Ever Do Long Distance Travel by Train?

[joethebartender]

I'm planning to go to New Orleans later this year and I'm thinking about booking a bedroom on the Amtrak Crescent #19 or #20 from Penn Station (for shits & giggles).

I've never traveled by rail and was thinking of doing this one way and then flying home. It'll take 30 hours, so if it sucks; I don't want to face it again at the end of my vacation.

Thoughts? Experiences? Is this a crazy idea? Help a brother out.


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/545271090_ce00258e0b.jpg

[razorboy]

I love travelling by rail. I've done quite a few long distance trips. It's so much nicer than driving or flying. If you have the time, I highly recommend it.

[KingGeno]

I travel by train to Virginia, Washington D.C., etc. First time I've ever done it was last year, and I was blown away by how great it was. I went with a co-worker of mine, we picked up first class for cheap, and it was very pleasant. Good food and drinks too. Can't praise it enough.

I've never stayed overnight on a train though, but I can't imagine it being bad.

[led37zep]

I've always been interested in doing a trip like that...just seems like an awesome way to travel the country.

If you end up doing it please keep us updated.

[ChrisBrown]

I am getting on an amtrack train from Penn station to DC. I know it isn't long distance but I thought 'd still post because I love taking the train. Beats the hell out of flying.

[Coach_Mac]

My wife traveled from Austin Tx to St. Louis a few years ago and hated it. But she didnt have a sleeper cabin and didnt eat ont he train. She said it made a ton of stops and was constantly delayed. They also stopped the train at one point and shut the power off for 30 minutes.

[RhinoinMN]

The only time that I ever did it was in Spain. It was a lot of fun, but I was young and drunk the whole time.

I think that I would do it again though.

If you have a sleeping cabin it is great. The rocking of the train puts you to sleep quickly.

[Thebazile78]

I've taken the Crescent before, not the entire trip, because my endpoint was Charlottesville (VA) but it's a nice train. I didn't mind the trip because it meant I didn't have to fly ... shortly after 9/11 had rattled my confidence and mental stability. (This was January of 2002.)

The one thing I would warn you about this time of year is weather delays. The train was late getting into Penn from wherever it had been (Chicago maybe?) ... and I was also traveling with an entire car of UVA students. Check when the college breaks are through, because hyper college students are worse than crying babies any day of the week. (And don't get me started on the 12-year-old in a military school uniform who tried to pick me up on the way back. I laughed, but managed to have an interesting conversation with him until his stop. He was adorable, but reminded me too much of my brother.)

Also, they needed to switch from an electric engine to a diesel engine at Philly and it took a while to make the switch. They do let you off the train (i.e. - if you're a smoker & need to smoke, there's usually enough time to do that) to stretch your legs a bit.

If you can get a sleeper cabin, definitely do it, especially on a trip that long. Also, check the times of the food service car or bring your own snacks to munch on something so you're not cranky AND hungry. On my trip, the food service car was closed by the time I was hungry for dinner, so I went to my hotel starving and room service had been stopped for the evening. (OK, so I was in Charlottesville, VA and wasn't staying at the business hotel in town because it was booked solid, but come ON!)

Check out discounts, too. I know that AAA offers Amtrak discounts and that Amtrak has its own "frequent traveler" program that may give you a break ... check online to see what you can get.

Other than that, enjoy rail travel. It's fun!

[Thebazile78]

My wife traveled from Austin Tx to St. Louis a few years ago and hated it. But she didnt have a sleeper cabin and didnt eat ont he train. She said it made a ton of stops and was constantly delayed. They also stopped the train at one point and shut the power off for 30 minutes.

The way I understood it from my experience, for some parts of Amtrak's system, the trains are electric, with overhead wires and such, while some parts are diesel and the diesel engines run too high to run on the electric tracks. If the train needs to cross into non-electric territory, they have to shut down the train and switch engines.

It should've been announced by the train crew. (This happened to us at Philly when I was going to Charlottesville because it was all diesel from Philly southwards.)

[sailor]

once in college i went from penn station to baltimore for a rifle conference (i think at johns hopkins). it was kinda cool, but not too long a trip. as a kid we used to travel by bus to west virginia all the time. that was hella long, but still fun.

[Thebazile78]

once in college i went from penn station to baltimore for a rifle conference (i think at johns hopkins). it was kinda cool, but not too long a trip. as a kid we used to travel by bus to west virginia all the time. that was hella long, but still fun.

I hate the bus intensely after having taken the Greyhound from Port Authority to Panama City, FL over Thanksgiving weekend in 1999.

Between the people and the stops, I thought I should've flown more than once a minute for the entire trip down.

[Heather 8]

Longest I've travelled by train is Harrisburg to Chicago and back. Never again.

[drusilla]

i took an over night train in france on a high school trip many years ago & it was a pretty nice trip. i think there were 6 of us in the cabin with bunk beds. i think we ate before we got on the train & had some snacks with us. i just remember it being a lot of fun.

recently i started taking amtrack home to the city from here in albany & its the best ride. it's along the hudson for the entire trip. the seats are pretty comfortable & there are outlets for computer use.

