Life Anyone ever ridden Amtrak? - Page 3

**Rain Man** · 04-29-2010, 09:57 AM

What's it like? Would you go on a long trip with it? Are the seats like first-class aircraft seats or coach, or something completely different? Is it worth the large extra charge to get the sleeper car? Is it more like the luxury train cars of yore with good food and china and table linens in the dining car, or is it Greyhound on rails?

Third Eye · 04-29-2010, 02:53 PM

I take Amtrak all the time from here, St. Louis, to KC and Chicago. You lose a couple hours compared to flying, but being 6'4", it is immeasurably more comfortable.

**Donger** · 04-29-2010, 03:03 PM

I try to avoid using any kind of mass transit where the general public has access to the fucking brakes.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 04-29-2010, 03:19 PM

Took one in 1975, don't remember a damned thing except being at Union Station.

Jenson71 · 04-29-2010, 03:25 PM

I went on the Amtrak to get to New York. Started in Mount Pleasant, IA. Had a five hour stop in Chicago. Total: 30 hours.

It was much cheaper than flying. I sat next to an Amish kid the first 10 hours and we talked about life and things. He was going to see his girlfriend in Indiana. You can meet some interesting people, and you can see the countryside, and you can just sit back and read if you want to. I enjoyed it.

**Rain Man** · 04-29-2010, 03:52 PM

So the seats are comfortable? If you were sitting on one for an 18-hour trip, would it be okay, relatively speaking? And how crowded are they? Would I have someone next to me in most cases, and if I wandered to the viewing lounge could I find a seat?

Jenson71 · 04-29-2010, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

So the seats are comfortable? If you were sitting on one for an 18-hour trip, would it be okay, relatively speaking? And how crowded are they? Would I have someone next to me in most cases, and if I wandered to the viewing lounge could I find a seat?

I wouldn't say the trip from Mount Pleasant to Chicago was full of people, but there were more people than I thought there would be. From Chicago to New York, though, I think almost every seat was taken. So yeah, you would probably have someone next to you in most cases. I know I did for probably 2/3 of the time.

The seats were comfortable enough for me. I had no complaints.

I never went to the viewing lounge. But you can get up and walk around anytime. I did go to the snack lounge and got a drink a couple of times. That wasn't crowded, and I do remember there being a booth/bench thing.

38yrsfan · 04-29-2010, 04:38 PM

I 've rode the Sunset Limited (sleeper car - great time, good food, awesome scenery, good movies, interesting fellow travelers), the Texas Eagle (San Antonio to Dallas - short trip) and a few "unnamed" trains.

It really depends on your disposition and expectations if you will enjoy the trip. You can walk around but spend the majority of your time sitting. Walking is at times challenging so if you have a drunken stagger perfected - you'll be fine.

I'd recommend at least one train trip in your life.

Param · 04-29-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

So based on what I'm hearing, it seems like they're a really good experience if you don't plummet off a decrepit bridge and die in a heap of twisted, burning metal.

I've been pondering a little relaxing time and was thinking about possibilities. One possibility is to buy an Amtrak pass and ride the rails for a while. You can get a 30-day pass for about $600, though you can only get on 12 trains, which may be a problem since some travel routes force you to switch trains.

On some of them, I'd want a sleeper car, though, and that's like $450 extra on each trip, which seems really steep. It'd save a hotel, but hotels don't cost that much by any stretch.

I'm trying to figure out if it would be a fun, relaxing getaway or if it would be like being on a plane for days at a time. In theory, it'd be neat to go to San Francisco and then up through Washington and Montana and back to Boston and down to Miami, and then hit New Orleans on my way to Los Angles. And I don't bore easily, as part of this would be down time to do some writing for work, so having a comfy seat with an outlet would serve me well.

I'd go for it, but that sounds like one hell of of a trip because it's very long.

**sd4chiefs** · 04-29-2010, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Don't remember much, I think it was 1956 that Mom put my sister and I on a train from California to Denver.

