New to Amtrak questions

[Dave Jones]

Hope this post is in the right place. About to commit to a long trip on the Silver Meteor, and though I've looked through some tips and discussions, a few questions remain. Chalk these up to fear of the unknown or something along those lines.

1) The station I want to get on at (Palatka, FL) doesn't accept checked baggage, so our bags would be carry-on. I read that there are storage areas in the cars for it, but what happens if they're already full? The suitcases are too big to keep with us at our seats and aren't suitable for the overheads.

2) Further of the baggage, the height of one is just out of limit at 23 1/2", mostly the handle, although the other dimensions and weight are well under spec. Are they likely to fuss at me over this, or worse, not let us on?

3) I don't think seat assignments are given in coach, and we'll be traveling as husband and wife. Should I be concerned that we may not be able to sit together if the train is full? Can you switch seats as people come & go at the various stops along the way?

4) I read that cell phones are permitted on the train. This convenience can be easily abused, and gives one person a way of making all others around them entirely miserable. Is this often a problem?

I'm really looking forward to this trip, fed up with present-day air travel, and just hope these concerns can be cleared up. Thanks so much for any help!

Dave Jones

Fort McCoy, Florida USA

 

[jebr]

Hope this post is in the right place. About to commit to a long trip on the Silver Meteor, and though I've looked through some tips and discussions, a few questions remain. Chalk these up to fear of the unknown or something along those lines.

1) The station I want to get on at (Palatka, FL) doesn't accept checked baggage, so our bags would be carry-on. I read that there are storage areas in the cars for it, but what happens if they're already full? The suitcases are too big to keep with us at our seats and aren't suitable for the overheads.

2) Further of the baggage, the height of one is just out of limit at 23 1/2", mostly the handle, although the other dimensions and weight are well under spec. Are they likely to fuss at me over this, or worse, not let us on?

3) I don't think seat assignments are given in coach, and we'll be traveling as husband and wife. Should I be concerned that we may not be able to sit together if the train is full? Can you switch seats as people come & go at the various stops along the way?

4) I read that cell phones are permitted on the train. This convenience can be easily abused, and gives one person a way of making all others around them entirely miserable. Is this often a problem?

I'm really looking forward to this trip, fed up with present-day air travel, and just hope these concerns can be cleared up. Thanks so much for any help!

Dave Jones

Fort McCoy, Florida USA

I can answer a couple:

3) They'll give you a seat check, which if you switch coach seats you must take with you. Often times they'll segment out part for parties of more than one, and it's usually not a problem to find seats next to each other.

4) When I traveled from SCD to MSP at around 6-7 AM, I didn't notice anyone talking in coach. I'm assuming it's more prevalent outside of coach (for example, in the Sightseer Lounge) where there's more activity (and thus less rude to use a phone.)

Also, reports are that if you can carry the luggage on yourself in one trip, they won't balk. My guess is that they'll be more lenient at a non-checked-baggage stop (since you can't check your bags).

 

[TraneMan]

I only once had a minor issue w/ cell phone. On our trip back from Chicago to Winona Mn, we had a gal on the cell phone in coach and it was getting be a bit much when her mother was calling her every 10 minutes. If it was a longer trip, I may of contacted the conductor and asked him to do something about it

 

[Ocala Mike]

Mr. Jones, you're practically my neighbor, and I consider Palatka my home station too when I'm traveling N/B.

As for your questions, for no. 3, you will be assigned seats and seat checks. It is very unlikely that you won't be seated together. For no. 4, the short answer is yes, but I would say sometimes, not often.

Can't tackle nos. 1 and 2, because I always travel very light and use the overhead in coach.

Hope you have a nice trip.

 

[the_traveler]

Welcome to the civilized way to travel!

1 & 2) Don't worry about the size of the bags. Nobody is going to measure or weigh them if you don't check them! And the storage area on a train is MMUUCCHH bigger than in a plane! (I'm not saying to, but you can almost fit a casket up there!) There are also storage areas at the ends of the cars, and if you need help lifting the bags above your seat, I'm sure other passengers or crew will offer to help you!

3) The car attendant will do his or her best to seat you together, if you make him or her know. I'd say you will have a 97%+ chance of sitting together!

