First Time Riding The AMTRAK, TIPS? ADVICE?

slag · 08-02-2007, 10:15 PM

So, i'm taking the train across country for my buddies wedding. geting ready to buy the tickets soon. but i had a few questions....

so besides the wedding, there some prime surfing spots. now i'm bringing my surfboard, or atleast i hope i can....

the reason i say this, is because most of you know, surfboards are not exactly "SMALL"...and they aren't "DURABLE" ether....atleast out of the water that is....and i'm not planing on spending another $50 buxs for a padded case for it. cause i only take it out once every so often.....

so heres my 2 questions...

1) -i'm bringing my surfboard
-where will they store it? (is it like airplanes, where if i can fit it overhead, or they have to check it in????). i would perfer to keep it with me, but if i have to check it out, i'd like to know.....
-Are trains gereraly better with luggage? like NOT damaging it, or loosing it, as opposed to airlines????

2) When i'm choosing the train times, next to it, they list the train models that will be serving that time....for example..it'll say...

-11 Coast Starlight - 11pm
-509 Cascades - 10pm
-5505 Bus - 9pm

Now what i'm wondering, is the one that says "BUS" is that actually a BUS!?!?!?!? or is it a train??? idk, sometimes companies do things like that. like how greyhound now does shipping!!!

anyways, reps to whomever can help me out with those 2 questions....and what its like to travel via train (which i hear is still better than greyhound)

IllPhill · 08-02-2007, 10:16 PM

theres overhead compartments but i doubt theyre surfboard-sized

Deez Nutz · 08-02-2007, 10:20 PM

Tell the conductor to be careful around the ditches near the tracks.

FunkDaddy · 08-02-2007, 10:48 PM

Rent a surfboard when you get there?

Lol312 · 08-02-2007, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkDaddy

Rent a surfboard when you get there?

Dont bring your surfboard, just wait till you get their and buy a boogie board. Only cool people boogie board. (no homo)

Nutella! · 08-02-2007, 10:54 PM

bring a jar of vasoline and 20 toothpicks...

you'll see why..

slag · 08-02-2007, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lol312

Dont bring your surfboard, just wait till you get their and buy a boogie board. Only cool people boogie board. (no homo)

i boogie board. but rarely do i get a chance at waves. so i want to take ahold of this oppertunity while i can...

still waiting on the bus quesiton...

slag · 08-02-2007, 11:36 PM

bump

yabbayabba · 08-02-2007, 11:38 PM

Its a bus. Quite unlikely the train stops at your final destination so the bus takes you there.

bballusa · 08-02-2007, 11:39 PM

BUS... ofcourse its a train, if that makes sense. I dont even think AMTRAK runs busses. Listen, im 17, ive been riding AMTRAK alone since i was 13. It's more confortable than a plane b/c seats are bigger and thers less people, AND, all ur luggage is carry on. Just chill when u get on there, its really actually a nice ride.

HelloIamCooper · 08-02-2007, 11:39 PM

I like to masturbate in the private quarters.

yabbayabba · 08-02-2007, 11:56 PM

Did you just buy tickets through Amtrak or go through a travel agency? If its the agency then it is a bus but if you booked them yourself then its something else. And you can't just have your board spawed out whever you want it. Train is going to be stopping at every little ****hole town along the way and people will be getting on and off. If the trip is really cross country and then you'll have fun sleeping in seats that don't recline. Unless that is you want to pay out the ass to get a marginally better sleeper car.

I took the train from Illinois to Virgina and it was the worst two days of my life. I'll never take a train again, I'd drive and sleep in my car at night then take the train.

You need to find out if it is a bus or something else because I really doubt they'll let you pack a board on a bus.

slag · 08-02-2007, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bballusa

BUS... ofcourse its a train, if that makes sense. I dont even think AMTRAK runs busses. Listen, im 17, ive been riding AMTRAK alone since i was 13. It's more confortable than a plane b/c seats are bigger and thers less people, AND, all ur luggage is carry on. Just chill when u get on there, its really actually a nice ride.

ty, someone who actually answered both questions. reped

so.....preety much, i would have my surfboard sprawled on the ground? or how do u imagine it'll be?

all i'll have is my backpack, which has clothes in it, and my surfboard.....

aidsman2003 · 08-02-2007, 11:59 PM

be careful not to get mugged

timeforsleeep · 08-03-2007, 12:00 AM

from the amtrak trains i've ridden, (pacific surfliner that goes up and down the california coast), there are no overhead storage bins. However, the train is never totally full, so it's possible to give your surfboard a seat next to you.