[Friday]

this is all very cool to read.

i am heading up to New Hampshire for Easter this year and debating how to go.
definitely NOT driving... and I really don't want to take the bus. yucky.

i wonder if any trains go up there... i would probably prefer that to one of those tiny planes. lol

[Heather 8]

this is all very cool to read.

i am heading up to New Hampshire for Easter this year and debating how to go.
definitely NOT driving... and I really don't want to take the bus. yucky.

i wonder if any trains go up there... i would probably prefer that to one of those tiny planes. lol

Actually it's not a bad drive, having done it twice (once during a snow/ice storm, both with a fussy baby in the back seat).

What part of NH are you heading to? There are a few towns Amtrak goes to, but I'm not sure you'll be able to take a train from Jersey to them.

[Bellyfullasnot]

I took an Amtrack in 1986 to New Mexico from New York. I had a 3 hour lay over in Chicago and walked around the city for a while. I didn't have a sleeper car but I still enjoyed the trip. You see a lot of the countryside and everybody wants to make small talk.

On the return trip,a train down the line had derailled. We were rerouted to some place upstate and bussed into Manhattan. That added a few hours to the trip and I had no way to contact my parents. My father waited @ Penn for hours until he received any info.

I remember enjoying the trip and wanting to do it again. I was 15 or 16 and away from my house and any adult supervision for the first time in my life. An Ipod, or portable DVD player will make that trip go a lot quicker.

[EddieMoscone]

My only train travel was in Japan, went from Tokyo to Kobe. It was on the Shinkansen, which goes like 250 mph, so it was only a 2 and a half hour trip. Ride was SMOOTH...Plus they serve lunch.

[joethebartender]

This (and the fact that I still get along with the Mrs.) is what I'm banking on to be able to do the 30 hours to Louisiana. I don't think that I could handle it in a smaller "roomette" or regular first class seat.:

Superliner Bedroom on Amtrak http://www.vacationsbyrail.com/images/amtrak/superliner_bedroom.gif
Room:
6'6" x 7'6"
Lower Berth:
3'4" x 6'3"
Upper Berth:
2'4" x 6'2"
Capacity two suitcases.

Our Superliner Bedroom is ideal for two passengers (but can accommodate three). Each room has a large sofa with two individually reclining sections, and a reclining easy chair. At night, the sofa converts to a comfortable bed, and an upper berth folds down from above. All Superliner Bedrooms feature private, self-enclosed restrooms with toilet, sink and shower. All Bedrooms are located on the upper level of our double-decker Superliner train cars.

Details and Amenities:
Meals included
First Class status
Designed for two passengers
Large picture window
Upper and lower berths
Armchair and sofa (converts to lower berth)
Private sink, vanity, private toilet and shower
Electrical outlets
Climate control
Individual reading lights
Garment rack
Fold-down table
Fresh towels and bed linens
Soap and shower amenities
Personal service (turn-down, coffee, paper, make-up bed)
Bottled water
Daily newspaper

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/3096941481_acddd5e118.jpg?v=0
http://i.pbase.com/g6/63/531663/2/85385238.8kiA8Vkf.jpg

[Enabler]

I took a train from Newark to Chicago once. I made the horrible mistake of not getting a private car and just getting a regular seat. I also didnt bring any food with me. It looks like you're doing it the right way though. My trip pretty much sucked until we got to the outskirts of Chicago and there seemed to miles upon miles of Chinese Apartment complexes where all the residents were outside in the early morning doing Tai Chi. It was a really cool visual.

[Friday]

Actually it's not a bad drive, having done it twice (once during a snow/ice storm, both with a fussy baby in the back seat).

What part of NH are you heading to? There are a few towns Amtrak goes to, but I'm not sure you'll be able to take a train from Jersey to them.


Gilmanton Iron Works.... which is near absolutely nothing. lol
I fear driving for that long, as the car tends to lull me to sleep.

I may have to suck it up though... eek.

[CHUCKWAGONCOOK]

this is all very cool to read.

i am heading up to New Hampshire for Easter this year and debating how to go.
definitely NOT driving... and I really don't want to take the bus. yucky.

i wonder if any trains go up there... i would probably prefer that to one of those tiny planes. lolWhy not just hop on your broom.

:tongue:

[Friday]

Why not just hop on your broom.

:tongue:

if you must know, 'no-fly zone' laws are just way too strict for broom riders in the northeast.

[Heather 8]

Gilmanton Iron Works.... which is near absolutely nothing. lol
I fear driving for that long, as the car tends to lull me to sleep.

I may have to suck it up though... eek.

Yeah, unfortunately it looks like you'll be able to take the train only as far as Boston, and then you have to grab a bus to either Tilton or Concord (both about 12 miles from Gilmanton).

[IamFogHat]

Does 4 hours count?
I quite enjoy riding on the choo choo.

[hedges]

I did an overnight train ride from Rome to Paris in a sleeper car that was really cool. Waking up in the Paris train yards and station. I also did Chicago to New Mexico a couple of times, no sleeper. It's good you're getting a sleeper Joe. I could never fall asleep in those seats that that they have.

[Friday]

Yeah, unfortunately it looks like you'll be able to take the train only as far as Boston, and then you have to grab a bus to either Tilton or Concord (both about 12 miles from Gilmanton).

that's actually not too bad... only an hour and a half on the bus. i might choose this and relax for my trip rather than be miserable driving. (i am just not one who enjoys driving at ALL ... especially alone... unfortunately)

thank you for your help, miss Heather!