I've heard a lot of people claim rail travel sucks.* It takes a rare visionary to apply the principle.
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* You'll not hear it from me. In the U.S., if you have the time and they go where you're headed -- rather major caveats, those -- the cheapest seat for long-distance train travel beats first class air six ways from Sunday. Bigger, better seats, more room between them, and none of this "no moving about" nonsense. Why, sometimes there's even a snack bar in addition to meals! You might not even have to take off your shoes to board; I'm not certain.
i refer rail, as well. i honestly wish we had a high-speed rail - i'd take it anywhere i could instead of flying.
ReplyDeleteAny list of civilized means of transport would include rail at or near the top. None would include commercial aviation except for the Charter-a-Lear niche.
ReplyDeleteI liked your word play on sucky trains. :)
Except you can't take your firearm with you. Even in checked luggage.
ReplyDeleteAh...Remember the 2nd. Some of us was just born to late. A gun, and a horse, and a train.
ReplyDeleteJoe Allen: Yes you can, in checked baggage. Passed a while ago.
ReplyDeleteCouple of years ago Mrs. Drang attended a convention, went by train. No security rigamarole. Inconvenient scheduling, though; No return train from her destination on Sunday, had to take bus to Portland where she caught the train to Seattle.
I always enjoyed travel by train in Europe, and would prefer it to the cramped and unpleasant cabin of a modern commercial aircraft any day.
ReplyDeleteWe took the kids to Universal-Orlando on the Amtrak Car-Train several times in the 90's. We reserved a family sleeping room: three fold-down beds. It was expensive and was booked six months in advance because there are only two such berths to a car: one at each end. But we boarded outside of Washington, DC and the next morning when the sun came up we were traveling through orange groves in central Florida. Most of the Carolinas and Georgia are passed through in darkness, but when you get to Sanford, Florida you get your car back! Although it is Amtrak, they do try to make it as elegant as they can: dining car with linen tablecloths and so forth, and the food isn't bad! Enjoyed it immensely, and the kids will never forget it.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to travel long distance by rail. Too bad the only trains out of Indianapolis leave at ungodly hours and only go to a couple of places I don't really want to go.
ReplyDeleteIf there was a train that went from Indy to Fort Myers, I'd take that in preference to AirTran any day of the week.
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ReplyDeleteActually, you made me think about a trip I'm getting ready to plan. We may end up taking the train from Chicago to New Orleans in October instead of flying.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kick to the neurons.
Rode the Super Chief from Los Angeles to Chicago many years ago. Had just had ear surgery and was unable to fly back. The Navy, in one of those rare moments of lucidity, listened to me and realized that it would cost less than putting me up in a hotel for 3 weeks and then flying me home. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and plan to do it again someday.
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