Just wondering how it was in pullman sleeper cars and how people went to sleep?If you have gone by train and sleep over night trip?
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I slept overnight on the coast starlight up to Portland. Had a little compartment on the lower level. Unfortunately, the air conditioning would not shut off, so I almost froze. Bummer, as sleeping on the train was to be a highlight of the trip. Took a plane back home. Air travel is ugly, but at least it's over relatively quickly.
My Mom, sister and I travelled by train from New Orleans to Chicago back in the 1950s and I still have some vague memories. We were really on a budget and didn't book a sleeper but the pullman man was kind to us and offered us a bunk after 9 or 10pm I think it was. We had been asleep and I was scared stepping between the cars as we walked through a couple of cars that night!
Many times.. Southwest chief.. Coach and a roomette...yap Roy..froze..they could not turn off ac..
The heat came when I was leaving the train at KC.
I have slept in the dressing rooms. Cause the person they put next to me snored ..and slept i ..the cafe car ..or no sleep at all..
They need single seats.. Which I wrote a track about..and a shower car..pay extra 5 bucks to use it.
As usual management doesn't have a clue.
I've had rooms on trains a number of times. I'm a big guy, 6'-1", and one of the worst was back in the late 70's between New York and Chicago. I had a "roomette" (duplex sleeper). I swear the bed was 5'-9" and I couldn't get comfortable. Two nights on the Empire Builder, with its Superliner cars in the mid 90's was better. I was actually able to sleep a little. The same trip we rode back through Canada on Via. They were using classic streamlined cars from the 50's. My ex wife and I were traveling with a tour group. We were given a standard double birth, but when it came time to convert the beds, the porter couldn't get the upper to come down. The tour group leader switched rooms with us, which meant we got the drawing room in the dome lounge observation. Now that was SWEET!
Yep; on both Amtrak and Class 1 office car trains.
One memory that stands out was a trip I made on the Texas Eagle and Broadway Limited with my oldest son when he was four. On the Broadway; we had a roomette in a heritage sleeper on the rear end of the car above the truck. There was a flat spot on one of the wheels and I can well remember that thumping all night across Indiana and Ohio as we rolled east.
Flat wheels aside; my biggest issue sleeping on trains has always been my fear that I might “miss” something. Suffice to say; I tend to doze rather than actually sleep. 😉
Curt
When I was 21 back in 1976, I brought a USA railpass for $200 or so.
I went to the NMRA convention in Chicago ( at the O'Hare airport Hyatt ).
5 nights in coach on the then "new" Amtrak service, I will never forget.
You can sleep in a chair car, but it is not fun.
But if you are young and have little money, it can seem to be an adventure.
I still do model trains and ride Amtrak, but not overnight.
totrainyard posted:When I was 21 back in 1976, I brought a USA railpass for $200 or so.
I went to the NMRA convention in Chicago ( at the O'Hare airport Hyatt ).
5 nights in coach on the then "new" Amtrak service, I will never forget.
You can sleep in a chair car, but it is not fun.
But if you are young and have little money, it can seem to be an adventure.
I still do model trains and ride Amtrak, but not overnight.
I was at that convention. I was only 15. Registration number was 474, and the first 500 got to visit EMD LaGrange.
Actually, I prefer Slumbercoach over a roomette. At nigjt you did not have to tear the bed apart to use the toilet#
In the early '90's rode first class by train from London to Edinburgh overnight. IIRC, we boarded at 11 p.m. or so. I slept okay. Would have preferred a night in London with a good hotel, then travel by rail to Edinburgh first class departing a.m. But schedule would not work that way.
Thanks every one for sharing.
Sure, PRR from New York City to Chicago and return, Santa Fe's San Francisco Chief between Chicago and Frisco, chair car on the El Cap from LA to Chicago, and New Orleans to Chicago on the IC. Frankfort to Bremerhaven to pickup my automobile. John in Lansing, ILL
Overnight on the Southwest Chief, the Coast Starlight, the Capitol Limited, and the California Zephyr.
And, 30 (at least) overnight trains in Europe. Plus a week on Rovos Rail in Africa.
There aren't too many things that I would trade my overnights on trains for ....
During 1961 and part of '62 I commuted from Greensboro to NYC 's Penn Station at least two weeks monthly. I caught the Piedmont Limited northbound on Sunday night in Greensboro at 8:30 p.m. and slept overnight arriving at Penn Station around 6:30 a.m. and crossed the street to check into the Statler-Hilton. Then walked up to our 40th and Broadway office usually having breakfast on the way. Most always awakened to the bump when changing from Southern to Pennsy electric power in D.C.
Returned on Friday night at 6:30 via the Peach Queen arriving back in Greensboro Saturday morning about 8;30 a.m. Efficient and comfortable way to commute to NYC given the air service at the time especially in bad weather. But eventually ended up on the new Eastern Airlines Electras as rail service began to go downhill. Instead of having supper in the Diner I usually went over to 8th avenue, bought a hot loaf of Italian bread with butter crammed in it and some sausages,salad,soda,etc and dined in my traveling bedroom.
Like many others my first overnight train travel came upon entering the military in 1949. To San Diego (Navy) via Southern Ry via new Orleans and SP to California. Took awhile to cross the continent upon discharge when I returned to the states in 1953 as I booked several roads for the "experience" and ended up in St. Louis, Indiana and then Asheville and the Carolina Special down the mountain to Greensboro. (but had to catch the Carolina Trailways bus 
to my hometown of Summerfield--the A&Y had discontinued passenger service to Summerfield in June 1939).
We've ridden the Autotrain many times. Done coach every time. Not bad but..... I'm 6'5" and can manage. I wouldn't say we sleep, cat nap would be more accurate. On the south bound trip it's a piece of cake since the resort pool is a short drive away. Northbound I have a 6 hour drive back with NYC metro traffic waiting for me at the end. Still beats driving the whole way.
We considered room-etts but for a family of 4 it was not worth it for one night.
I was scheduled to do an overnight on Amtrak once, but plans changed.
I did some research back then in preparation for my trip, and the things you needed to take were duct tape, cardboard, and a few wood shims (door jamb). These items would allow you to eliminate squeaks, stray light, and control the temperature.
Last year one-way on the Silver Meteor, Phila to Ft. Lauderdale. This year a repeat in March, and in May, a one-way from Phila to New Orleans on the Crescent, then onto AZ on the Sunset Limited. We fly home.
