Sleeper Car Etiquete Poll: Curtains/Door closed, or open?

[Blackshirt Husker]

I'm interested in hearing other responses on this. One of the reasons I choose to pay extra for a sleeper is so that I can work on my laptop, fall asleep when I want to, take in the scenery, or read a book on my Kindle and tune out the world for awhile. I also like to meet new people and get my social interaction on the train through community seating in the dining car and in the Observation Car, but when I'm in the room and don't have my kid with me on a trip, I usually keep the door closed. A couple times, though, I've gone out to get water and the SCA has cheerfully said, "Well, look who's decided to emerge from his cave!" I don't think I'm being anti-social and see a lot of other doors not only closed but with their curtains drawn as well, but...do you folks tend to have an open door policy when in your Roomette/Bedroom/ during the day, or do you try to retreat a bit? No right or wrong answer--just want to make sure I'm not breaching passenger rail protocol.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I voted that I keep both the door and the curtains closed, but in reality, I'd say "it depends." Rarely do I have the door closed and the curtains open, I'll have both open if: I've made friends with 'the neighbors', I'm waiting to make meal reservations, or the roomette across from mine is unoccupied and I can see the view out its window. If I feel like socializing I'll usually either head to the lounge car, or wait till dinner.

If the SCA makes some comment about emerging from my cave, or some such, I've said things along the lines of: "You didn't know you had Batman aboard, did you?" Afterall, I'm the one who has paid to occupy the room, and therefore it is my prerogative to have the door and curtains open or shut!

 

[zepherdude]

Forget about protocol and do what you feel good doing. I use a four letter word to express my true feelings, if others don't like it, too bad! I read all these questions about tips, do what you feel comfortable doing. Yes, there are norms for everything, but every trip is different, so just do what ya wanna do. Don't sweat the little things and who gives a crap about what others say, anywayz.

 

[Bill Haithcoat]

There should be an option for "all of the above, depends on mood of the moment".

Do not worry about the remark, the attendant was just making light conversation, I would think.

 

[Blackshirt Husker]

There should be an option for "all of the above, depends on mood of the moment".

Do not worry about the remark, the attendant was just making light conversation, I would think.

LOL, not worried at all, but it did make me curious about what other people do. Thanks for all the replies!

 

[boxcar479]

when we travel I like to keep the curtain open so I can see out both sides, and if I am in a roomette I keep it open to give the passenger across the hall a chance to see out as well. After dark I usually close the curtains too. I like the "came out of your cave" line. I will have to remember it next time I get a disappearing SCA

 

[Acela150]

I like my door shut and the curtain open. But sometimes like the door and curtain open. But most of the time door shut curtain open.

 

[pennyk]

I generally keep the door and curtains open unless I am on the phone, then I will close the door for privacy.

 

[the_traveler]

I think a 4th option to the poll should be added also.

I sometimes have the door and curtains open or closed, even when in the room. (Especially in a Viewliner - NOBODY wants to see that show!

) But I also do both at times in a Superliner too. It's not that I'm anti-social - this way when I leave (like for a meal or to the Lounge), people who may be watching do not know if I'm in the room or not! (Not that there's a very high chance of theft from your room.)

 

[Linda T]

After my last trip I'll be keeping my door and curtains shut, and locked. We were on the CS when a kid next door decided to come stand in the hall and just stare at us. True he was doing nothing wrong, but we do value a bit of privacy and don't want to be a ****-sapian exhibit (CHI, LA, and SEA all have excellent zoos ). My husband then got up and closed the door and pulled the curtain back. Apparently the kid disappeared from his mother as a few minutes later an irate mother threw our door open and came crashing through the curtain screaming.... she thought her kid had closed the door and curtain to play in a vacant room and she was coming in after him. But at the time we had no idea why this woman came barging into our room in an angry rage. We didn't report the incident as it was apparent that the woman was after her child, but no apology from her was given. Later the boy apparently forgot what room they were in and again entered our room while we were there. We've not only gone to closing the door and curtain, but locking it when we're in there. In hind sight we probably should have mentioned the incident to our SCA, but asked him not to say anything to them; now he must think we're over protective of our privacy, as he'd come to our room and knock and then try to enter and the door was always locked.

To me, my time in my sleeper is like being at home, or in the car. It's my private place where I can chose to be social or just relax in private. I'm not anti-social I absolutely LOVE the communal seating or meals. The people are generally very interesting and we can usually find something we all agree on even if it's just the scenery. That's where I also picked up a lot of info about the Zephyr that hit the irrigation system since a couple of it's passengers were on our train and seated with us. But this is a great question, not only about doors and curtains, but how much privacy do we have a right to when in sleepers?

 

[amtkstn]

I leave the curtain and door open when I in the sleeper, if I leave the car to go the diner or lounge they are both closed.

 

[TimePeace]

I too use various combinations. Sometimes I want privacy to talk and might leave the curtain open, for views across if that curtain is also open. I always close up completely when I leave the room (which is a lot during the day, the only time I stay in the room for more than an hour or so is overnight when sleeping). If I am just hanging out alone during the day I will have it all open and do enjoy chatting with other passengers or crew who walk past. Sometimes I have made friends with folks across the way, other times when not so friendly with them I keep it all closed more of the time.

I travel with a guitar or ukulele and sometimes like to play softly if I am sure it is not going to disturb anyone. I ask my neighbors, and I also check with the SAC to make sure there are no complaints. More than once I have had neighbors who liked it and came and stood and chatted with me while I played. I have even given a lesson or two on the train!

Another one of those "there is no right way; to each their own" kind of things. I think it is mostly about striking that good balance between personal comfort and consideration for other passengers and crew.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

In areas of good scenery when I'm not in the Lounge for some reason, I often have made a "deal" with the folks across the hall who are just as interested in the scenery to pool the rooms and cross back and forth for viewing and picture opportunities or at least leave the inside and outside curtains open for cross viewing.