I don't know however if they will allow that, so it's best to ask. Anyway. You could leave it with the other large luggage downstairs if it's a double-decker train (usually have designated spots with little hooks and bungees for luggage), but I would think it would definitely fall unless you prop something up against it.

slag · 08-03-2007, 12:14 AM

allrighty ,good to know then. where would my backpack go then? on the ground????

also, how is it organized? like on a bus, its all the aisle facing foward, with just BARELY any footroom. is that the same for amtrak?.

ocnscuba · 08-03-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aidsman2003

be careful not to get mugged

x2

slag · 08-03-2007, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bballusa

BUS... ofcourse its a train, if that makes sense. I dont even think AMTRAK runs busses. Listen, im 17, ive been riding AMTRAK alone since i was 13. It's more confortable than a plane b/c seats are bigger and thers less people, AND, all ur luggage is carry on. Just chill when u get on there, its really actually a nice ride.

yea so i went intoday since i was in there area. and asked about the surfboard and the bus.....

well....its actually a bus....like a f'n greyhound bus...how gay

edible_eye · 08-03-2007, 07:22 PM

AMTRAK is supposed to start offering a free $100 bar tab when you purchase your tickets - heard it on the news yesterday. Try and take advantage of that before the first chic sues for getting raped while passed out. They'll surely discontinue it then.

Mexecutioner · 08-03-2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edible_eye

AMTRAK is supposed to start offering a free $100 bar tab when you purchase your tickets - heard it on the news yesterday. Try and take advantage of that before the first chic sues for getting raped while passed out. They'll surely discontinue it then.

i lol'd

repped on recharge

slag · 08-03-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edible_eye

AMTRAK is supposed to start offering a free $100 bar tab when you purchase your tickets - heard it on the news yesterday. Try and take advantage of that before the first chic sues for getting raped while passed out. They'll surely discontinue it then.

suuuuurrrreeeeee.....

slag · 08-04-2007, 12:16 AM

any other thoughts about amtrak?

dempo25 · 08-04-2007, 12:33 AM

I signed in just to tell you this ( yes dialup) when you first board, run up to the top level and grab a seat setup with a table between the 2 seats, youll see what i mean, bring a pillow and a light blanket, earplugs, because there is ALWAYS a ****ing baby crying in your car, this seat set up offers the most combinations of finding a comfortable way to sleep on the traink, you will find a way, but experiment, leaning on the window with your legs kicked up on the opposite seat is good for me. dont miss your stop and dont miss your bus, on the bus, try and get an entire two seat bench thing to yourself,

do this by sitting on the aisle seat and listening to headphones or reading (pretty much just not paying attention to anyone who might want to sit next to you)

Kick back taking up the entire seat and pretend your asleep (best one)

the hardest part is sleeping, but once you get comfortable itll be good.

slag · 08-04-2007, 12:59 AM

defintly reped.

but heres a few questions

1) do all trains have that style of seating? when i ordered the ticket, it said "1 reserverd coach seat" is that what your refering too? a coach seat?

2) i thought it was from point a to point b, i didint' know it went farther, like a regular public transportaiton bus. is this for all of them? or only certain ones?

any other good advice? how about the surfboard? could i bring it on? or do ihave to spend a extra $5 to have it checked. i'm a cheap bastard so $5 is alot for me

reped..

timeforsleeep · 08-04-2007, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slag

allrighty ,good to know then. where would my backpack go then? on the ground????

also, how is it organized? like on a bus, its all the aisle facing foward, with just BARELY any footroom. is that the same for amtrak?.

from the trains i've ridden, some of the seats are in pairs and facing forward. They are like planes and have foot rests that come out for you as well as fold down tables.

There are some amtrak trains though that have 2 pairs of seats facing each other for a total of 4 seats in a little 'private' enclosure.