Since my wife and I are in our 70s, we each get our own roomette so we don't have to cope with a top bunk (even the slightly larger "bedroom" has a top bunk, and at a higher price than 2 roomettes).
Sleeping was fine, however you tend to roll a bit when the train is hitting curves at 60 mph, and you are passing crossing signals ringing. Also areas over many switches may wake you for a second.
Sleeping car passengers get a extra bonus with a private waiting room in major stations. In Philadelphia a red cap brought us with our luggage down in a elevator to our correct platform area, and got us onto our assigned car. The car attendant brought us to our "rooms" where we found welcome signs to Joe and Susan. Dining car meals are included in the sleeper price (but please leave a tip). The tip for the car attendant (porter) should be $10. per day per person. Due to great service, I doubled that.
The vacation starts when you board a train, where the flying experience is something you have to get through before the vacation starts. However, be prepared for long-distance trains running late...sometimes very late. Often freight trains have priority, for a number of reasons. I actually brought a bit of duct tape (for rattles) but did not need it.
How about a troop train from the west coast to Chicago, this was back in the 50's. I was a young lad back from Korea. DOnt remember to much but glad to be back in country. WE have taken a m track from d c to fla. not bad and overnight.
Many times roomette & bedroom in the past 3 years. Been everywhere. Empire Builder, California Zephyr, South West Chief, Meteor & more.
You remember that song "I've Been Everywhere"? Well me too. Most recently the Autotrain to and from Florida about a week ago, coach. My wife fed me a Melatonin and it worked like a charm. I slept well. Benedryl works too.
Many times and I've hit almost all of the options. Pullman berth after I was inducted in 1964 on the way to South Carolina for basic, Montreal to NYC on the D&H/NYC, with family to Chicago with adjoining bedrooms opened during the day into one big room, slept sitting up to Chicago once on Amtrak. More recently I've been traveling on the Silver Star to FL (was a fine trip when they still had the diner) both in roomettes by myself and later with my wife now we reserve the handicapped bedroom. As Joe said it does have an upper berth but has an enclosed toilet and a lot of room.
Now that I think about it I've actually done a wide variety of long distance trains (and for my sins I even commuted on the LIRR in the late 60's).
Lived in the Chicago area and during the 1960's would visit my sister in Wahpeton/Breckenridge. Slept in the dome cars seats of the Empire Builder, arriving at about 1 AM! I loved watching the small towns go by at night while we were speeding across Minn at 60 or 70 MPH.
Had a brother in Denver, many trips on the CZ and DZ (1960's), spent nights up in the Vista Domes. But one year, I had a roomette. Was great, never had A/C or heating issues. Daytime I would sit in a Vista Dome.
In the 1950's, with a group of young kids, we went to Washington DC, shared a roomette with another kid, but don't know what RR or train we were on. Remember running up and down the isles between rooms looking for my other friends.
Just finished a return VIA trip from Toronto to Kamloops (train finishes in Vancouver). It was 4 nights on the train each way. VIA uses the classic Budd stainless steel cars. The insides have been upgraded a few times since the 50's, with the newest upgrade to a premium "murphy" double bed in a double sized bedroom (only 6 bedrooms per car = 12 people).
The original sleeper cars have 2 configurations, the Manor cars have 4 single bedrooms, 6 double bedrooms and 3 upper&lower births. (the 4th birth was replaced with a shower). car sleeps 22 people. The other sleeper design is a Chateau car with 6 single bedrooms, 4 double bedrooms and 3 upper&lower births plus the shower.
In sleeper class, the food is included. The diner car holds 44 people, and they had 2 and 3 sittings, depending on how many people were on the train. the food is prepared on board by a chef, and the quality is excellent. there are always 3 choices per meal, with no repeats over the 4 days. The food is served on real china (no plastic). Liquor is extra.
Park car rear dome:
Lounge under the Park car dome
View entering Toronto:
Dining car and food presentation:
Skyline dome (mid train) lounge:
Upper birth: The lower birth is the larges sleeping area on the train.
Double bedroom (2 bedrooms with adjoining wall removed) sleeps 4:
Bedroom showing upper and lower birth. Sink is on the right. Washroom is the door beside the sink: I am 6'-1" tall and sleep on my side. Room is tight but I sleep very well on the train. My sons are 6'-4" & 6'-6" and sleep on the top bunk, on their sides.
Some views of the train:
This year the configuration was 1 baggage car, 2 coach cars, 2 skyline dome cars, 8 sleeper cars and at the end a park/dome car.
The staff is friendly and the service is excellent. This may be one of the best train rides in the world. The total duration is 4 days on one train. (however I have not travelled any overnight trains in Europe, yet)
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Those Canadians sure know how to do things right for the Customer. Took a Rocky Mountaineer tour a few years ago, Gold Leaf, from Calgary to Vancouver. Picked up the train in Banff to Vancouver. All I can say is FANTASTIC. From the cleanliness of the cars, to the crew and scenery. And the food was 5 star.
Looking forward to doing another trip on the Rocky Mountaineer soon. I'm tempted to do a VIA trip as I heard nothing but good things about Via Rail.
RAY
My dad was a Canadian National hogger back in the 40s 50s and was able to get free passes for our family. My grandfather had some type of trailer on a few acres in Florida and My Mom, sister and myself made the trip to Florida rail stating in Toronto and eventually Tampa . I was 7 or 8 and can't remember much except going through the tunnel at Sarnia, Chattanooga, and Jacksonville and eventually Tampa . I have no idea what crack passenger train we were on although silver meteor rings a bell. Quite a ride and we did have a bed room on some parts of the trip. Sometimes the railway take you parts of a city or country that you\d have to see to believe. Favourite part for me was riding in Observation car with an unlimited supply of potato chips and coke supplied by fellow passengers.
We drove home with my Grandfather and saw the prison gangs working on the highways. It's a long drive but my grandfather had purchased 6 pieces of Gargraves flex track someplace in Tampa that we smuggled over the border.
In 1987 or ‘88 I wanted to do something romantic with an unusual twist (at least, in my girlfriend’s eyes), so I purchased us train tickets to Raleigh, NC which included a sleeper room. It seems like it cost an additional $100 for the room.
The train departed Jacksonville, FL just before midnight. We both slept well. In fact we awakened just in enough time to have breakfast in the diner before we arrived in Raleigh. A completely satisfying experience.
