« "The Great Railway Bazaar" by Paul Theroux | Main | "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose »
September 1, 2004
Ten Trips for Travelling by Train
If you're thinking about traveling around the country by train like I just did, here are ten tips you might want to keep in mind.
- Clothing: wear something comfortable like sweatpants or a track suit. Do not wear jeans if you are taking a long journey.
- Blanket: trains are air conditioned, sometimes to the extreme. A small blanket, like the ones used on planes, will keep you warm.
- Coffee: if you buy coffee from the snack bar, keep your cup because refills are free.
- Socialize: talk to people. Go out on a limb and you will meet some interesting people.
- Food: purchase snacks and food beforehand to save money. My favorites are fruit cups, crackers, canned tuna and chicken, chips, trail mix, granola bars and breakfast bars.
- Hygiene: put essential toiletries in a Ziploc bag and keep it in your carry-on. Wet Ones facial wipes come in a nice, re-sealable travel pack and are very refreshing.
- Timeliness: do not expect your train to be on time, especially if traveling across the south. If you have a deadline or must be at a certain place at a certain time, you shouldn't be riding the train.
- Sleep: this is easier said than done, especially for me, but sleep at night, not during the day. Resist the urge to sleep while there is nice scenery passing by your window, even if you're really tired.
- Seating: try to avoid sitting near the front or rear of the car. The train cars are linked by doors, which provide a blast of track noise and air when opened. This is annoying when you're trying to sleep and is even worse if the door is broken and stays open all night long.
- Camera: the trick to avoiding reflections in photos is to keep the lens close to the window. Shooting at an angle may help.
Posted on September 1, 2004 at 1:08 AM
Comments
your tips are great for coach. I'd like to add some for sleeper. 1. Take some BIG safety pins along. The window curtains never seem to close all the way and stay there. 2. Take a small flashlight.If the power goes out you are not left in total darkness. 3. If possible tke a pants hanger and thin plastic hanger. The closet holds only coats and hanging your clothes on the hooks isn't great. My husband and I find one of each hanger is sufficient for both of us. 4. Depending on which train you are taking carry asmall botle of water. The eastbound Zepher always seems to run out of bottled water by the time it gets to Denver.
Posted by: arden at September 1, 2004 11:27 AM