What comforts of home do you do you bring with you on your Amtrak stay?

[dogbert617]

I am fairly minimalist, but that's because I like to travel as light as possible.

I do like to get some decent healthy snacks, especially as insurance if there are any issues with the meal service. In Chicago, I really like the selection of food at the Amazon Go store in the Ogilvie Transportation Center (500 West Madison). It's all packaged to go, which makes it very convenient.

I still have visited any of those Amazon Go stores, and funny enough I've spotted that one several times on my more recent brief visits into Ogilvie. Dumb question, but is it a requirement that you have the Amazon Go app downloaded onto your phone before you visit that store? I should visit there, or the store that took over half of the former Books-A-Million(across from Revival Food Hall) in the Loop, one of these days.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Someone recently brought their **** on board and proceeded to watch it in coach. I'm sure you can image how that went over.

This may be better placed in the "if you can't sleep on the train" thread.

 

[neroden]

Travel pillow. Medically required food (I'm on a horrifically restricted diet).

 

[Georgie]

Part of my travel adventure starts with the packing, reducing creature comforts to luggage I can drag & lift myself across country. #youpackityouliftit

1. Travel fan - personally essential when Amtrak fails with climate control (have yet to travel through winter)
2. Inflatable camping air mattress.... yep! *deflated, slides folded into a luggage side pocket
3. Bota box bladder of pino noir ... don't worry, it has a slow leak and lasts for return
4. Packet of Clorox wipes (it's obvious that Covid cleansing is not happening in bedrooms!)
5. Hotel slippers - disposable
6. Travel size fabreeze
7. Party lights for ambiance...

 

[Georgie]

Wondering if anyone has ideas for a travel size food warmer? (REALLY don't want to eat their microwaved apocalypse bunker food anymore)

 

[RichieRich]

7. Party lights for ambiance..

LOL Not our 1st string-o-lites either!!! The liquor is really our ambiance! LOL Oh, the secret to lites is to bring a bag of small clear suction cups.

 

[Palmland]

Only wine with 2 glasses, a very small charger for 2 iPhones and 2 iPads, pre Amtrak timetables to identify small towns and perhaps old RR points of interest, and knife with cutting board for cutting fresh veggies or cheese purchased at local markets.

 

[niemi24s]

. . .pre Amtrak timetables to identify small towns and perhaps old RR points of interest,. . .

I find the Amtrak Route Guides (long gone) are only a starting point to identify what I'm looking at out the windows. I supplement them with my own home-made ones made up by following along the route to be taken using:

• scrollable topographic maps at MyTopo Free Online Topo Maps
• Google Earth Pro at Install & uninstall Google Earth Pro - Google Earth Help
• FRA maps here https://fragis.fra.dot.gov/GISFRASafety/
• one or two others I've forgotten about.

The FRA maps are invaluable for finding the path of passenger rail in urban areas or others where it's uncertain which way your train will go and adding occasional mileposts to the list for things of particular interest. Here's a small section of one for the TE:


I'll also add symbols for tunnels, bridges and named sidings as they're identifiable by sound alone. The one for the EB has about 450 entries.

 

[Barb Stout]

LOL Not our 1st string-o-lites either!!! The liquor is really our ambiance! LOL Oh, the secret to lites is to bring a bag of small clear suction cups.

That does look festive.

 

[oregon pioneer]

Wondering if anyone has ideas for a travel size food warmer? (REALLY don't want to eat their microwaved apocalypse bunker food anymore)

Now you've got me thinking. I have only used this little kettle for making tea and coffee, but it would certainly work for instant meals. And I know where to find good quality, organic instant meals: MaryJanesFarm | Food, Instant & Quick Prep



This is a Bonavita 0.5L mini kettle, uses only about 600 Watts so no issues with the power supply. You can find them om Amazon and Ebay. I bought one on ebay that was "stained" and could hardly see what they meant by stains. It was in the box and looked new (well, maybe not perfect).

 

[hlcteacher]

Wondering if anyone has ideas for a travel size food warmer? (REALLY don't want to eat their microwaved apocalypse bunker food anymore)

check amazon they have quite selection

 

[NS VIA Fan]

When travelling.....I want to go as light as possible. On a long weekend I can usually get away with just a back-pack. For a week or so.....I'll also take a small roll-aboard.

And up until a couple of years ago on my railfan adventures....... I’d load up a carry-on with two cameras (still and video) laptop, GPS, an assortment of timetables, maps, atlases and track-guides, a folder with my tickets and reservations plus several magazines. Now that’s all in my pocket on my phone. A better experience that lugging a bunch of stuff around!

Everything I need is on my phone from my VIA and Amtrak, Transit and Commuter Rail Ticket Apps to Reservation Apps for Hotels and Airlines along with some great Mapping and GPS Apps plus the electronic versions of a couple of magazines. I even find the camera quality better than what I had before.

But right now.....it all a moot-point! The 'Ocean' isn't running and I have no desire to get on a plane .....and if I left the 'Atlantic Bubble' I'd be faced with at least a 14 day quarantine when I return. So now I just pile my 'comforts of home' into the car and head off.....

 

[jiml]

But right now.....it all a moot-point! The 'Ocean' isn't running and I have no desire to get on a plane .....and if I left the 'Atlantic Bubble' I'd be faced with at least a 14 day quarantine when I return. So now I just pile my 'comforts of home' into the car and head off.....

I feel your pain. I was supposed to be on the Ocean shortly, heading to New Brunswick to meet newly-found family members. At least Maritimers have a bubble to travel within. Our situation is confusing to say the least and many believe another lock-down is imminent as cases soar in some regions nearby.