The return trip home... not so much so. We went back “economy”, coach that is. It was a completely different experience.
Sometime in the early 60s I rode the overnight sleeper from Edinburgh to London with my parents. My strongest memory is waking up at Kings Cross station with the room stinking of diesel fumes from the idling Deltic locomotive at the head end. (Twin Napier deltic naval gunboat engines - white hazy smoke everywhere)
In 2005 my wife, daughter and of course myself traveled from Union Station in Chicago to Flagstaff, AZ as the start of a week long Grand Canyon/Vegas vacation. We rode coach since Amtrak's cost for a sleeper was very high. The worst part of sleeping in coach was NOT the reclining seat, but rather the gassy passengers ahead and behind us - OMG!!
Great trip - somewhere over the Rockies I'm pretty sure I saw the exact spot where so many old 40's and 50's westerns were filmed - you know, "the gulch" where the bad guys hung out!
George
Been so long can't remember the trains. But in June of 52, New York to Chicago then Elgin to Momence, Il.
Then in early 60s, for some reason I was picked to carry all the papers for recruits and got a Roomette in which I got to pick one other guy. Chicago to Louisville, KY. overnight then in morning bussed to Ft Knox. Travelled a lot by trains, many overnighter. But do remember once when a train ticket to Hopkinsville, KY overnighter from Chicago were rail service was cancelled. After that many destinations were slowly seen cancelled. So bus service was needed. My favorite train trip has to be when I came back from overseas and my parents had bought me a tickets from San Diego to Chicago. After 1970 never rode on an overnighter again. Best sleep I ever had, were on trains.
Many times both on the AutoTrain and US Military Troop Trains some good experiences and some not so good. Best thing is not driving all the way to Florida and you get a room with a bathroom and upper bunk. Trying to sleep with children running up and down in coach plus snoring folks is tuff going.
Gregg posted: ...snip...It's a long drive but my grandfather had purchased 6 pieces of Gargraves flex track someplace in Tampa that we smuggled over the border.
Probably Chester A. Holley "THE MOST" 3812-20 South Himes Avenue.
I took the Star from FTL to PHL and noticed this motor as the lead unit:
I always preferred the Star over the Meteor as (for the same fare) I got four more hours of train time and one more meal as the Star goes to Tampa; two hours from Auburndale each way. Sleeper is the only way to travel if going overnight. I even saw AMTK 1 again in WAS on my return trip although it was not assigned to the southbound Star this trip:
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Many times.
Most recent - an overnight on one of the "Green" trains (the slow, traditional kind) in China - a small berthing compartment - me and 5 other people. Very basic but the adventure more than made up for the surroundings...besides - I was asleep most of the time.
Most luxurious - riding the Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs in Australia. I splurged and had my own private room. Nothing like waking up in the morning, getting dressed, going to the dining car, sitting down at table and, as the sun rose, watch a couple of kangaroos race along side the train.
Curiously different - Checking into a single sleeping car on a siding at Exeter-St. David in the evening - going to sleep in my berthing compartment and the next thing I know - a quick knock on the door, the car steward entering with tea and crumpets, a quick nod from him, and "London in 20 minutes, sir." They attached that car to the train sometime during the night and I never felt or heard a thing.
Childhood memory - taking the UP from Sacramento, California to Council Bluffs, Iowa all by myself for a summer visit with my Grandmother. Sleeping in coach, feeling a gentle tap on my shoulder, waking and seeing the Pullman porter from the next car signaling quiet and gesturing that I follow. Getting to the vestibule between cars where the porter opened the top half of the door and feeling, smelling the salt air of the Great Salt Lake. Looking out across the moonlit water and finally having the porter tell me this is his favorite part of the trip. Nothing more was said. When we came to the end of the bypass, he closed the top door, indicated I better get back to my seat, and he, in turn, went back to his Pullman.
I slept in a CIWL sleeping car between Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Innsbruck (Austria). It was a compartment for two but I was alone. The conductor anyway made up two beds otherwise I should have paid first class.
I slept in a sleeper between London and Penzance (SW England); very small one person compartments but I slept well.
I slept in a (stationary) caboose (Red Caboose Motel).
Regards
Fred
I have ridden in three sleepers,one from Vienna to Florence and we woke up when they changed engines at the border and looked out the window at all of the snow,pretty neat.We rode from Milan to Paris and it was pretty cramped in our compartment and woke up early to see the scenery on the way into Paris,very nice.We rode from Paris to Munich and the compartment was pretty rommy and woke up early to Coffee and a Croissant,very nice ride.Sadly many of the Nite trains have been discontinued.
Mikey
Nope, never slept in a passenger train. Only ridden ONE "sure 'nuf" (i.e. not an excursion) passenger train: Early 1980s, Amtrak from Dallas to Texarkanna, spent the night, back via Amtrak the next day. Wife and I, and our 3-4 year old daughter.
Now, have I ever slept on a train?
Lands yes. More times than I can remember. Seems with night jobs (especially) you get holed-up somewhere waiting for another train and there's nothing to do... so get as comfy as you can and saw some logs. I remember being on loan-outs out in Kansas, on night in particular. On that loan out and that particular night, the lead unit in the set of power had high-back, TILT back seats. We had to wait on a train (imagine that), and according to dispatch "it's going to be a while". Middle of the night, long before the buttcrack of dawn... snappy weather... great heater in the lead unit... so tilt the seat back and get comfy and... zzzzz.
With an EMD or Alco purring behind the electrical cabinet (and the cab rumbling/vibrating softly), the heater adjusted just "so"... maybe crack the side window just enough to feel a bit of the cool air... and buddy... you can do some significant damage on making the time pass. (I've snored myself awake sometimes!)
Long time ago I tried to get a picture of one of those night time situations. Below is the result. Yes, it's a sorry pic. Poor camera. Didn't do well in low light and because of that, this was the only time I ever tried taking an onboard night shot. However, this WAS a pic taken on such a loan out (but not specific to the above story). And yes (as I recall), it WAS taken out in Kansas somewhere. So, not the best of pics, BUT... it "sorta" gives you the idea. What you're seeing (I think) is a meet that we'd been waiting on for "a spell".
Andre
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Like RoyBoy, we had a compartment where the air conditioning blew all night. We shared the compartment with a French couple who spoke less English than we spoke French. It was a night train from France to Italy.