I don't see why you coudln't take 2 seats and leave your surfboard/backpack on the seat next to you.

Foot room has never been an issue for me on the train.

Just some other tidbits of info:
Trains usualyl have an AC outlet right there so you can go on ur laptop.
Some of 'em have bars/concession stands as well. I was on the train once when they actually had to cut the bar off cause some peopel were getting too drunk lol.

slag · 08-04-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timeforsleeep

from the trains i've ridden, some of the seats are in pairs and facing forward. They are like planes and have foot rests that come out for you as well as fold down tables.

There are some amtrak trains though that have 2 pairs of seats facing each other for a total of 4 seats in a little 'private' enclosure.

I don't see why you coudln't take 2 seats and leave your surfboard/backpack on the seat next to you.

Foot room has never been an issue for me on the train.

Just some other tidbits of info:
Trains usualyl have an AC outlet right there so you can go on ur laptop.
Some of 'em have bars/concession stands as well. I was on the train once when they actually had to cut the bar off cause some peopel were getting too drunk lol.

haha thast funny, but i probably won't be geting anything

but how about security, is there a risk of theft on board? like if i go take a leak?

LAA · 08-04-2007, 06:52 PM

stuff cotton balls up your ass, so the hobos dont try to jack ur fibras

Notch8 · 08-04-2007, 07:57 PM

I rode Amtrak from Cleveland Ohio to Whitefish, Montana. Train trips are a lot of fun if you want to see the countryside and not just hurry and get there.

Whatever time the train says its going to get to your station, I guarantee it will be at least 30 minutes late, most likely 2 - 5 hours late. The Amtrak employees joke that anytime is on time for Amtrak because Amtrak doesn't own any of its own track outside of the the NE corridor and the host freight railroad PIITB Amtrak when it comes to sitting at signals. The only time it will be on time is when it leaves Chicago, Illinois.

There is no TSA or even a metal detector, no security whatsoever. You could probably bring your surfboard with you, most of the Amtrak people I saw were nice and would hook you up with a spot for your surfboard in the baggage car, or maybe in the car with you.

They don't care where you sit, but when the train conductor puts a seat check tag above your seat, MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU CHANGE SEATS TAKE THAT WITH YOU! If your asleep they go through the cars and wake everybody up thats getting off at the next station based on those cards.

Bring headphones, because jointed track at 79 mph is loud as hell when sleeping.

Sorry for the long ass post.

slag · 08-05-2007, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notch8

I rode Amtrak from Cleveland Ohio to Whitefish, Montana. Train trips are a lot of fun if you want to see the countryside and not just hurry and get there.

Whatever time the train says its going to get to your station, I guarantee it will be at least 30 minutes late, most likely 2 - 5 hours late. The Amtrak employees joke that anytime is on time for Amtrak because Amtrak doesn't own any of its own track outside of the the NE corridor and the host freight railroad PIITB Amtrak when it comes to sitting at signals. The only time it will be on time is when it leaves Chicago, Illinois.

There is no TSA or even a metal detector, no security whatsoever. You could probably bring your surfboard with you, most of the Amtrak people I saw were nice and would hook you up with a spot for your surfboard in the baggage car, or maybe in the car with you.

They don't care where you sit, but when the train conductor puts a seat check tag above your seat, MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU CHANGE SEATS TAKE THAT WITH YOU! If your asleep they go through the cars and wake everybody up thats getting off at the next station based on those cards.

Bring headphones, because jointed track at 79 mph is loud as hell when sleeping.

Sorry for the long ass post.

nah man. thats a great post, reped for sure.

so preety much, allways have that tag? my trips only a few hours. do u really think its going to be a few hours late?

timeforsleeep · 08-05-2007, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slag

haha thast funny, but i probably won't be geting anything

but how about security, is there a risk of theft on board? like if i go take a leak?

i've never had an issue with theft on the amtrak, and I usually leave my stuff sitting htere (laptop out and all).

If anything, it's just like any other public space, lean over real quick and ask ur neighbor to watch your stuff real quick.

Plus if someone swiped ur surfboard while u were taking a leak, i'm sure you'd know who it was pretty quickly lol