Hello Reader, it's Kev!

Great News For The Borealis!

Starting in early October, the Borealis will operate year-round with four Superliner coaches instead of three.

This increase will add approximately 74 seats per train, raising capacity from about 210 to around 284 passengers. MnDOT has confirmed the expanded lineup will debut on Train 1333, departing Chicago on October 5, and will return to Chicago on Train 1340 on October 6. This will also benefit the 330 and 341 Hiawatha, which use this equipment.

If you’ve ever tried to book this train on a summer weekend only to find it sold out, you understand the significance of this news. A fourth coach has been added seasonally before, but a permanent addition is new. Since this train has run at or near capacity since it started, this expansion is long overdue.

Getting Ready For My Next Trip

In a few weeks, I’ll be back on the rails for a great long-distance trip. If you’re new here, the plan is Wisconsin to Chicago, then south to New Orleans for a few days, then northeast to Lancaster, PA. Seven trains over eleven days.

So what do I need to do to get ready? Here’s my routine. I figured some of it out the hard way and picked up a lot of it from other travelers over the years. Take what’s useful to you.

Setting Up My Travel Folder

First job: print the tickets and put together my travel folder.

I know it’s 2026, but my phone sometimes loses service or slows at exactly the wrong moment, while a paper ticket never does. There’s also something satisfying about holding a paper ticket; maybe it’s my inner Gen X talking. I also print the current dining car and cafe menus. You don’t have to, but it keeps me prepared, and I like knowing what’s coming before I sit down.

Kev’s Tip: New to eating on the train? I have posts on traditional dining, flexible dining, and the cafe car if you want to know what to expect.

Checking the Hotels

If I’ve booked with a national chain, I can usually open the app to confirm the reservation is listed and the date is correct. For this trip, I booked a hotel through a third party, which I rarely do. So I’m calling the hotel directly to make sure the reservation is actually on their end.

Trust but verify. A five-minute phone call now beats a surprise at the front desk when all you want is a bed.

Baggage

Because I’ve traveled a lot and I love luggage, I have options: two rolling bags, two travel backpacks, and a few day bags. Step one is to figure out which ones are even in the running, and then find them!

Two are out right away: the 25” rolling bag and the 35L travel backpack (great bag, but too small for a trip this size). The goal is to travel as light as possible while still bringing what I need.

Whatever I pick will be carry-on size: either my 21” rolling bag or my 44L travel backpack. Planning to do laundry one or more times during the trip is the main reason I can pack this small for eleven days.

Kev’s Tip: Build some time for laundry into your trip. You’ll pack lighter, your clothes will stay fresher, and you’ll avoid the bulk of a second bag. I have washed my clothes in the sink before. It is not convenient at the time; the convenience is carrying less.

A travel backpack keeps both hands free and nothing dragging behind me, but I carry less. A rolling bag is easier on my back, lets me bring a day bag, and keeps me more organized. It’s great right up until I’m walking a mile or more to the hotel, which I tend to do.

If I really wanted to, I could bring the small rolling bag and the even smaller travel backpack. I haven’t decided yet. I’ll tell you which one next time.

Gathering My Accessories

Whatever bag wins, I need to find or check a few things before I pack them.

First aid kit. It needs the basics, and it needs to be up to date. It’s been a while since I last looked, and I’d rather find the expired stuff now than on the train.

Extension cord. I have a small one I like for travel. It’s grounded so that I can plug in my computer without a fight.

The 3-1-1 kit. Some people call it a dopp kit. I call it my 3-1-1 kit because I still follow the TSA liquids rule (3.4-ounce bottles in one quart-size bag) even on the train. Why? I used to fly a lot, so it was easier to keep one kit that worked for both.

Kev’s Tip: Amtrak doesn’t limit liquids. I follow TSA rules out of habit, not because I have to. Bring the full-size bottle if you want.

Inside the kit, I check: Is there a toothbrush? If so, I put it in the dishwasher or replace it. Toothpaste? Refilled. I usually skip shampoo and soap because I’ll be in a sleeper, and Amtrak provides them. When I do bring soap, it’s Dr. Bronner’s. It works and does everything: body soap, shampoo, and washing clothes in the sink. I do not know for the gals, but for the guys, most regular deodorant fits the TSA rules.

Blow-up pillow. I’m a side and stomach sleeper, and an inflatable pillow gives me a little extra height that makes sleeping on the train a lot more comfortable.

What’s Next

That’s the prep. In the next issue, I’ll tell you which bag made the cut and maybe talk about packing techniques. We will see what happens.

What Is Kev Up To?

This past weekend, I spent time with my dad at the Rock River Thresheree. If you don’t know, it’s a threshing show: steam engines, old tractors, a car show, and a flea market. I’ve been going since I was a teenager. I didn’t grow up on a farm, but farming was part of my family, and my dad instilled in me an appreciation for it.

What I love is seeing the technology of the past; some of the equipment is over 100 years old and still running! The sound of the steam whistles, the chugs of the engines, and the smell of coal all bring back decades of memories. When I was younger, I’d travel across the state to see these shows.

Thank You!

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Until Next Week!

Safe Travels & Happy Planning,
Kev Monteith