Four nights on Amtrak - one back in 2002 or so on the California Zephyr, from Denver to Chicago. Had a roomette on that one - don't recall sleeping very well, but not why that was.
Only other trip involving nights was New York to Tucson in 2013, Lake Shore Limited (coach), Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited (roomette on those legs). Coach was rough - mainly since, as in Curt's story, we had a wheel with a flat spot. Thump-thump-thump all night long. Roomette was much better - good sleep both nights, though interrupted in a good way in San Antonio for the switching move.
After the move, the sleeper I was in was the last car in the consist - nice view out the window in the rear door, from the corridor.
When I was a young child (around 1964), family took the train from Chicago to Denver to visit paternal grandmother. The only thing I recall from the trip was being scared to walk from car to car.
These are rather poor pix, but here's a couple of the roomette on the 2013 trip, as we were waiting to depart Chicago, and a shot from the rear of the train. I THINK we were climbing out of El Paso.
David
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Robert S. Butler posted:
Childhood memory - taking the UP from Sacramento, California to Council Bluffs, Iowa all by myself for a summer visit with my Grandmother. Sleeping in coach, feeling a gentle tap on my shoulder, waking and seeing the Pullman porter from the next car signaling quiet and gesturing that I follow. Getting to the vestibule between cars where the porter opened the top half of the door and feeling, smelling the salt air of the Great Salt Lake. Looking out across the moonlit water and finally having the porter tell me this is his favorite part of the trip. Nothing more was said. When we came to the end of the bypass, he closed the top door, indicated I better get back to my seat, and he, in turn, went back to his Pullman.
What a wonderful story.
Beyond also sleeping in The Red Caboose Motel, took overnight train from connection with fjord rack rail in Norway through Copenhagen to Frankfurt to pick up rental car and drive the Romantischer Strasse. Woke up when cars were switched out at border, but generally slept well
I've never ridden on an American train (since the 1960s,) but do travel on Canada's VIA every few years. Have also traveled on overnight service between Glasgow and London. It's very easy to sleep on a train, I think. It's a little tight but both wife & I were comfortable. Even my grown kids didn't fuss too much last time.
Kent in SD
I slept on the Auto Train when returning from Florida to New York. I think it was 1979 or so. The track was incredibly in terrible shape and the Train's speed was very low. I remember there being entertainment which help pass the time. but being 35 years ago I do not remember sleeping. Maybe because I did not bother.
We used to take the Texas Special from Dennison Texas to St. Louis Missouri each summer, 1950 to 1954 , and slept the cars with the fold down beds....Really neat at night to wTch our the window...We were on sidings allowing freight trains to pass by us. What were the sleeping cars called, berths? Either way it was an individual room, sort of like in the movie “Silver Streak”. It was a lot of fun. Great Thread...
During my military assignments in Germany, I slept on a few troop trains as we traveled to and from "Grafenwoehr/Vilseck" training area. The German conductor always acted as a great verbal alarm clock, a bit like "Sgt. Schultz."
leapinlarry posted:What were the sleeping cars called, berths? It was a lot of fun. Great Thread...
As far as I know, "berths" no longer exist. They were coach type seats during the day, that got converted to upper and lower beds. A pull-across curtain gave you some privacy. For obvious reasons, the uppers were often empty, so if a regular coach passenger decided to upgrade for a few bucks, they usually could. I think this was prior to "roomettes".
Hey guys, I forgot all about sleeping in a caboose about 12 times over 20 years. Lot of fun with my kids, and then my grand kids. Wonderful memories, even though a few grumps on this forum love bashing the Red Caboose Motel in Strasburg every time the subject came up.
Yes. Every time my wife and I have been on Amtrak we have been in sleepers. We love the trains. All meals came with price of sleepers. We took our childern on a trip from Chicago to Sanfransico to Seattle back to Chicago. We were snow bound on the train in a blizzard for two days but it was all great memories for our kids. Amtrak was fantastic.. We were late getting in to Chicago so they put us up in hotel and sent us to museums all paid., we like it my wife takes the top bunk. A little tight but the scenery is worth it all. Will go again as soon as we can. Last trip was on the Santa Fe Chief to Los Angeles for a cruise to Hawaii. Great time.
So far everyone's reply is for 'Riding the cushions'! How about a 'side door Pullman'! Yup, boxcars. Anyone besides me ride freight trains for long distances? (In my much younger years!) You sleep longitude with the boxcar, otherwise you roll back and forth when the locomotives transition. And always have your cardboard mattress, and sleeping bag. Noisy, but you get use to it. Bad track and you bounce around. Here are a couple of pictures of my friend and I riding the rails circa 1976 on a piggyback flatcar on the Moffat line heading west. I'm the one smiling with the dark glasses.
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My overnight experience was not so great but I did learn that they lock the restroom door when the train stops at a station. My experience took place in the late 1950's on the Atlantic Coast Line going from Florida to New York. I had Montezuma's Revenge attributed to Lemon Meringue Pie. Unfortunately, I only had to "Go" when I woke up and only woke up when the train stopped in a station. I been off Lemon Meringue Pie ever since.
Never on pullman sleeper cars, rather on modern Amtrak circa 1998-2017. Overnight in coach is doable. More than that a bedroom is a necessity.
Amtrak more than I want to remember coach and rooms. The Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel in Chattanooga TN has Pullman’s that you can rent a room in.
I slept over on the Capital and the Lake Shore many times and loved it. I still have my complimentary toilet kit from the Capital many years ago. When the kids were small and we were less affluent, we rode coach on the Silver Meteor to Florida a good experience for the money. Later on, my wife and I spent a couple of nights on the Auto Train as well; not bad! I must admit our two nights on our two way trip on VIA's Ocean was the best....restored Budds with lots of room and very good food .
early 1962...last time...orlando, florida to columbia, sc...an all expense paid, one way trip to fort jackson for basic training...courtsey of uncle sam...
howard...
A few times.
First in Germany in the early 90's not too long after the wall fell, on a foreign language class high school trip. We were in a dormitory style bunk with 6 bunks per compartment. My friend's feet stank something awful so we made him sleep at the top with the window cracked open!!
Later, when volunteering for a tourist railroad, one a caboose bunk one a freezing night in October. The freight company derailed one the switch leading to our siding. We had to stay out all night until their engine could be moved and the switch repaired. Got about 4 or 5 hours sleep, pulled the train in and locked it down. Ran home got a shower and got to work a few hours late!
