the kindness of strangers (on a train)

[amamba]

Saw someone post a link to this on FB today!

http://m.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/03/departures/274265/

A quote: "Yesterday I ate a bad nut on the train to Boston and went into anaphylactic shock. A doctor who happened to be seated nearby shot me up with a epipen. The train made an emergency stop in New London where the paramedics were waiting. I was shivering crazily, which was better than the bullets I'd been sweating moments before. The doc told me it was the adrenaline. I kept apologizing. I couldn't believe I was making a scene on the Quiet Car."

 

[amtkstn]

Another reason to ride the train. I really enjoy the company of fellow passengers. My favorite place is the dinner. The last meal I had was with a guy that was born the same day and year I was. My last trip in sleeper the fellow that had the room across from me and a freind worked for Ray Charles.

 

[FriskyFL]

I'm surprised that someone with a nut allergy that severe doesn't carry an epipen.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

Im just glad that they were able to get help.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

I'm surprised that someone with a nut allergy that severe doesn't carry an epipen.

And know not to eat nuts.

 

[the_traveler]

I just find people on trains to be more friendly and more willing to help. At least the train didn't have to descend from 30,000 feet to a station airport 1 hour away!

i was once on the TE where we met the paramedics at some grade crossing. That's the kind of delay I don't mind at all.

 

[AKA]

About three years ago on the CZ. A man and his wife and his brother where on the way west to bury the brothers mother. The single brother got sick in the SSL. There was a doctor on board. He did what he could. However he could not save the man. We stopped somewhere in Iowa at a grade crossing, EMS was waiting. The brother and his wife detrained with the body of the brother. I cant think of a worse day.

 

[JayPea]

I just find people on trains to be more friendly and more willing to help. At least the train didn't have to descend from 30,000 feet to a station airport 1 hour away!
i was once on the TE where we met the paramedics at some grade crossing. That's the kind of delay I don't mind at all.

I too was on the TE when an announcement was made that we would be making an emergency stop for a passenger who had fallen ill. There was a delay of 35-40 minutes. As Traveler said, that is the kind of delay I don't at all mind. And last year on the CZ we were met at the Fraser-Winter Park station by an EMT unit for an elderly lady who had fallen ill.

 

[JayPea]

About three years ago on the CZ. A man and his wife and his brother where on the way west to bury the brothers mother. The single brother got sick in the SSL. There was a doctor on board. He did what he could. However he could not save the man. We stopped somewhere in Iowa at a grade crossing, EMS was waiting. The brother and his wife detrained with the body of the brother. I cant think of a worse day.

That poor family!! Bad enough the mother of the brothers had died, but one of the brothers dies enroute. I can't imagine a worse day either, and this coming from someone who came home from work one day to find his wife deceased on the floor.

 

[chakk]

Many people -- not just the elderly -- can be adversely affected by high altitude. And the CZ goes quite high: above 7,000 feet at Donner Summit, CA and Soldier Summit, UT; above 9,000 feet at the Moffat Tunnel, CO. Compare this to the cabin altitude of most coast-to-coast jetliners, which typically is at or below 7,000 feet. And the new 787 aircraft will have even lower cabin altitudes.

My mountain condo is at an elevation of 9,500 feet, and it takes me several days to adjust to the altitude, even when I try for some acclimation by riding Amtrak/Greyhound from California on a journey of 31 hours to the condo.

 

[dlagrua]

By and large we have met mostly good folks on the LD trains. It is one of the only places where you end up dining with strangers but the dining car crew seems to be estute at matching compatible people and couples. I do notice they they sometimes profile people and try to get good matches but in the sleepers those that can afford a better class of service are usually professional people, that are more successful and educated.

 

[the_traveler]

but in the sleepers those that can afford a better class of service are usually professional people, that are more successful and educated.

Most of us on AU must be the exception then! :giggle:

 

[benjibear]

I'm surprised that someone with a nut allergy that severe doesn't carry an epipen.

And know not to eat nuts.

I am sure he knows not to eat nuts. I am highly alergic to nuts. I have had reactions to products with nuts in them. Sometimes it is an item that you would not think there are nuts in (i.e. salbury steak, blueberry muffin, and a taco). Also, there is cross contamination in kitchens where the preperations take place. Using a utintail to flip something with and with/out nuts. On many labels you see warnings that it may contain peanuts or processed in a facility that also processes nuts.

 

[the_traveler]

the cabin altitude of most coast-to-coast jetliners, which typically is at or below 7,000 feet. And the new 787 aircraft will have even lower cabin altitudes.

Are you certain of that? :blush:

I've always understood planes are pressurized to 13,000 feet. That is why if the emergency oxygen masks deploy, they tell you can remove them once the plane altitude reaches below 13,000 feet.

 

[PRR 60]

the cabin altitude of most coast-to-coast jetliners, which typically is at or below 7,000 feet. And the new 787 aircraft will have even lower cabin altitudes.

Are you certain of that? :blush:
I've always understood planes are pressurized to 13,000 feet. That is why if the emergency oxygen masks deploy, they tell you can remove them once the plane altitude reaches below 13,000 feet.

No. Most aircraft are pressurized to about 7000 feet (at 39,000 feet cruise). The 787 is about 5000 feet (at 43,000 feet cruise).
Masks are used when an aircraft loses pressurization. Once below 13,000 feet it is deemed safe to remove the masks. (The Pikes Peak Cog Railway would suggest that 14,000 feet is safe. Pikes Peak is 14,115 feet)

 

[roomette]

 

[leemell]

People with a nut allergy may be allergic to just peanuts, or just one or two tree nuts, or all tree nuts and not peanuts or all nuts or any other combination. Hence, he may have said "bad" nut referring to just one kind.

 

[leemell]

Usually I can guess what was being said when there is a typo or misspell, but not on this one either.

 

[TimePeace]

Utensil

 

[leemell]

Utensil

Of course! (hits self on forehead). hboy:

 

[benjibear]

Yes that is what I meant!

 

[Shanghai]

I have always found passengers on Amtrak trains to be kind, respectful and friendly,

except for Jim Hudson!! LOL.

 

[gaspeamtrak]

I have always found passengers on Amtrak trains to be kind, respectful and friendly,except for Jim Hudson!! LOL.

Shanghai, you one the those people!

It was PLEASURE to meet you last year after National Train Day on #48 at breakfast with my nephew, I think or was it supper?

Take care till we meet again!