Tips for long distance coach travel

[SeanGA]

Taking the Crescent from ATL-WAS, Capitol Unlimited from WAS-CHI then the EB to PDX. Decided to do this because of the extra $599 price tag just for the Roomette on the Builder leg. Anyway, please let me know of some things to make the trip more enjoyable and comfortable. I've read the Best Kept Secrets thread, just looking for more advice. Here's what I've planned so far:

Travel blanket

Neck pillow

Snacks (not sure what kind though)

Bottles of water

Eye mask

Ear plugs

DVD player

IPOD

Books and pen / journal

Baby wipes

Thanks in advace!

 

[PerRock]

well, doesn't matter if your in coach or not; a camera. also I generally bring along food when in coach; sure its great to eat in the dinning car; but it can get expencive fast. If you want to drink anything that requires hot water you can bring a little travelling water heating coil, that plugs into an outlet (found in the restrooms in most cars). I also find that usually 1 blanket isn't enough when on amtrak...

peter

 

[AmtrakCrescent20]

Taking the Crescent from ATL-WAS, Capitol Unlimited from WAS-CHI then the EB to PDX. Decided to do this because of the extra $599 price tag just for the Roomette on the Builder leg. Anyway, please let me know of some things to make the trip more enjoyable and comfortable. I've read the Best Kept Secrets thread, just looking for more advice. Here's what I've planned so far:Travel blanket

Neck pillow

Snacks (not sure what kind though)

Bottles of water

Eye mask

Ear plugs

DVD player

IPOD

Books and pen / journal

Baby wipes

Thanks in advace!

I've made the ATL-WAS trip twice so I don't have much to say about what to bring but I do have some warnings(sorry I'm always negative) and just a general run down of the trip.

Dinner should be served when you board in ATL, unless the train is 1 hour+ late, which can happen. You can check train status history here. ATL's station is relatively smalkl, and will get very crowded before train 20's departure. Beware that no one is allowed onto the platform (not even ticketed passengers) until all passengers have detrained and the crew is ready for boarding. Even if the gate at the top of the stairs is open, don't go down until the boarding call, unless you want to be reprimanded over the loudspeaker by the station staff. When they do call boarding, it's a mad dash down the stairs to the platform. Since you're going to WAS, you'll be seated in the first coach, 2040. All local passengers boarding in ATL are seated in the second coach. The car atteddants aren't too happy about people switching cars, but they'll probably let you. Now comes the warning: if you are traveling alone, you nmay have to settle for an aisle seat next to someone else, as almost all of the window seats are taken by indidvidual travelers boarding before ATL. If you're in a party of 2+, you may have trouble finding seats together. Since only single aisle seats willl probably be available, you won't be able to sit next to each other right away. The hundred pax boarding in ATL won't help this situation. The car attendant or conductor, however, will most likely try to seat your party together asap.

In Charlotte, NC the train stops for 20 minutes even if it is late to refuel the locomotives. You can get off and wander around the platform. If you walk to the end of teh tarin, you will have a nice view of the Charlotte skyline. The train does stop for about 7 minutes in Greenville and Greensboro, but I've never tried getting off at such a short stop. The next morning, you'll arrive in beautiful WAS Union Station.

 

[RailFanLNK]

I would bring some Tylenol PM. Or if you have had sleeping issues and have some tranqulizers that aren't hardcore. Take it a little before bedtime. I always bring some bottled water and meds in case you get a cold. Comfortable clothes are a "must". I sleep in a hospital scrub suit (like what they were in the operating room) The scrub bottoms are "shorts" and they are extremely lightweight, and I wear a pair of running socks. (footies) So my legs and feet aren't itching. Remember riding the train isn't a fashion show so be comfortable, but I would recommend a nice outfit for the dining car and I'm not saying "dress clothes". Maybe a nice polo shirt that can be tucked in so you just look a little nicer out of respect for the dining car. I don't wear a hat to the dining car either and this may sound wierd, but I always get a haircut before I travel on train. When my hair is short its so much easier for me to make it look nice after its been all over a pillow all night long in coach. Thats only my "thing", never read that on any other "threads" before. DO NOT wear a watch. You will get there when .....you get there. Pay attention to where you are at in the trip and who cares what time it is! I always get a bottled water out at night and stick it in the pouch in the seat ahead of me. Then if you wake up thirsty in the middle of the night, your water is right there at arms length.

 

[caravanman]

As an "old bloke", I have enjoyed some recent long distance coach class trips. I find the air con can be a bit fierce at night, and recommend a hat to keep the "dome" warm. I also recommend a double size blanket, you can get more snug! The last trip I bought a 1 gallon bottle of water at a local drug store, a bit heavy but worth having. Sadly, my last few trips did suffer with equipment breakdowns (Amtraks, not mine!) and I would try to bring a few items for emergency food too. (cereal bars, tin tuna, apples..something more than just sugar snacks.) You might want to add a small torch, and an extension lead to recharge your electrical items..

Ed B)

 

[RailFanLNK]

I might add that "torch" talked about by Caravanman is a European word for flashlight. Not picking on you Caravanman, just don't want our new friend carrying a blow torch onto a train!

 

[DaveKCMO]

i just finished a series of long trips (SWC, CS, EB) and never used my baby wipes or hand sanitizer. i guess i thought i'd be roughing it, but a bathroom was always a stone's throw from my coach seat. i ditched both during my trip.

the neck pillow was a life-saver, and i never felt the need for the travel blanket (and i'm certainly not warm-blooded!). i did pretty good finding seats with outlets, which is where my iGo Juice multi-adaptor came in handy (charged my laptop, ipod, and cell phone all at once).

i would take low calorie snacks (pretzels, trail mix), since you won't be doing much moving around.