Last couple times on Amtrak. In 2003 the overnight train from New Orleans to Chicago and then from Chicago to Pittsburgh. It was the return leg of our honeymoon trip. The food was better than what was on the cruise ship. We had a large cabin and really enjoyed it. the rocking on the high cars is a bit much when eating but you get a rhythm down and the tables have raised edges just in case.
Last time was on Amtrak from Orlando to Philly. Probably 7 or 8 years ago. Two roomettes. 1 for the wife, 1 for me and my oldest son. Different type of trip but lots of fun. Only problem was being several hours late out of Orlando as some poor woman was intoxicated and decided that suicide by train was her way out of life. Apparently she stepped in front of the train between the previous station and ours. The usual protocol of EMS, drug testing for the engineer, getting a new engineer etc all had to play out before the train could be moved. Amtrak took orders from the customers at the station and provided a free meal from the local pizza joint while we waited so it wasn't that bad. My son, who was about 5 at the time, thought that the "kid-catcher" netting on the upper bunk was just the coolest thing in the world.
Sometimes I lament not having taken advantage of a free one way ride by train to my first active duty station at Port Hueneme, California. The Navy offered me two choices, the train or plane. My father asked me why I wanted to leave earlier and take the train. I guess he was showing the guilts on me.
It would have been my first experience on a long distance, literally cross country.
Only on AMTRAK. First sleeper was during a family trip by rail across the country in 1984. Ended up on the first AMTRAK Zephyr into Denver just by happenstance. Have pictures of the banner they made somewhere in my collection. Also have ridden a sleeper between Washington and Chicago on the old Capitol Limited, back when they still had domes.
Most of the time it has been in recliner coach seats across the U.S. with layovers for a shower and to stretch the legs.
Best night sleep I had onboard train. Is the VIA Rail Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto in February. Lower berth, Super thick mattress, two super pillows, Down comforter, and the thickest aisle curtain to block any light from coming in. I could actually see out side at night.
Clem
In '67 (and again in '68) my family and I took the WP leg of the California Zephyr from Stockton to Salt Lake and "slept" upright in the regular coach... no way we could afford the sleeper. Fast forward a number of years later and I was able to enjoy the relative "comfort" of the Berlin - Frankfurt Duty Train, which slept six GIs per compartment -- and took 12 hours to complete the journey! After unification in '90, I rode a similarly equipped sleep coach on the DB that took far less time (and was considerably less cramped). Haven't had the opportunity to travel by sleeper here in the US or Canada as yet, but my wife and I are planning on it someday soon.
Many times. I have had compartments on the Southwest Chief, the California Zephyr, the Empire Builder, the Lake Shore Limited, and trains from Chicago to Toronto and to D.C., the names of which escape me. The most memorable overnite, however, was in 1983 on the Red Star from Moscow to Leningrad, when I was in a 4-bed compartment with my GF and two young ladies from the Soviet Intourist Agency. It was my first experience with Lemon Vodka, among other things.
jay jay posted:The most memorable overnite, however, was in 1983 on the Red Star from Moscow to Leningrad, when I was in a 4-bed compartment with my GF and two young ladies from the Soviet Intourist Agency.
I'm curious how the 2 Intourist ladies were with you. We were with one in St. Petersburg about a year ago, and she kept telling KGB "jokes"...as if to say "See, we have freedom of speech". I'm wondering how "guarded" your 2 were back in 1983.
My very first overnight was when I was 14 in '76
My mom, dad little brother, and I took the train from Chicago to Los Angeles to go to Disneyland. I remember we had adjoining rooms, and bathroom in the room.
I spent most of my time up in the dome car. This was especially true at night. I love watching the landscape at dusk, and the lights of the small stations as we came upon them.
The most recent trip I took was from Dallas to Chicago a couple years ago. It was great.
Joe Hohmann posted:jay jay posted:The most memorable overnite, however, was in 1983 on the Red Star from Moscow to Leningrad, when I was in a 4-bed compartment with my GF and two young ladies from the Soviet Intourist Agency.
I'm curious how the 2 Intourist ladies were with you. We were with one in St. Petersburg about a year ago, and she kept telling KGB "jokes"...as if to say "See, we have freedom of speech". I'm wondering how "guarded" your 2 were back in 1983.
Joe, it was a screwup on compartment booking. The train was packed. The Intourist ladies were to have their own compartment, but no more two-bed compartments were available. We were asked if we would mind sharing. We didn't. However, they were very aloof from the tour group, despite speaking perfect English. They always ate by themselves. They were there to keep an eye on us, for the most part. This was when Yuri Andropov was the Soviet premier, and he had been the former KGB head. Perestroika was in the future. It was a great trip, in any event.
Like Joe K and Clem, I also give a thumbs up for The Canadian. I took it from Toronto to Vancouver and return. The first night took a bit to get used to the movement, but it was fine after that. We had a private roomette with the fold down bunk beds. A fantastic experience with incredible scenery! I'm hoping to do the Rocky Mountaineer next year, although we will be sleeping in hotels instead of the train. Even though you don't sleep on the train, the advantage is you see everything during the day. With The Canadian, you do miss some of the great views during the night travel. Although, I believe VIA and CN have worked to revise the schedules recently in order to improve the daytime travel experience.
Rob
I was lucky to enjoy a number of overnight trips in sleeping cars. My father was in the Navy so the family moved a lot while I was growing up.
The first trip that I recall was on the Cascade from Seattle to Oakland. The Great Northern / Northern Pacific / SP operated through sleepers in the early fifties. My younger brother and I had a blast running through the train. My mother was not amused. The air-conditioning was broken in our sleeper. It was very hot. I think we spent most of the night in the observation car.
Our next trip was Seattle to Chicago to Pittsburgh. We took the mid-fifties Empire Builder. This train did not have dome cars. The Empire Builder was a wonderful train with first class sleepers and diners. My brother and I shared the top bunk while my mother had the bottom bunk. We had to change trains and stations in Chicago to get to Pittsburgh. The sleeper on the PRR train was awful and the AC didn't work. We spent the trip in the observation car. My mother endured the trip at the bar while my brother and I slept on the observation car's floor. All of were thankful when we got off the train at 2 a.m. in Pittsburgh where my father met us.
