posted
Personally, one of the best parts of a train trip is interacting with the other passangers. I dont take AMTRAK for speed, and neither do many people on board, so everyone is usually in a friendly mood. My favorite character I met on board Amtrak was a man from Waco Texas who knew everything about Dr.Pepper and anyother cola beverage (He claimed if you returned original glass dr. pepper bottles to the factory they would pay you quite a bit...) and he was most upset of AMTRAKS decision to use Pepsi beverage products.
Anyway what interesting people have you met on Amtrak
[This message has been edited by polarbearucla (edited 11-19-2003).]
posted
I never have met anyone interesting on Amtrak. Maybe because I havn't taken a very long trip in quite some time. It's always Fullerton to ABQ or Gallup. So not much time to do anything but eat and sleep. The only time I really could meet someone is during dinner. And I usually get stuck with people who don't want to talk.
My sister did get to talking with a nice older man and he was surprised when she knew his riddle. (2 and 3 are a group, 3 and 4 are a crowd, what's 4 and 5?)
[This message has been edited by Southwest Chief (edited 11-19-2003).]
Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Last Winter, on the Lake Shore Limited, I met Bob Johnston from Trains Magazine. I was seated with him at breakfast that day, I was on my way to Schenectady, he was on his way to New York.
Posts: 113 | From: Buffalo, NY | Registered: Sep 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I meet interesting people on the train all the time. Probably the most famous person I've ever met on a train was Studs Terkel -- back in the 70's or 80's, I believe, when the Democratic National Convention (?) was in California, I believe, Studs was on the train with other dignitaries and members of the press.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I'm with you Polarbearucla, the conversations with people over a meal in the dining car is a major attraction for me. I once had breakfast on the LSL with a man who was playing a major role on the broadway theater production of "Death of a Salesman"; and you know on the CZ the first morning out of Chicago how you're having breakfast in the Sand Hills of Neb? I had breakfast with a man who used to travel that area buying cattle which are now all gathered in the feedlots that the train passes. And, finally, I was on #1 at dinner with a man who was going back to Palm Springs who used to be a pilot on Pan Am flight #1 that used to go around the world. Wait, I lied, I've got one more!: an ex-Louisville, KY policeman who had some wonderfully lurid stories about life in the legal gray zone.
Posts: 518 | From: Maynard, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Where shall I begin? I've met a member of the caoching staff of a certain NFL team that uses my Graduate School's facilities for their summer training camp, I've met folks who for all practical appearances looked like they were members of the same religious cult, I've run into attractive young women (unfortunatly, they didn't care for me too much - I was still in the "pizza face" phase of life ), I've met exchange students from Korea and Ireland, I've met several very pleasant and friendly Canadians, as well as World War Two vets who all had some very interesting stories to tell of how they met their spouses, and I've also made the acquaintance of jerks from just about every State in the Union. I've met boisterous Scouts on their travels to and from Philmont, and I've also met Scouts who have been a shame and embarassment to their organization. As I've told several of my relatives when they asked about who I encounter while aboard the train, one meets all kinds of people on board. Most greetings have taken place in either the lounge car or the diner. For the most part, the encounters have been positive, but there have been notable exceptions (the Scouts in particular stand out in my mind - for good and bad reasons both).
Posts: 506 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I was on the eastbound Lake Shore Limited in the lounge car passing Sandusky or thereabouts. The guy next to me was a burly, bearded working-man type who drank one beer after another, and smelled like it. Out of the blue he asked me if I wanted to see some naked pictures of his wife. Before I could answer he had several in his hand. I just said "Gee! and "Wow!" halfheartedly. I felt a bit awkward, so I just told myself that maybe sharing intimate photos of one's wife to strangers on a train is some sort of a custom where he's from. And I let it go at that.
Dave
[This message has been edited by dnsommer (edited 11-22-2003).]
Posts: 284 | From: Ithaca, NY USA | Registered: Oct 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I once met a woman on the Amtrak Zephyr whose daughter worked for Amtrak.She said her daughter was a train chief.When she discovered that I was a railfan,she said"I heard you people are wierd".I answered"oh we are."By the way,I believe the answer to superchief's riddle is 9.
posted
All the time. Okay, so every now and again you can't wait to finish your meal or move away, but the good experiences tend to outweigh the bad. For example, in May I was on the CZ from Glenwood Springs to Denver. Not especially long, but enough to meet people in the lounge car. One particular pair of 40-something ladies were so enthused about the train journey that it was transmitted throughout the car! Soon everyone was having a ball!
I've never met anybody "famous" (insert your own definition here). But then I am not one who would be overwhelmed by anybody famous anyway, we're all ordinary humans when it comes down to it. Bush... uh, you run the country... I think? Ok, nice to meet you. Bye.
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
We were on the CZ once and met a couple of girls from New Zealand and a guy from Australia. They were trying to name the major rivers of North America, something they all had had to learn in grade school. I thought that was pretty amazing. The only river in Australia I could think of was the Darling, and the only river in New Zealand was zilch.
Posts: 58 | From: Owensboro, KY USA | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
polarbear is also met a man who knew evreything about soda!!!! did u meet him on the coastarlight, 2 summers ago when u were sitting in the parlor car right befor the wine tasting. were u the fat pakistani kid eating all the cheese???? that wasnt very nice. u had the delux sleeper next to me with all the noise and foot ppowder didnt u. u made it hard for me to take our train attendent molly to fully satisfy my trip, well i forgive u, if u have aol my screenname is polarbearucla. im me please.
Posts: 117 | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I always meet interesting people on a train. That's one of the perks. Last weekend I was stuck eating dinner with a non-talker and I managed to get about a third of a conversation out of him. Resistance is futile. If you're not meeting people, you need to spend more time in the lounge car, plain and simple. This is why I haven't taken a sleeper yet- either you meet someone at your seat or you hit the lounge. One of my favorite reasons to ride a train is that the narrow aisles and limited seating makes you act like a human being. Those power doors sure are fun to open for somebody.
Next time tell the conductor about the lounge guy and get him kicked off the train. That's ridiculous. He doesn't deserve to be on board.
[This message has been edited by Amtrak207 (edited 11-25-2003).]
Printer-friendly view of this topic
), I've met exchange students from Korea and Ireland, I've met several very pleasant and friendly Canadians, as well as World War Two vets who all had some very interesting stories to tell of how they met their spouses, and I've also made the acquaintance of jerks from just about every State in the Union. I've met boisterous Scouts on their travels to and from Philmont, and I've also met Scouts who have been a shame and embarassment to their organization. As I've told several of my relatives when they asked about who I encounter while aboard the train, one meets all kinds of people on board. Most greetings have taken place in either the lounge car or the diner. For the most part, the encounters have been positive, but there have been notable exceptions (the Scouts in particular stand out in my mind - for good and bad reasons both).
