As I finish this email, I’m aboard the Cardinal, headed toward Chicago. By the time you read it, I could be on the Hiawatha or already home!
This has been a great trip, and I’ve learned a few things along the way. I love learning, but one lesson almost hurt.
Floridian Update
On this trip, the sleeping car attendant told me the Floridian’s onboard service crew—the sleeping car, dining car, and café attendants—now travels the entire route between Chicago and Miami instead of changing in Washington, DC. I’m not sure when that changed.
Previously, one onboard service crew worked on the Chicago-Washington route, and another worked on the Washington-Miami route.
Conductors and engineers still change along the route because law limits their shifts.
Three Small Ways to Stay Safer on Your Next Train Trip
I almost had a painful mishap on my last trip. Luckily, the only thing that was hurt was my water bottle; I think the train was okay.
Consider this a few friendly reminders from someone who occasionally learns the hard way!
Mind Your Water Bottle
While putting my bag in the overhead cubby in my Floridian roomette, my full water bottle slipped out of its side pocket and nearly took me out! I thought it was more secure than it was. Fortunately, it hit the sink instead of me, and the bottle still bears the dent as proof.
If your bag has an external water-bottle pocket, remove the bottle before stowing your bag in an overhead bin or storage cubby. This applies whether you’re traveling in coach or a sleeper. Also check for other loose items on the outside of your luggage.
Keeping your bottle within reach also makes it easier to stay hydrated. Plus, it won’t launch a surprise attack the next time you move your bag.
One more water-bottle reminder from my food-service days: wash it during your trip, too—not just before and after. Don’t forget the lid and any straw.
My bottle still works well, dent and all. Let it remind you of a lesson you don’t need to learn firsthand.
My dented water bottle
Keep Your Fingers Out of the Door Frame
If you’ve stayed in a sleeping car, you may have noticed that an unsecured room door doesn’t always stay closed or open. The train’s movement can send it sliding, sometimes gently and sometimes with a slam.
Make sure your door latches when you close it. If it won’t stay latched, tell your sleeping car attendant.
Kev’s Tip: When holding your room’s manual sliding door open for yourself or a travel companion, keep it under control and keep your fingers out of the frame. I sometimes use my foot to keep an already-open manual door in place, keeping it clear of the closing edge and helping me stay balanced. Use the handle whenever possible.
The powered sliding doors between cars also deserve attention. Even if a door has a safety bumper, don’t rely on it to keep you from being bumped. Use the door controls, keep your hands clear of the edges, and avoid lingering in the doorway. Don’t ask me how I learned that last part!
When you need something to steady yourself, use a grab bar instead of the door frame. The goal is to arrive with all ten fingers intact—or at least the fingers you had when you boarded.
Don’t Lean Against the Train
I can be a bit of a leaner, especially when I’m standing around. But during a fresh-air stop, the side of the train isn’t the place to rest.
If the train shifts or moves unexpectedly, you could lose your balance. Falling onto the platform would be bad enough; falling toward or under the train could be much worse.
A stopped train isn’t necessarily motionless, either. During a locomotive change, coupling can send a noticeable bump through the cars. That’s a good reason to stay aware of your balance both on the platform and inside the train.
During fresh-air stops, give the train some space, stretch your legs, and follow the crew’s instructions. Stay near your boarding door, and when you hear “all aboard,” head back on board.
A little attention can help ensure your trip is memorable for the right reasons. I’d rather bring home good stories than another dented water bottle!
What Is Kev Up To?
This has been a great trip, and my sleeping-car attendant on the Floridian was excellent. For once, the train running late had a small upside for me: a slightly shorter early-morning layover in Pittsburgh. No complaints about that!
On Saturday, my friend Sean and I visited the Flight 93 National Memorial. Sean wanted to return, and it was my first visit. It affected me more than I expected. On 9/11, I was in the TV room at UW-Waukesha between classes, watching the events unfold. That day has stayed with me, but seeing the faces and learning the names of the passengers and crew who lost their lives made it even more personal. That really moved me.
Later that day, we visited the historic Horseshoe Curve, the same curve I’d ridden over just a few days earlier. We saw about six trains, plus a power move—locomotives traveling without any cars. Hearing those big diesels roar as they worked their way around the curve was a treat.
On Sunday, we took Strasburg Railroad’s wine-and-cheese excursion. Nothing quite compares to riding behind a vintage steam engine, especially when wine and cheese are along for the ride!
Tuesday was more low-key. We grabbed breakfast at a greasy spoon and walked on a rail trail. I tried to turn in early, starting my bedtime routine around 7:30 p.m., but I didn’t fall asleep until about 10. When I woke up at 3:20 a.m., I figured I might as well stay up—we needed to leave the house at 4:45.
Apparently, my early bedtime and my internal alarm clock had different plans!
Thank You!
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Until Next Week!
Safe Travels & Happy Planning, Kev Monteith
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