My next overnight train trip was on the El Capitan from LA to Chicago and return during a Boy Scout trip. The El Capitan was a first class high level coach train. The Fred Harvey service in the diner was outstanding. Although the seats were comfortable, I had trouble sleeping sitting up on this trip. I spent many hours in the lounge car. When my scout group got to Chicago, we changed trains and took a Milwaukee overnight train to St. Paul in coach.
On the return to Chicago, we took a Soo Line overnight milk train from a small town in upstate Minnesota whose name I don't recall. I do recall the classic small town hamburger cafe where we ate before boarding the train. This trip was unusual because we boarded a coach that was parked on a siding at about 6 or 7 p.m. A train came by at about 8 p.m. and picked up the coach. The train that picked us up had four or five cars. The train stopped at many small towns all night and did switching. It was hard to sleep as our coach was banged back and forth. We arrived at one of Chicago's big stations at about 9 a.m. The train had over 30 cars including about 8 coaches full of people and the rest were milk cars. This train didn't have any dinning facilities.
My next overnight train trip was on the Cascade from Oakland to Portland. This trip was in coach. I recall that this train had one of the SP's triple dinning / lounge cars. I spent many hours there. It was fascinating to watch this car move through the curves. I had a good meal in the dinner. The Cascade did not have through cars to Seattle by this date. I had to change platforms to Union Pacific coach train to go onto Seattle.
My next overnight train trip was on a New Haven train from Providence to Baltimore. I boarded a NH sleeper in Providence at about 9 p.m. The car was picked up by the train at about midnight. I had a roomette and was jolted awake by the movement. The car was switched to a PRR train at Pennsylvania Station in New York for the trip to Baltimore. I think I arrived in Baltimore at about 10 a.m. The was a wonderful trip.
The next overnight trip was on an Amtrak coach train from Bridgeport, Ct. to Washington D.C. This trip was bad because the Amtrak crew was surly and refused to dim the coach lights so that passengers could sleep.
My next trip was on Amtrak's California Zephyr from Oakland to Chicago. This was a great trip. I had a roomette. The service was good and the food was excellent. The only downside was that the train was about 5 hours late getting to Chicago. This didn't bother me because I was staying at a hotel. Passengers who were booked on to New York missed their connecting train.
Finally, I had the pleasure of taking the Rocky Mountaineer / Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto. Others have described this trip. I believe that this is the best train trip anywhere on this continent. The refurbished 1950's cars on the Canadian can't be beat. I loved sitting in the domes and watching the scenery and other trains. The food was outstanding on both trains.
NH Joe
New Haven Joe posted:Finally, I had the pleasure of taking the Rocky Mountaineer / Canadian from Vancouver to Toronto. Others have described this trip. I believe that this is the best train trip anywhere on this continent. The refurbished 1950's cars on the Canadian can't be beat. I loved sitting in the domes and watching the scenery and other trains. The food was outstanding on both trains.
NH Joe
My wife and I have considered the Rocky Mountaineer phase of the trip, but the VIA leg through the rest of Canada seems to be non-stop, as far as getting out to see things goes. I've also seen the VIA trains running up to 30+ hours late.
Yes, on the AutoTrain from Florida to Washington back in the late 90's. We had the deluxe room that had it's own shower and bathroom. It was my wife, our at the time, 2 young children and myself. We had a great time. Boarded the train around 3 had dinner around 8 and went to bed around 10. Woke up the next morning approaching Washington. We actually arrived in Lorton VA around 9 and it took a couple of hours to get our car unloaded and then we were on our way to New England. I hope to get to do this again someday.
Just one long trip for me: VIA Rail from Vancouver to Toronto a number of years ago. Had a roomette. I was treated like a king the entire trip (I was a newspaper photo editor in Honolulu at the time and the railroad wanted to make a good impression, I guess). A thoroughly enjoyable trip! You haven't really lived until you've been rocked to sleep aboard a moving train.
I hope to repeat the experience sometime later this year since my youngest stepdaughter (I really consider her my daughter) just relocated to Las Vegas from Baltimore. She is an event planner for a large casino operation. I hope to take Amtrak out to visit her at some point.
Yes, many many times since 1970, coach, roomettes. Pre Amtrak and Amtrak. Also, in Europe we took the Acropole Express from London to Athens and then Athens to Brussels the next year. Always fun!!!
When I was in the military I went across Australia a couple of times on the train from Perth to Melbourne and return, then the military decided it was cheaper and quicker to fly us across so ended the free train travel and 3 days of travelling each way. Roo.
City of Miami; January 1964, slept in the upper of ( I think) a compartment in a 4-4-2. It was awesomely cool, the berth had it's own little tiny window. What a great train.
When I was in 10th grade we took the train from St. Paul to Chicago then to a Colorado Springs and back. We rented the Silver Solarium for the trip and had my mom and dad and their 6 boys and my aunt and uncle and their 3 girls and 4 boys. All us kids had the time of our lives, the adults, not so much
Here I go again showing my age. Slept many a night on the Texas Special and other trains. My grandmother and I went out to California to see her relatives every summer. My dad and grandfather worked on the Frisco so she always had passes to ride the rails. Thanks for asking.
Yep...we did! In 1998 my wife and I traveled to Sacramento CA ...leaving Altoona PA . California Zephyr out and Texas Eagle back to Altoona. Best trip we ever took! Nice folks on the trains... great service....delicious food....beautiful sights! I'd like to go again.
Back in 85 my father and I took the train out from Detroit to Denver. Could not fit in the bunk beds so we opted to use the coach recliners. They just had more room for us being over 6' 5".
Food was top notch. Played Euchre in the Club car, Scenery was fantastic... wish my Dad and I could do it again!
My wife and I traveled from Oakland California to Denver Colorado on Amtracks California Zephyr. We had a awesome trip! The roomette was comfortable, the food was great and the people we met were interesting. And the scenery traveling over the Sierra Madre and Rock Montains was breathtaking! An engine breakdown and a employee injury led to our train being several hours late getting into Denver. But since we didn’t have to make a connection it was all good.