I remember going down to Union Station and the place was packed. I think it was around 1958 and I was 4 or 5.

listopencil · 04-29-2010, 06:28 PM

I took one from Denver to Sacramento once. I enjoyed it. Very relaxing. I'd say get a sleeper if you are going to be more than one night.

stlchiefs · 04-29-2010, 07:43 PM

I've done it from STL to KC. Not a bad ride and they are improving ride times. You have more leg room than a plane and more ability to get up and move around. I'd definitely do it again.

dtebbe · 04-29-2010, 07:55 PM

I'd highly recommend the trip from Denver to Glenwood Springs in the winter time. Awesome scenery. The time schedule works out good where you can leave Denver early in the AM, check out the scenery, arrive in Glenwood Springs around 3p, walk across the street to the Glenwood Hot Spings Hotel, hit the hot springs and stay the evening.. and then catch the train back around noon the next day. But be forewarned.. rock slides do delay the train frequently

IMHO Amtrak space-wise is like 1st class, but delays can drive you nuts. I wouldn't want to be on there for more than 1 day at a time.

DT

SLAG · 04-29-2010, 09:29 PM

i use to ride it all the time as a kid -
went many many many many times from newton to topeka
and a few times from newton to Cali (LA) - couple times to Colorado

the seats were way better than a 15 hr plane ride

Dayze · 04-29-2010, 09:45 PM

never taken an amtrak, but took a Greyhound once from KC to Winfield KS; took fucking 9 hours (about a 3-4 hr car ride).
worst experience ever.

I suspect a train trip is similar.

Miles · 04-29-2010, 11:48 PM

I did several times as a kid but cant remember much about the experience that would be relevant now. I last looked into taking a trip about 8 years ago in college thinking it was cheap and was surprised that it was damn near the cost of a plane ticket.

The quality of the tracks and sharing them with freight trains severely limits the speed as well. It's hardly like anything in Europe where high speed rail travel is more feasible.

View Poll Results: You and Amtrak: What's the Story?
Amtrak is great. I'd do a long trip in an Arlo Guthrie hearbeat.	8	12.70%
Amtrak is decent. Beats flying if you have the time.	16	25.40%
Amtrak is sketchy. Short trip maybe, but not a long trip.	14	22.22%
Amtrak is hell on rails. I'd rather hitchhike in drag.	2	3.17%
I've never ridden Amtrak.	21	33.33%
What's Amtrak?	2	3.17%
Voters: 63. You may not vote on this poll

04-29-2010, 09:57 AM
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-572449 VARSITY	Anyone ever ridden Amtrak? What's it like? Would you go on a long trip with it? Are the seats like first-class aircraft seats or coach, or something completely different? Is it worth the large extra charge to get the sleeper car? Is it more like the luxury train cars of yore with good food and china and table linens in the dining car, or is it Greyhound on rails?
Posts: 145,366

04-29-2010, 02:53 PM	#31
Third Eye Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: JoCo Casino cash: $-1560000	I take Amtrak all the time from here, St. Louis, to KC and Chicago. You lose a couple hours compared to flying, but being 6'4", it is immeasurably more comfortable.
Posts: 3,545

04-29-2010, 03:03 PM	#32
Donger "Think BOOM!" Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: 33.675° N 106.475° W Casino cash: $6829900 VARSITY	I try to avoid using any kind of mass transit where the general public has access to the fucking brakes. __________________ I think the young people enjoy it when I "get down," verbally, don't you?
Posts: 191,117

04-29-2010, 03:19 PM	#33
Sweet Daddy Hate Unsparing Join Date: Aug 2008 Casino cash: $10004900	Took one in 1975, don't remember a damned thing except being at Union Station. __________________ 1. Merciless, severe. 2. Given freely and generously. 100% refusal to overrate 20 year Head Coaches with ZERO **ing rings as a Head Coach. CP's Official Professor of 'Dem Blues for 2019/2020!**
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04-29-2010, 03:25 PM	#34
Jenson71 fides quaerens intellectum Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: United States Casino cash: $8330900	I went on the Amtrak to get to New York. Started in Mount Pleasant, IA. Had a five hour stop in Chicago. Total: 30 hours. It was much cheaper than flying. I sat next to an Amish kid the first 10 hours and we talked about life and things. He was going to see his girlfriend in Indiana. You can meet some interesting people, and you can see the countryside, and you can just sit back and read if you want to. I enjoyed it.
Posts: 15,986

