I believe this matter is covered within the conditions of carriage contained within the National Timetable.
There is also the potential for public health issues if that practice (which I will acknowledge seems like a perfectly reasonable request) were to be allowed.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Thank the lawyers in this country for this rule. There is no practical reason for this rule. Kind of like the sticker on the drill that says "not for dental use".
So what sort of food do you want to nuke? Popcorn? Frozen food.
Clearly, you are of a frugal nature, and so am I. Although I would not, even in my wildest imagination, even consider asking the overworked cafe attendant to nuke anything, I think we may be of a somewhat kindred spirit.
I recently completed a cross country tour of this great nation and decided to experiment with freeze dried food. I bought $60 worth of that stuff on ebay for $30 and carried it with me on board, with a little immersion heater that I bought at a local travel store.
An immersion heater, for those of you who may not know, is basically a high resistance coiled device that plugs into a standard 110 volt outlet. Such outlets can be found all over Amtrak trains, but not so many on the double-decker Superliners.
Anyway, I was boiling the requisite 16 ounces of water required to reconstitute the freeze dried food wherever I could find an outlet. At first I used the bathrooms, but when they became putrid, I used those awful smoking cars and sometimes the lower level of the cafe cars.
A good quality fried dried food packet makes remarkably good, edible food with very little mess. Quite filling and tasty.
However, nothing quite compares with a meal in the dining car. That is my final conclusion.
Nevertheless, I found the immersion heaters to be a delightful way to make tea onboard the train. Nothing like a good cup of tea whenever you feel like it.
Posts: 324 | From: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Chucky! what a great idea! ill have to try freeze dried food and an immersion heater! too bad i dont think i have enough time to get those items before my train ride this saturday.
Posts: 416 | From: St. Albans, Vermont | Registered: Feb 2003
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You have plenty of time. Let your fingers do the walking. Go to the yellow pages and look under "Luggage - Retail." They should have the immersion heater. Be sure it's 110 volt, not 220 volt.
For freeze dried food, go to REI or any reputable sporting outlet. If you have to pay over $6 for a meal, you might as well eat in the dinner.
*Caution* Check the cooking procedure. Do not, repeat, do not buy anything that requires you to do anything more than pour 16 ounces of boiling water into the packet and stir. You will regret buying such a product.
Also, do not buy dehydrated food. Buy freeze dried food. There is a difference.
Bon Appetite
Posts: 324 | From: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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Yes, popcorn or soup maybe. I also make a killer ham and cheese sandwitch that's all the better with a brief appointment with a little radation.
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Room Service, I've used Heater Meals on Amtrak, they do work and will fill you up. I can only recommend that you don't prepare one at your seat. Here's why: I rode the Southwest Chief in February 2002 and prepared one Heater Meal at my seat. It made a lot of steam as it heated and that could bother passengers, nobody said anything to me but I was a bit surprised as to how much steam those little meals can make! To remedy this, I went downstairs and made subsequent meals by setting the meal on the step box sitting on the floor near the door of the car since it obviously wasn't being used. Follow the directions on the Heater Meal to prepare it, place the meal back in the box as the directions say and immediately set it on the step box and let it heat up. When its done, throw away the meal box and heating plate and just take the heated meal back to your seat. The steam won't bother anyone since you heated the meal downstairs by the door and you'll have a good hot meal from the comfort of your coach seat.
[This message has been edited by Amtrak288 (edited 02-05-2004).]
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Second on the Heater Meals. I have 2 cases in my emergency room ( ie for storms , terrorists etc) We took them on the train and to hikes in New Mexico. They make super hot food, and will warm up your hands if you are outdoors.
Posts: 168 | From: Spring TX USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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Room Service, the reason food cannot be heated up in the lounge or kitchen is due to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) regulations. If you noticed all the food which is warmed up in the lounge is vacum sealed under sanitary conditions. If the FDA caught us nuking a passengers personal food they would shut us down. Now we are able to make exception for baby food bottles of milk. Don't ask me why because I can't see that it's any more steril than a sealed bag of popcorn but that's the rules.
Posts: 100 | From: Sacramento,CA | Registered: May 2003
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