draw a more interesting subset of people.

Especially as most "normal" people (outside the NEC) probably don't normally consider trains to be even part of the range of options they would consider when travelling, Amtrak almost by definition draws people who "think outside the box".

 

[BCL]

Resurrecting an old thread here with a related question: Do you think the nature of our train system draws a more interesting subset of people? Or are people more inherently interesting than we realize, and is it the nature of the trains, specifically the sightseer lounge, that facilitates conversations and brings out people’s interesting stories. Personally, I think it’s a combination of both.

There's certainly more time and more opportunities. There's time on a bus, but often it's people who don't want to talk and there are no shared spaces per say like a lounge or a dining car.

 

[alpha3]

I've met some real characters traveling on the train. Not saying negatively, just really weird in a fun way, or have fascinating tales to tell of themselves. On the LD trains there's more time and more opportunities, plus the lack of the expectation of getting somewhere in a hurry which, I think, de-stresses people. Unlike planes, you can get up and wander around, go to the SSL. Unlike planes, you're not squished into your seat, or fighting for carry-on space, armrest space, brats kicking your seatback while the parents smile. On the train you get time to relax, watch scenery, and people watch. The food is decent. I like the 'Trails and Rails' people that come on board to give talks about the areas you're traveling through, or the history.

 

[BCL]

I've met some real characters traveling on the train. Not saying negatively, just really weird in a fun way, or have fascinating tales to tell of themselves. On the LD trains there's more time and more opportunities, plus the lack of the expectation of getting somewhere in a hurry which, I think, de-stresses people. Unlike planes, you can get up and wander around, go to the SSL. Unlike planes, you're not squished into your seat, or fighting for carry-on space, armrest space, brats kicking your seatback while the parents smile. On the train you get time to relax, watch scenery, and people watch. The food is decent. I like the 'Trails and Rails' people that come on board to give talks about the areas you're traveling through, or the history.

Sometimes I don't like how people meet up when they just won't shut up.

Once I was on the Coast Starlight from Seattle to Emeryville. There were a couple of passengers who apparently had something in common when they meet in the lounge. But later on one passenger went to track down the guy he met and they droned on and on for about 40 minutes in our coach car. And that was after the lights had already been dimmed and most passengers were trying to sleep - including me.

 

[susanlindsey]

I think there are people with interesting stories everywhere without regard to social, economic, cultural, age, etc. status. The train offers more opportunity to listen and share if one is so inclined. My favorite encounters occurred in the observation and dining cars. Not everyone wants to engage so I would gently put out invitations to talk and honor reticence.

 

[Steve4031]

Another interesting experience for me occurred in New Orleans. I was traveling with a buddy. We were settling into our roomettes when he noticed a pretty lady on the platform and pointed her out to me. She did not have any luggage. We got up to go stand on the platform and watch the proceedings. We observed a guy coming down the platform carrying two or three pieces of luggage and huffing and puffing. We figured out that they were traveling together when he checked in the SCA. My buddy, who used to be a Chicago Police officer speculated that the woman might be a prostitute who had agreed to accompany this guy on the train.

We were still standing on the platform when the lady got off and asked the SCA where she could get a 7-up or sprite (whichever one was not a Pepsi product). The SCA said Amtrak only sold Pepsi products and gestured towards the station and said there was a pop machine in the station. I looked at my watch. Departure time was 5 minutes away. I observed the lady sashaying down the platform in heels, and told my buddy that she was not going to make it. The guy traveling with her got off and asked the SCA where she went. He pointed towards the station. He took off.

The SCA told us to board because he needed to close up for departure. We went into the roomette that was on the platform side and I turned on my scanner. I was curious to see what drama would occur. About every 30 seconds I looked at my watch. My buddy made some wisecracks about expensive experiences. I noted that the luggage was still on the train and this would be a very expensive and painful experience.

I heard the conductor on the scanner. "Highball New Orleans Amtrak 58." The train rolled out of the station and we joked about what we had just witnessed for the rest of the trip to Chicago. That luggage sat on the luggage rack the entire trip. The guy was supposed to get off in Memphis.

 

[susanlindsey]

The two middle aged ladies from Australia who were trekking around the USA in coach and changed each night into onesies (like these from Lily Pajamas). They took their tea in the observation car in their PJs before changing for the day.