The northeast Texas towns of Paris and Mount Pleasant are only about 49 miles apart, but they were once connected by a shortline railroad, named, appropriately enough, the Paris and Mt. Pleasant RR. As far as I know, it never acquired Diesel power, and its passenger service had vanished probably not long after I was born. However, steam-powered freights still plied the rails a couple of times a week in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Thanks probably to some personal friendships, my father arranged for him and me to ride one of those freights which were, by the way, overnight experiences. We rode from Paris in the cab of the steamer, and my fading youthful recollections can be summarized as noisy, bouncy, hot, and steamy wet! After a midnight breakfast at an all-night diner in Mt. Pleasant, we began the return trip in the freight caboose in whose cupola I soon fell fast asleep. I must have been five or six years old, and my father did not have a camera, so these fading memories are all the souvenirs left to me, but, yes, I have slept on a train -- and I didn't even have a ticket!
Almost - while in college in 1972 I was driving home at about 2:00 AM on a lonely, deserted stretch of back road after a night of heavy partying when I came across what must have been a mile long freight train at a flat road crossing. I slipped the tranny in my '66 Fairlane GT into neutral and must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew the sun woke me up and it was 6:00 AM in the morning. It took me a few seconds to get my bearings, but the motor was still running and I made it to class on time. Does that count ?
Bill:
Excellent sharing. Thanks you for taking the time to type it out and share it with the rest of us.
Reminds me of similar situation that happened over a decade ago:
Had a green Conductor working with me on a backwoods branch line. He mentioned he had a 4 year old son that was crazy about trains, and if it would be possible for him to ride in the engine "one of these days". The next train this Conductor was to be with me was going to be at night, so I called the Conductor and said it would be a good time for his son to come along if he wanted to.
That night, sure enough, he brought his son along. He was a curly headed little chap that was cute as he could be. He was dressed in stripe overalls and a striped "Engineer's hat", complete with some little boots. His dad helped him climb up into the cab. His eyes lit up when he saw the inside of a railroad locomotive for the first time. (The lead unit was a GP38, if you're wondering! 
) He was the perfect little gentleman. He rode with eyes wide open for a while and just soaked it all up. However, soon it was getting on into the later part of the night/early morning... and when I looked over toward the Conductor's side, I saw that he was out like a light. We both got a kick out of that.
SO, you have a fellow that's not so little now, one that I'll bet still likes trains, that also had a train ride one night in which he can't remember all of it!
Yes, railroading was very different then in as short as a decade or so ago. For several years now, such a ride is simply not possible.
Andre
Richie C. posted:Almost - while in college in 1972 I was driving home at about 2:00 AM on a lonely, deserted stretch of back road after a night of heavy partying when I came across what must have been a mile long freight train at a flat road crossing. I slipped the tranny in my '66 Fairlane GT into neutral and must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew the sun woke me up and it was 6:00 AM in the morning. It took me a few seconds to get my bearings, but the motor was still running and I made it to class on time. Does that count ?
Interesting story, but IMHO, nope... doesn't count. (Don't 'cha wish you still had the '66 Fairlane GT??)
Andre
I've slept on Amtrak both in coach (1 night) and with a roomette (three nights). The coach seats recline enough to sleep comfortably but you you're there with 60+ of your closest friends frustrated with their snoring as they are frustrated with yours. The roomettes have an upper bed that folds down and the seat pair below convert to another bed. The mattresses aren't the most comfortable things in the world (kinda over firm), but you get privacy and meals with a roomette or the larger rooms. The family unit is really nice as it has its own bathroom and shower, but you pay for it.
The food is pretty good. The scenery is nice, and with a sleeper reservation you have access to the lounge car if one is in the train. Since they like the tables full in the diner, you sit with strangers, but in the end train travelers seem more sociable than plane travelers and you can have some interesting conversations as long as you don't discuss religion, politics or the Great Pumpkin.
laming posted:Richie C. posted:Almost - while in college in 1972 I was driving home at about 2:00 AM on a lonely, deserted stretch of back road after a night of heavy partying when I came across what must have been a mile long freight train at a flat road crossing. I slipped the tranny in my '66 Fairlane GT into neutral and must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew the sun woke me up and it was 6:00 AM in the morning. It took me a few seconds to get my bearings, but the motor was still running and I made it to class on time. Does that count ?
Interesting story, but IMHO, nope... doesn't count. (Don't 'cha wish you still had the '66 Fairlane GT??)
Andre
You betcha' - midnight blue 390 with a white convertible top; Holley 750 dbl. pumper on a Weiand alum. manifold; cherry bombs; and Cragars all around - but I digress 
Richie C. posted:laming posted:Richie C. posted:Almost - while in college in 1972 I was driving home at about 2:00 AM on a lonely, deserted stretch of back road after a night of heavy partying when I came across what must have been a mile long freight train at a flat road crossing. I slipped the tranny in my '66 Fairlane GT into neutral and must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew the sun woke me up and it was 6:00 AM in the morning. It took me a few seconds to get my bearings, but the motor was still running and I made it to class on time. Does that count ?
Interesting story, but IMHO, nope... doesn't count. (Don't 'cha wish you still had the '66 Fairlane GT??)
Andre
You betcha' - midnight blue 390 with a white convertible top; Holley 750 dbl. pumper on a Weiand alum. manifold; cherry bombs; and Cragars all around - but I digress
Wow! What a great car! Was interior white to match the roof?
Yes, Both North Coast Limited and Olympian Hiawatha in "the old days" and the Royal Canadian some years later ... and the Coast Starlight ... great adventures.
back in 1970, I was on a short layoff from my job at National Can in San Leandro, Ca., Took the train out of Oakland to Columbus Ne. Rode in coach with accessible vestibules both ways. Norden had a huge snowshed to stop in back then, Ogden by morning, up the Wasatch and Wyoming during day. Slept well, upright in those big chairs. Returned on a morning trip out of Reno and Truckee and above Donner Lake. Stood in the open vestibule all the way up to Norden. Even got to smoke a "cigarette".
Amtrak’s InterAmerican from Ft Worth to St Louis, and Sunset Limited from LAUPT to El Paso back in the hodge-podge days. Chihuahua al Pacifico trains Ojinaga to Los Mochis and back. Southwest Chief with Superliners.
Each trip had a story of its own.
Amtrak Lake shore limited to Chicago when my son finished boot camp.