4) Like anywhere else, cell phones may or may not be a problem. However on a long distance train, there seems to be much less of a problem. After all, you will be with these same people for many hours.

Finally, be sure both of you join Amtrak Guest Rewards (AGR) before your trip! AGR is similar to the airline frequent flyer programs!

Then just sit back and enjoy the ride and not having to go thru the "Security" theater and other stuff!

 

[TraneMan]

One more thing I want to add, and I'm sure you already have read this.... The train can be late at times. So, don't plan on doing something the minute you get off the train.

 

[jebr]

One more thing I want to add, and I'm sure you already have read this.... The train can be late at times. So, don't plan on doing something the minute you get off the train.

Also, this is highly variable based on the station. For example, some stations are almost always at least a few minutes late (and often are 30-45 minutes late: the eastbound train coming through SCD is one that I know is always later) whereas some are much more on-time (for example, the westbound train through SLC is often on-time and sometimes early). Plan accordingly.

 

[benjibear]

I think I had a bag at the maximum dimensions and had no problem putting it overhead. Nobody will measure it or weight it. If it is just a handle or slightly oversized you should be fine.

Sometimes sitting together is an issue on crowded trains.

As far as the cell phone concern, a way to quiet somebody down if they are being rude is to pretend you are listening and just repeat one word and laugh. I saw a guy do this to somebody at McDonalds and it quieted the person down and was actually quite fun to watch.

 

[Dave Jones]

WOW! What a great source of help this forum is. Thanks to all who took the time to offer their answers, tips and advice and for doing it so quickly. My mind is set on the making the trip now and I'm comfortable going into it. Because of the baggage worries, I was thinking of going South to Deland (where we could check it) to catch the N/B train, but now I know there's no need to do that.

Still don't quite get the bit about how the seat checks work, but saw somewhere that the idea is to go with the flow, and I imagine that to be good advice.

Ocala Mike - Need to carry the dog to the vet in Interlachen, over halfway to Palatka, so am thinking about making a side trip to the station to check it out beforehand. Can I pick up the tickets there, or is the station unattended?

Can anybody describe what the consist of this train? If we have a choice, any recommendations on sitting more toward the front of the back? I guess they won't mind me bringing a GPS receiver along to keep abreast of progress? Everything seems to be so less restrictive than with air transport.

I find it ironic that a lifelong airline fanatic (me) now finds himself turning to the train for civilized and humane transportation. I've even gone so far as to do a website of airline history ( http://www.60sairlineantiques.net ), though probably little interest here! The TSA is a big part of the problem, but surely not all of it. What an apt description of TSA activity by the_traveler: "security" theater! I've always said it's about 98% to create the appearance of security, but you hit it more colorfully with just two words!

I won't go into airline/TSA difficulties any farther, but having said this much, it's also true that I've always had a tender place in my heart for trains. Next thing is to actually join this forum; I'm sure this won't be our last train trip and I'm sure I'll be back here.

Great group and thanks again for all the help!

...Dave

Dave Jones

Fort McCoy, Florida USA

 

[ehbowen]

The "seat check" is a reminder to the crew of where you are supposed to debark, as well as a reservation of your seat(s). It's a small slip of paper filled out by the conductor when he lifts your tickets which is placed in a holder above your seat(s) to mark them as taken. On a long distance train ride the operating crews (conductors and engineers) may turn over two, three or more shifts from the beginning to the end of your journey. The seat check is a reminder to the new conductor, who never saw your tickets and came aboard the train in El Paso, that you need to be awakened in the middle of the night to get off at your stop in Tucson.

Often you will find that the crew groups you in cars by destination, so that passengers traveling through to New York don't get disturbed by passengers boarding and detraining in the middle of the night in South Carolina. Generally, though, if you see an open seat you are able to switch although it is best to ask your car attendant or the conductor first. Just take your seat check and switch it to the open seat.

 

[NETrainfan]

Hi- We've been on 5 round trips on the Silver Meteor. Never had a problem getting seats together.

The only cell phone problem we noted was one time when the train was late and it seemed like everyone was calling about that.

Have a great trip.

 

[sunchaser]

WOW! What a great source of help this forum is. Thanks to all who took the time to offer their answers, tips and advice and for doing it so quickly. My mind is set on the making the trip now and I'm comfortable going into it. Because of the baggage worries, I was thinking of going South to Deland (where we could check it) to catch the N/B train, but now I know there's no need to do that.