 

[alpha3]

Cool story! ^^^

 

[Maglev]

I rode the National Limited from Kansas City to New York at the beginning of 1978, and somewhere along the way we accumulated military inductees heading for basic training. I was 15 years old, and they were amazed that I was from Hawaii--they kept asking me about a psychedelic drug called "elephant ear." Anyway, in Terre Haute, the train hit a car, and while the train was stopped, a case of beer was stolen from a store nearby. I wasn't offered any, but in Indianapolis, the whole gang was taken off the train by Military Police.

 

[jpakala]

We went to West Palm Beach via Chicago and New York and loved talking at meals (this was several years ago) with people such as a couple that had come from the UK on the QE2 and were returning from an Amtrak roundtrip to L.A. Then there was the couple from Alberta, Canada heading to NYC and the retired teacher headed from NY to FL to join her husband who was flying down. On the Coast Starlight from L.A. to Oakland one meal was with a man from Australia and one from the Far East, then a lady and her young daughter from China who we helped understand what certain menu foods were. On the Texas Eagle one time was a lady from there who had fascinating interests and travel stories. The dining car conversations have been the best part of many trips I think.

 

[Willbridge]

Resurrecting an old thread here with a related question: Do you think the nature of our train system draws a more interesting subset of people? Or are people more inherently interesting than we realize, and is it the nature of the trains, specifically the sightseer lounge, that facilitates conversations and brings out people’s interesting stories. Personally, I think it’s a combination of both.

As I’ve mentioned here months ago, I am working on a master’s capstone project about long-distance passenger rail in the United States, looking at it through the lenses of environmental psychology and environmental justice. One of my points is that riding on an Amtrak train connects fellow travelers in a way no other form of travel can.

The *very rough draft* of the project is live at slowspeedrail.com. All comments/feedback welcome.

Also -- if anyone here is up for a more extended conversation about their experiences aboard LD trains (especially if you’re someone who prefers the speed of Amtrak as it is, and would choose to travel that speed over high-speed rail) let me know, I’d love to chat more for my project

Have you read some of Al Runte's writings? Also, Henry Kisor's Zephyr?

You might find these stories interesting:

https://www.berlin1969.com/stories-geschichte/irish-smile/
https://www.berlin1969.com/stories-geschichte/a-moment-in-magdeburg-1970/
and specially:

https://www.berlin1969.com/stories-geschichte/pyrenees-crossing/

 

[cirdan]

Now if you know where to look in Europe you can find some lovely secondary trains that still have the half open window cars. And those you can get just about the same experience. Not quite as nice but still decent.

They exist, but are getting rarer by the year. So anybody interested in this type of experience would be well advised not to wait too long.

But its not only on secondary lines.

I was in Hungary recently and took several trips on the Tópart, a train classified as an intercity that runs from Budapest Déli to Sékesfehérvar and then follows the south short of Lake Balaton before continuing to Nagykanizsa, which is close to the Slovenian and Croatian borders. In places the train runs directly along the lakefront and affords some amazing views. The train typically has a vintage V43 electric locomotive pulling a consist of mostly of ex-German DR cars with opening windows. The train does get quite fast in many places but even so nobody minds you leaning out a little to take pictures. Typically in the off season there is one single modern air-conditioned car in the consist of otherwise opening window cars. You need to buy a seat reservation to be able to use the air conditioned car. The cars with the opening windows are much more fun though. In the peak season the train is somewhat longer (Lake Balaton being a prime vacation destination) and they even add a bistro car to certain trains, serving, among others, a range of craft beers named after famous Hungarian locomotives. My favorite being the dark malty "Nohab" beer, named after the M61 Nohab diesel locomotive built in Sweden under GM license, that earned the Hungarian authorities of the day the ire of the Russians as they weren't supposed to buy stuff in the west.

 

[The Quaking Widow]

On my trip this past September I met two women in the Metropolitan Lounge in Chicago as we responded to our train announcement. We rode the valet cart to our train together, then discovered our roomettes were across the hall from each other. They had flown to the US from The Netherlands, toured New England by car, then taking the train to Texas. They left the train in Fort Worth, there to get another rental car to explore Texas. We had a delightful time together, as we shared stories and they asked questions. This was not their first trip to the US. I noticed they had several tour books handy. It was nice to see two long-time friends traveling together. Oh, and they shared their wine!