 

[hlcteacher]

Now you've got me thinking. I have only used this little kettle for making tea and coffee, but it would certainly work for instant meals. And I know where to find good quality, organic instant meals: MaryJanesFarm | Food, Instant & Quick Prep

View attachment 19201

thank you for the link, i think we will order some and try them out

 

[MARC Rider]

This is all I need...



It doesn't have to be Knob Creek, either. Anything with potable ethyl alcohol will do...
(The stuff in the bags is fancy cheese.)

 

[Eric in East County]

One of the “essentials” we pack along with us on our long-distance trips is a small, battery operated digital clock with large red numerals. It allows us to keep track of the time in our bedroom at night after the lights are turned out. When we travel west on the Southwest Chief, it is particularly useful when we have to get up in the dark in order to get breakfast, which is always early to accommodate the arrival in Los Angeles

Eric and Pat

 

[Skeets]

I bring one of those 50x60" fleece throws. It works as an extra blanket or to cuddle up in the daytime. I don't mind the Amtrak pillow, at all. I pretty much only travel in winter, so my nightwear is a long dark plaid flannel nightie that covers up EVERYTHING for those nighttime walks from the roomette to the toilet (if in coach, it is sweat pants and a t-shirt).

To entertain myself, I load my iPad with at least one or two library books (all free, using an app called "Libby" from my state library). Once I brought my work laptop and hours of raw digital video files, spent the whole east bound train ride across the country making notes about clips and writing the script for a six-minute video. I am now happily retired, and enjoy reading, taking photos, watching the scenery and socializing on the train, none of which requires me to carry very much stuff...



Ohmigosh, they fill your thermos for you? And don't demand to hand you the water by the paper cup-full? I had given up on my own tea on the train, since they would not directly fill my thermal mug for me, always insisting on giving me the water in an Amtrak cup. Perhaps a thermos is a different matter, since you cannot drink out of it. I must try that and see, next winter... I would not mind putting my teabag in the thermos, and then having yet MORE tea to sip as I watch the snowy plains slide by on the east bound Empire Builder!

I am curious if you had any luck with the thermos? I might like to try this on my next trip.

 

[Rover]

I always bring a small flashlight. It is helpful if you wake up during the night and don't want to turn on a light and wake up your roommate. I assume it would also be helpful in an emergency. I also use it to look under the roomette seats just before we vacate the roomette to be sure that we haven't left something behind.

Unfortunately it is sometimes discouraging to look under the roomette seats and see what the cleaning crew missed.

Or you could wear one of these "hands free" headlamps in case of an emergency...

 

[me_little_me]

Or you could wear one of these "hands free" headlamps in case of an emergency...

Only if you're looking to earn the "Geek of the Week" Award.

 

[AmHope]

Sure beats AmStew.

I dunno, I've only been graced with AmStew once, but I found it kind of charming.

 

[jis]

Kindle - easier to bring 4-5 books with me, and I like that I can read at night without turning the room light on

Melatonin and earplugs to help me sleep

My (slim, light) laptop - I only use it at my destination, though. I rarely open it on the train since I can use my phone to look up any information I need.

I pack as lightly as possible. I hate carrying a bunch of stuff.

Me too, except the Melatonin and ear plugs. I seem to have no problem falling asleep wherever. Besides I like the train noises. If it gets really bad there is always my noise canceling headphone to fall back on.

I generally have my iPad and iPhone, and charger(s). A small extension chord with three sockets and a CB. Blutooth noise canceling headphone. On longer trips I might carry my laptop, but it is less likely these days. That is about it. The rest is pretty much seat of the pants, as things come and go.

I hate to pack too much for any trip. For shorter trips it is just a largish laptop bag with wheels and a small shoulder pack. For longer trips lasting upto 10 days it is a 18" or 20" Rollaboard and a shoulder pack. Whatever does not fit in that does not come with me. I can generally fit my baggage in a Roomette with room to spare.

 

[Eric in East County]

Me too, except the Melatonin and ear plugs. I seem to have no problem falling asleep wherever. Besides I like the train noises. If it gets really bad there is always my noise canceling headphone to fall back on.

I generally have my iPad and iPhone, and charger(s). A small extension chord with three sockets and a CB. Blutooth noise canceling headphone. On longer trips I might carry my laptop, but it is less likely these days. That is about it. The rest is pretty much seat of the pants, as things come and go.

I hate to pack too much for any trip. For shorter trips it is just a largish laptop bag with wheels and a small shoulder pack. For longer trips lasting upto 10 days it is a 18" or 20" Rollaboard and a shoulder pack. Whatever does not fit in that does not come with me. I can generally fit my baggage in a Roomette with room to spare.

The earplugs will also come in handy when de-training in Chicago and while walking down the platform and passed the locomotive. With its engine running, it is quite loud and a little unnerving.

Eric & Pat

 

[jis]

The earplugs will also come in handy when de-training in Chicago and while walking down the platform and passed the locomotive. With its engine running, it is quite loud and a little unnerving.

Eric & Pat

Truth be told I have never owned a pair of earplugs, so it is not even part of my home comfort But yeah, they would be handy for those that find that noise unpleasant or unnerving.

 

[oregon pioneer]

I am curious if you had any luck with the thermos? I might like to try this on my next trip.

To tell the truth, I never tried it. By the time I went on my next trip (Dec 2019), I had found this cute little hot pot, just big enough for a generous 16 oz mug. It only uses 500 watts, so it won't blow any fuses. I made a carry bag big enough for it and my teabags, and some instant coffee for Hubby. We were both pretty happy with being able to make hot beverages in our room, and not having to bother the LSA.