04-29-2010, 03:52 PM	#35
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-572449 VARSITY	So the seats are comfortable? If you were sitting on one for an 18-hour trip, would it be okay, relatively speaking? And how crowded are they? Would I have someone next to me in most cases, and if I wandered to the viewing lounge could I find a seat? __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,366

04-29-2010, 04:38 PM	#37
38yrsfan Veteran Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: In many minds, rent free. Casino cash: $9935667	I 've rode the Sunset Limited (sleeper car - great time, good food, awesome scenery, good movies, interesting fellow travelers), the Texas Eagle (San Antonio to Dallas - short trip) and a few "unnamed" trains. It really depends on your disposition and expectations if you will enjoy the trip. You can walk around but spend the majority of your time sitting. Walking is at times challenging so if you have a drunken stagger perfected - you'll be fine. I'd recommend at least one train trip in your life. __________________ During the 75 season the Chiefs mascot Warpaint would circle the field after a touchdown. This prompted a great quote from long ago Raiders coach John Madden after the 42-10 loss at Arrowhead. "We couldn't beat the Chiefs, but we damn near killed their horse."
Posts: 1,351

04-29-2010, 06:28 PM	#40
listopencil Immanentize The Eschaton Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In Partibus Infidelium Casino cash: $-954120	I took one from Denver to Sacramento once. I enjoyed it. Very relaxing. I'd say get a sleeper if you are going to be more than one night. __________________ *While you live, shine. Have no grief at all. Life exists only for a short while and time demands its toll.*
Posts: 56,836

04-29-2010, 07:43 PM	#41
stlchiefs Veteran Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St. Loser, MO Casino cash: $10005674	I've done it from STL to KC. Not a bad ride and they are improving ride times. You have more leg room than a plane and more ability to get up and move around. I'd definitely do it again.
Posts: 4,160

04-29-2010, 07:55 PM	#42
dtebbe 3M TA3 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: SoFlo Casino cash: $9993039	I'd highly recommend the trip from Denver to Glenwood Springs in the winter time. Awesome scenery. The time schedule works out good where you can leave Denver early in the AM, check out the scenery, arrive in Glenwood Springs around 3p, walk across the street to the Glenwood Hot Spings Hotel, hit the hot springs and stay the evening.. and then catch the train back around noon the next day. But be forewarned.. rock slides do delay the train frequently IMHO Amtrak space-wise is like 1st class, but delays can drive you nuts. I wouldn't want to be on there for more than 1 day at a time. DT
Posts: 4,305

04-29-2010, 09:29 PM	#43
SLAG Superbowl MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: OOOOOOOOOOOOOLATHE Casino cash: $9910252	i use to ride it all the time as a kid - went many many many many times from newton to topeka and a few times from newton to Cali (LA) - couple times to Colorado the seats were way better than a 15 hr plane ride __________________ Ad astra per aspera
Posts: 11,177

04-29-2010, 09:45 PM	#44
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $1849358	never taken an amtrak, but took a Greyhound once from KC to Winfield KS; took fucking 9 hours (about a 3-4 hr car ride). worst experience ever. I suspect a train trip is similar. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial. RIP & Godspeed: Saccoppo Lonewolf Ed Fire Me Boy
Posts: 37,460

04-29-2010, 11:48 PM	#45
Miles MVP Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Casino cash: $-1597600	I did several times as a kid but cant remember much about the experience that would be relevant now. I last looked into taking a trip about 8 years ago in college thinking it was cheap and was surprised that it was damn near the cost of a plane ticket. The quality of the tracks and sharing them with freight trains severely limits the speed as well. It's hardly like anything in Europe where high speed rail travel is more feasible.
Posts: 14,541