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My name is Gwen and I’m an Amtrak train addict. If there were some sort of support group dedicated to those who prefer to be stuck in a tin can on land for 20 hours rather than soaring at 30,000 feet in the air for 4, I would surely be a founding member. I have spent over 100 hours aboard this unique mode of transportation that is funded by both the government and grants. Primarily, I have traveled on the California Zephyr, which runs between California and Chicago, and the Lake Shore Limited, which connects Chicago to Boston. I have journeyed alone, with a friend, with a bike along for the ride, and even without any of those companions. Now, after countless hours on the rails and having learned many lessons the hard way, here are some essential tips and tricks for long train trips.
Flickr/Jeffrey Beall
You Can and Should Bring More
If you, like me, are reluctant to spend a fortune to secure a slightly larger and more private room on a 20-hour Amtrak train, then you will be traveling in coach. According to the Amtrak website, each passenger is allowed one personal item and two carry-on items upon purchasing their ticket. For $20 each, you can also bring two additional carry-ons, resulting in a maximum total cost of $40 and a total of five pieces of luggage. On one particularly ambitious trip from Denver to Chicago, a dear friend and I brought our regular suitcases along with a bike (which we checked into the baggage car) and a cardboard box filled with paintings. Try to do that on a flight! So, bring that cooler full of snacks or that misshapen bowl your friend left behind when she moved away. Just make sure you can lift all your luggage over your head or have a stronger friend to assist you. And if you are traveling with a child under two, you can bring a stroller or other item of your choice without adding to the overall baggage limit.
Flickr/Marty Bernard
Comfort Is the Name of the Game
Although the cost of an Amtrak ticket is relatively low, the downside is its impact on your back health. The seats can recline quite a bit, and there is a footrest, but without proper preparation, the enthusiasm and energy you had in San Francisco will gradually fade away during those long hours spent in the train seat, and when you disembark in Denver or Boston, you will likely have a massive knot in your back. Comfort is crucial on long Amtrak train trips. Wear your cozy sweatpants and sweatshirt. If possible, bring an extra pillow and a blanket. I would also recommend bringing some kind of face wipes to freshen up in the mornings during your journey. There is nothing better than a cup of coffee (although I also suggest buying your own bottled coffee before boarding) and a clean face while looking out at the rapidly passing landscape.
Flickr/MKE_railscenes
Bring a Book (or Four)
For many sections of these train journeys across the country (particularly when the California Zephyr passes through the magnificent Rocky Mountains followed by Ruby Canyon, the majestic Sierras, and Donner Pass on its way to the San Francisco Bay), the scenery is simply breathtaking. Endless fields of tall grasses and trees stretch as far as the eye can see. Take up residence in the observation car of the California Zephyr and watch the morning sun shimmer on towering mountains interspersed with babbling streams. It is so quintessentially American that it makes you crave a delicious hot dog. However, a lot of the journey ends up being more industrial rather than scenic, for example between Denver and Chicago. During these hours, make sure you have a way to keep yourself entertained: The gentle rocking motion of the train for those uninterrupted hours provides the perfect setting to immerse yourself in a long book (reading Dune cover to cover during that industrial stretch between Denver and Chicago is a personal accomplishment of mine). Although there is wifi on board, it tends to be spotty, so it is worthwhile to download your favorite shows in advance. Or, put on your noise-canceling headphones and catch up on a podcast or two, open up your journal, or listen to an extensive playlist you created especially for this trip. And enjoy the ride!