Yes, Sort of. Laming's reply reminded me of a time many years ago on the railroad. I was working third trick at Buckeye Yard in the early days of Conrail. We just had a foot of snow dumped on us and the temp was in the low twenties. The instruction crew brought the power over from the diesel pad and tied onto the train. I knew that the outbound crew was called for later in the shift, and I knew it was going to take quite a while for the air to build. I climbed aboard the lead unit, one of the 6100 series ex PRR SD45s. The warmth of the heater combined with the slight rocking of that V20 put me in dreamland real quick. But the easiest to catch a nap in was what we referred to as a "serta" the ex PRR N5c cabin car. The cupola would get nice and warm and with the right amount of cabin cushions it was like being in small hotel. Ah the memories.....
Yes. Amtrak; private car Moonlight Dome, and private car Caritas
ncdave posted:Richie C. posted:laming posted:Richie C. posted:Almost - while in college in 1972 I was driving home at about 2:00 AM on a lonely, deserted stretch of back road after a night of heavy partying when I came across what must have been a mile long freight train at a flat road crossing. I slipped the tranny in my '66 Fairlane GT into neutral and must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew the sun woke me up and it was 6:00 AM in the morning. It took me a few seconds to get my bearings, but the motor was still running and I made it to class on time. Does that count ?
Interesting story, but IMHO, nope... doesn't count. (Don't 'cha wish you still had the '66 Fairlane GT??)
Andre
You betcha' - midnight blue 390 with a white convertible top; Holley 750 dbl. pumper on a Weiand alum. manifold; cherry bombs; and Cragars all around - but I digress
Wow! What a great car! Was interior white to match the roof?
No - it was medium blue vinyl to go with the exterior. The car's long gone , but I did manage to salvage the Grant wooden steering wheel I had on it.
Here is my story. July 1962, our family took the City of Los Angeles to Los Angeles. Remember it all very well, spent the night in the dome car as I wanted to see everything I could. It was a very long and dark night. If I recall it was about a 28 hour trip for us. See the pic I attached of the breakfast menu. I think I had a roll (that was dried out); we were on a tighter than tight budget. Did get to my watch my beloved Dodgers play the Giants. Dodgers won 11 to 1. Willie Mays had a home run for the Giants. What more could I ask for!
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I've had many sleeps in Pullman sleeping cars -- Bedrooms, Roomettes, Heavyweight Open Section (upper), and deluxe Bedroom on a business car.
Slept on the Frisco, Union Pacific, Omaha Road, Rock Island, Missouri Pacific, Southern Pacific, and, of course, Santa Fe.
Quite a few Philly/Boston runs on Amtrak in the early 80's.
No, but when I was 6 years old I used to sleep under my 1956 Lionel train set.
Chris S.
My wife and I rode the Capitol Limited from DC to Chicago, then the Empire Builder to Seattle, had several nights on the rails. I slept like a baby every night in our roomettes.
One night on the Builder, I opened the blind from my bunk and watched an extremely rural landscape zipping by...
I've had a few hundred sleeping car rides - Us and other countries including France-Suisse-Austria, Sweden, Egypt, Australia and China. I'll just mention a few highlights.
First trip in 1951, family trip to Niagara Falls from New york. As the oldest of three children, I ahd the roomete while the others rode in the double bedroom - listening to the Hudson on the head end as I lay in bed in the roomette.
Second trip in 1953 on the CP from McAdam Jct. to Sherbrooke in a lower berth behind a Royal Hudson.
Working for the NYC, I had a pass endorsed "good for roomette in New York Sentral operated sleeping cars". Several trips on the Century, also between New York and Syracuse, Rochester, Massena, Buffalo, Detroit, and many others.
My wife's first sleeping car trip was on the Pioneer LTd from Chicago to Minneapolis when I was working for the Milwaukee Road. Our oldest daughter (earlier than planned
) was a result of that trip.
Egypt from Cairo to Luxor in a Hungarian sleeper, courtesy of USSR funding, but no funds for maintenance - not recommended.
Night Ferry from London to Brussels. Sleeping cars on the ferry from Dover to Dunquerque.
China, Canton to Changsha and Wuhan to Peking in a four berth compartment in a Russian soft class sleeper.
Wiener Walzer in 1971 with my wife from Zurich to Vienna, being served continental breakfast in our room by the Wagon-Lits sleeping car conductor.
I could go on all night, but that's a good sample.
Many times, frequent Amtrak rider mainly in the 1990s. Second night the sleep comes much easier. Always fun though. Roughest ride was on the recently acquired by UP (at the time) Missouri Pacific south of St Louis. Weeks after that ride Amtrak rerouted the Texas Eagle for the rest of the summer for track work on that segment. Unforgettable night though, not much sleep but some cool last scenes of MP power.
Always nice in the morning to get the complimentary coffee, juice, and a newspaper.
A good friend of mine just got back from a round trip from Portland to Wisconsin Dells on the "Empire Builder". Since it was her first long distance train trip, she opted for coach, just to see what it was like.
Like most of you, she was only able to "doze" in the car, and thinks she will probably upgrade to a sleeper next time. But she loved the space she did have, and being able to move around while traveling was a big plus. The families she saw all seemed to be having a good time, and she met some interesting people. She said the staff was really helpful, the food in the diner was really good, and " you just can't beat the view". Over all, she thought it was a great way to travel: so much better than an airplane.
A big thumbs up for Amtrak!
Mark in Oregon
Wow guys thanks for your stories.As for my self every thing had turned over to freight.I saw my first passenger car at the shops in spencer n.c.
My son and I took the overnight train from Paris to Florence in 2007. We traveled 2nd class I think and shared a sleeping compartment with four other people. There was a lady from Chicago, a gentleman from Italy and two African ladies who were part of a Trafalgar Tours group. No one spoke Italian but the lady from Chicago and the Italian man spoke Spanish. The African ladies spoke excellent English so we could all communicate a bit. I secured a bottle of wine from the bar car and the ladies from Africa had a supply of Scotch so w had a very congenial trip. They were from Rwanda I believe and spoke very briefly of the terrible times in that country but mostly laughed all night. In the morning the porter returned our passports as we were rolling through Tuscany watching the beautiful landscape pass.
Really an enjoyable experience and it saved us the cost of a hotel room.
Yes. I was about 9 years old and traveled (with permission) by myself from Chicago to Dallas. I mostly remember being amazed by the high cost of breakfast.
Circa 2000, I had a meeting in Boston that started Sunday AM. I took the 7PM overnight train to the Coply Plaza Station. At that time you could get a small sleeping compartment in the last car.
The Sleepers were discontinued sometime after that.
Peter