 

[Baka]

I use to keep the curtain open, so i could see the other side. One trip it seemed that everytime i checked the other side, my neighbor was looking at his "other side". After staring at each other a few times, i had to laugh, thinking i was loosening the awkwardness. He got very upset and slammed the door and the curtain. I now keep the curtain closed, the door open.

 

[Rail Freak]

In areas of good scenery when I'm not in the Lounge for some reason, I often have made a "deal" with the folks across the hall who are just as interested in the scenery to pool the rooms and cross back and forth for viewing and picture opportunities or at least leave the inside and outside curtains open for cross viewing.

 

[leemell]

There should be an option for "all of the above, depends on mood of the moment".

Do not worry about the remark, the attendant was just making light conversation, I would think.

I agree with this. We usually have the door closed and curtain open, but have had the door open or all buttoned up depending.

 

[ATXEagle]

After my last trip I'll be keeping my door and curtains shut, and locked. We were on the CS when a kid next door decided to come stand in the hall and just stare at us. True he was doing nothing wrong, but we do value a bit of privacy and don't want to be a ****-sapian exhibit (CHI, LA, and SEA all have excellent zoos ). My husband then got up and closed the door and pulled the curtain back. Apparently the kid disappeared from his mother as a few minutes later an irate mother threw our door open and came crashing through the curtain screaming.... she thought her kid had closed the door and curtain to play in a vacant room and she was coming in after him. But at the time we had no idea why this woman came barging into our room in an angry rage. We didn't report the incident as it was apparent that the woman was after her child, but no apology from her was given. Later the boy apparently forgot what room they were in and again entered our room while we were there. We've not only gone to closing the door and curtain, but locking it when we're in there. In hind sight we probably should have mentioned the incident to our SCA, but asked him not to say anything to them; now he must think we're over protective of our privacy, as he'd come to our room and knock and then try to enter and the door was always locked.

To me, my time in my sleeper is like being at home, or in the car. It's my private place where I can chose to be social or just relax in private. I'm not anti-social I absolutely LOVE the communal seating or meals. The people are generally very interesting and we can usually find something we all agree on even if it's just the scenery. That's where I also picked up a lot of info about the Zephyr that hit the irrigation system since a couple of it's passengers were on our train and seated with us. But this is a great question, not only about doors and curtains, but how much privacy do we have a right to when in sleepers?

Would this have been the northbound CS that departed LAX on Wednesday, July 27 by any chance?

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

In a deluxe bedroom I will have the door closed, curtains open. In a roomette i normal keep the door closed and curtains closed.

I take my time in the morning, so keep the curtains closed is/or feel more relaxing.

I have had a problem on the Lake Shore Limited when I keep the door and curtains closed. Twice I was accused of smoking in my room by the SCA. I have never smoke, and not going to start. But it seem there is a EX-smoker who smell smoke, and due to the fact my door is closed, I am the problem. Intrest both time the SCA was a smoker himself, and reek of smoke while he was checking.

But in truth the door may be open or closed, the curtain may be open or closed. Just too many thing that affected it. Time of day, mood, amount of people looking in, kids, traffic, the type of sleeper.

No real fix pattern

 

[Shanghai]

I usually leave the door and curtin open when I am in the room.

I close both when I go to the diner.

I have a story similar to the one mentioned above.

While traveling to Gathering IV in St Louis, several of us

were on the Capitol Limited to Chicago. I knew Railroad Bill

and Claudia were boarding in Cleveland, and Bill had told me

the roomette they would be in. However, he failed to tell me

that he would not be in that roomette until Toledo. As Penny

and I were going to breakfast (before Toledo), I noticed the

door to that roomette was open, but the curtain was closed.

I grabbed the curtain, opened it only to startle the young

lady sitting there. After an apology, I went on to breakfast.

While sitting in the diner, Railroad Bill come in and when

I confronted him, he said he wouldn't be in the roomette

until Toledo!! I was quite embarrased and have never

repeated that stunt.

 

[JayPea]

Usually I keep the curtains and door open, unless I'm at the diner, in which case both are shut. There are times, depending on how sharp the curves are where we are traveling, when the door will shut/open at will.

 

[amamba]

I like to keep both open, but I also need a 4th option - curtain closed but door open. I did that for a while when I was on the CS this year - it was UNBEARABLY warm in my bedroom and there was nothing I could do to cool it down. Even the SCA tried a few things but everyone in the car was steamy. It was March and I was sitting in a tank top/camisole and still sweating.

 

[user 683]

I typically keep the door closed with curtains open, but there are times when I'll keep the door open and there are times when I have the doors closed with the curtains drawn. It really depends on what I am doing (reading, sleeping, just gazing out the window) and how much is going on in the adjacent areas.

 

[Linda T]

Would this have been the northbound CS that departed LAX on Wednesday, July 27 by any chance?

A ye-up. :giggle:

 

[ATXEagle]

Would this have been the northbound CS that departed LAX on Wednesday, July 27 by any chance?

A ye-up. :giggle:

My friend and I were walking through your car to our bedroom in another car when one of the incidents you described occurred. I heard a gasp from one room and then saw a kid running out and then heard his mom yelling at him. Later on we were in the same corridor and the same family was running wild. We were laughing to ourselves with gratitude that we weren't next door to them!

It's hilarious that you posted about it on here!

 

[NorthCoastHiawatha]

It depends, both door and curtain closed at night and when not in the room. When im in the room I typically have the door open and curtains partially open, fully open or closed (just depends on my mood). The only time I close the door when in the room (other than at night) is for cellphone calls.