Still don't quite get the bit about how the seat checks work, but saw somewhere that the idea is to go with the flow, and I imagine that to be good advice.

Ocala Mike - Need to carry the dog to the vet in Interlachen, over halfway to Palatka, so am thinking about making a side trip to the station to check it out beforehand. Can I pick up the tickets there, or is the station unattended?

Can anybody describe what the consist of this train? If we have a choice, any recommendations on sitting more toward the front of the back? I guess they won't mind me bringing a GPS receiver along to keep abreast of progress? Everything seems to be so less restrictive than with air transport.

I find it ironic that a lifelong airline fanatic (me) now finds himself turning to the train for civilized and humane transportation. I've even gone so far as to do a website of airline history ( http://www.60sairlineantiques.net ), though probably little interest here! The TSA is a big part of the problem, but surely not all of it. What an apt description of TSA activity by the_traveler: "security" theater! I've always said it's about 98% to create the appearance of security, but you hit it more colorfully with just two words!

I won't go into airline/TSA difficulties any farther, but having said this much, it's also true that I've always had a tender place in my heart for trains. Next thing is to actually join this forum; I'm sure this won't be our last train trip and I'm sure I'll be back here.

Great group and thanks again for all the help!

...Dave

Dave Jones

Fort McCoy, Florida USA

Welcome to the board!

Dave, the Palatka, FL (PAK) station you are wanting to leave from is a platform only. You will not be able to pick up your tickets there. Go here for more details. . The Deland, FL (DLD) station would be a better choice unless you want the tickets mailed to you (not recommended). More information on this station can be found right here.

Have a great trip!

 

[SarahZ]

This is a "seat check":

Usually, they hang down under the seat numbers, which are labeled on a long-distance train. I'm not sure which train this is; I've never seen one without numbers.

Anyway, they'll have your station code on it so the conductor knows who is going where and can alert you when your stop is next. These reserve your seat when you go to the dining car, restroom, or lounge.

 

[jb64]

This is a "seat check":

Usually, they hang down under the seat numbers, which are labeled on a long-distance train. I'm not sure which train this is; I've never seen one without numbers.

Anyway, they'll have your station code on it so the conductor knows who is going where and can alert you when your stop is next. These reserve your seat when you go to the dining car, restroom, or lounge.

This would be the Cardinal. STA is Staunton, VA, my hometown, and it is only served by the Cardinal. CFW is Clifton Forge, VA

 

[SarahZ]

This would be the Cardinal. STA is Staunton, VA, my hometown, and it is only served by the Cardinal. CFW is Clifton Forge, VA

I guess I could have looked up the station codes, but I was being lazy.

 

[jb64]

This would be the Cardinal. STA is Staunton, VA, my hometown, and it is only served by the Cardinal. CFW is Clifton Forge, VA

I guess I could have looked up the station codes, but I was being lazy.

I got it wrong, didn't look close enough. It is CHW which is Charleston; not CFW but it is still the Cardinal.

 

[benjibear]

I have also seen the conductor use different colors or fold and rip them to identify your stop. I always figured they had a code. The other sides of those usually has writing but not sure what it said.

Last time I rode the keystone, leaving Philly, the conductors did not do this. Wonder why?

 

[Ocala Mike]

Dave, PAK is NOT a platform only, but it IS unattended. The waiting room with clean restrooms is open near train times. There is also a nice little rail-museum type display inside the station that you might find interesting if you have to kill a little time before your train arrives.

Also, I would have no qualms about having my tickets mailed to me (unless there are time constraints). I've been doing it for every trip I've made since Ocala became unmanned a few years back, and never had a problem.

Finally, if you're going to park a vehicle at PAK for any length of time, I have a tip for you. You may e-mail me or PM me for that info.

 

[Donctor]

Can anybody describe what the consist of this train?

...Dave

Dave Jones

Fort McCoy, Florida USA

Engine

Engine

Baggage

Sleeper

Sleeper

Sleeper

Diner

Lounge

Coach

Coach

Coach

Coach

 

[Dave Jones]

Thanks again for all of this. Now properly registered at this forum!

...Dave

Dave Jones

Fort McCoy, Florida USA