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This fall I am, among other things, traveling round trip to Atlanta on the New Orleans train--no sleeping car, can't afford it, am saving up for other trips. I wondered if anyone has any tips on where to sit and what to look for out the window (when it's light, especially) between Washington DC and Atlanta, a route I've never been on before. Also, what is the Atlanta Station like, and where exactly is it? The people I'm visiting in Atlanta live in the suburbs and never take trains--is there anything special I need to tell them about picking me up?
North of Downtown. Suggest you go to mapquest for driving directions, etc.
The Crescent appears to geterally have fairly good timekeeping, but still it would be a good idea to have the people meeting you check before heading to the station. Tell them how to go to the Amtrak web site and check, or carry a cell phone so that you can talk to each other.
Your prevailing direction on the trip will be southwest, so to sit on the west side of the trrain will have the morning sun lighting what you are looking at instead of shining in your eyes. Assuming that we are talking about the trip happening in the near future, you will not have much daylight on the trip. None on the north end, and only a couple o hours in approach to Atlanta. If you are traveling on a night with a good moon, the hills of the Carolinas are beautiful in moonlight. However, since you are in coach your ability to see will depend upon how much light is on inside the coach.
dilly Member # 1427
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Since you're traveling in coach. . .
1) Choose a window seat located near the center of the car for the smoothest ride.
2) If possible, try several before your fellow passengers grab them. Some cushions are far more comfortable than others -- extremely important on a long trip.
3) In Amfleet coaches, the seat-to-window alignment varies from row to row. Some window seats require you to lean far forward to look outside. A few rows are so badly aligned that you'll have a lovely view of the coach wall all the way to Atlanta. Only a handful of seats have decent alignment, and provide a more or less unobstructed view.
Of course, since you're boarding in Washington D.C., the train will already be occupied, limiting your choices. But if scenery is important, keep all of the above in mind. Don't hesitate to move to another seat if necessary. If the conductor has already collected your ticket, just be sure to take your small cardboard "seat check" with you.
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