Food suggestions on delayed trains

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Brian Battuello

Brian Battuello

OBS Chief
AU Supporting Member
Joined
Jul 23, 2014
Messages
985
Location
Arlington, MA (near Boston)
I've had the Amstew. If it isn't Dinty Moore, it is pretty close. I've had far worse chow in the army (MRE, anyone?). Warm and reasonably filling.

I've also pulled into Flagstaff xxx hours late. There was a pickup truck with about 300 boxes of KFC and a few cases of Coke. The attendants walked down the aisle saying, "Box, Coke". If anyone asked any questions, "White meat? Diet Coke?" they just said "Box, Coke" and walked on. Personally, I'd rather have the smell of a decent stew than the odor of 60 boxes of KFC. Not to mention that the trash cans filled up pretty quickly.

Still, we didn't starve.
 
Brian Battuello said:
I've had the Amstew. If it isn't Dinty Moore, it is pretty close. I've had far worse chow in the army (MRE, anyone?). Warm and reasonably filling.

I've also pulled into Flagstaff xxx hours late. There was a pickup truck with about 300 boxes of KFC and a few cases of Coke. The attendants walked down the aisle saying, "Box, Coke". If anyone asked any questions, "White meat? Diet Coke?" they just said "Box, Coke" and walked on. Personally, I'd rather have the smell of a decent stew than the odor of 60 boxes of KFC. Not to mention that the trash cans filled up pretty quickly.

Still, we didn't starve.
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I think subway would’ve been a better option. But I understand that KFC is their go-to
 
Cal said:
I think subway would’ve been a better option. But I understand that KFC is their go-to
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I would not like Subway because there would be things on the sandwiches that I would not like. And some of those things might leave a taste even if I removed them.
 
AmtrakBlue said:
I would not like Subway because there would be things on the sandwiches that I would not like. And some of those things might leave a taste even if I removed them.
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Yeah, and how would they decide which sandwich to get to please everyone? Also, making a couple hundred sandwiches takes a while.

With KFC, everyone gets fried chicken, take it or leave it. I think most Americans would take it, even if not loving it.
 
joelkfla said:
Yeah, and how would they decide which sandwich to get to please everyone? Also, making a couple hundred sandwiches takes a while.

With KFC, everyone gets fried chicken, take it or leave it. I think most Americans would take it, even if not loving it.
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The standard KFC batter has milk in it. It would be advisable for Amtrak to have a consistent emergency food plan which was *allergy friendly*.
 
neroden said:
The standard KFC batter has milk in it. It would be advisable for Amtrak to have a consistent emergency food plan which was *allergy friendly*.
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Suggestions? There are so many different food allergies nowadays. I can't think of anything that would be allergy free, palatable to most Americans, relatively safe without refrigeration for a few hours, and readily available on short notice.
 
joelkfla said:
Yeah, and how would they decide which sandwich to get to please everyone? Also, making a couple hundred sandwiches takes a while.

With KFC, everyone gets fried chicken, take it or leave it. I think most Americans would take it, even if not loving it.
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Just asked my partner (ex-Subway manager) what he would do for a large order. He said that 120 cold cut combos could be knocked out in about an hour from a single store. They are kind of the the "basic" sandwich/sub. That is without adding individual's preferences.
 
Since I have food allergies, I likely would not be able to eat anything provided. I am able to eat nuts and I always bring plenty since they travel well and contain protein.

I have only been on one train where the stew was served. I declined since the smell of it nauseated me. Once on the Auto Train we were many hours late due to a vehicle hit in Georgia. We were served lunch of chicken stew and rice prepared by the chief from dinner leftovers. I recall it being quite good. We were in a sleeper. I am not sure what coach passengers received.

I have been on several late trains where snack packs were served. Most items contained too much sugar.
 
My one emergency meal on Amtrak was beans and rice on an eastbound Capitol Limited. It would be easy to transport a sufficient quantity of beans and rice to the train, and it is likely that some sort of market or food supply establishment would have enough in stock.
 
Rover said:
I'll tell you what I have in my refrigerator right now... MOTT'S No Sugar Added Applesauce

Ingredients: Apples, water, ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
View attachment 26541
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I checked in my fridge, too, and the favored brand from Natural Grocers also has no sugar added. However, I looked in Google and if more popular (cheaper) brands are selected, the grams of sugar go up. This is a good example of discussions elsewhere in AU about the need for transparency on menus, especially when choices are limited. As a coach passenger I've taken a greater interest in what they're pushing on us.
 
Cal said:
I’m almost positive Amtrak has gotten KFC for long distance trains, although probably not 300+ Passsngers
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It's one thing to get a dozen pizzas or a few dozen boxes of KFC. I think they have done that on the EB.
 
Willbridge said:
I checked in my fridge, too, and the favored brand from Natural Grocers also has no sugar added. However, I looked in Google and if more popular (cheaper) brands are selected, the grams of sugar go up. This is a good example of discussions elsewhere in AU about the need for transparency on menus, especially when choices are limited. As a coach passenger I've taken a greater interest in what they're pushing on us.
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Most of the major brands (and the store brands, too) sell regular applesauce (with sugar added) and a "no sugar added" variety. You have to pay attention when you pull stuff off the shelves.

I have a similar problem with V-8 Juice. They make a regular version, which is like drinking oil-field brine, and a "low sodium" version, which is pretty good. I have to always watch myself to make sure I get the "low sodium" version.
 
For really delayed trains, the obvious choice is ..... MREs! If they're good enough for our service personnel putting their lives on the line for their country, they're good enough for us Amtrak passengers. And they come in vegetarian, kosher, and halal versions. No preparation is needed, you can heat and eat them right at your seat (or in your room.)

Come to think of it, they could get rid of all the dining cars, and just pass out MREs. :) (Ducking to avoid the rocks, rotten tomatoes, and flex meals being thrown in my direction.) I would still keep the cafe car, but just turn it into a real bar-lounge with a real bartender, extensive craft cocktail menu, and maybe some snacks to go along with the drinks. Selling booze is always profitable.
 
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When power to the diner on the North Coast Hiawatha was knocked out due to a collision at a crossing in Montana in 1978, they announced that they'd be bringing in food from "The Colonel" (at Butte?). Apparently that didn't work out, so they brought in bread and canned ham from a supermarket to make sandwiches. Kind of funny seeing train staff pushing grocery carts up the street towards the train.
 
Devil's Advocate said:
United resorted to such service once and it turned into a PR fiasco that made headlines worldwide.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...-after-they-are-put-military-barracks-n375131
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Not the same thing at all. They were stuck in Goose Bay, Labrador, a place not exactly loaded with spare hotel rooms. Even if I were a passenger, under the circumstances, I'd rather that the aircrew responsible for safely operating the aircraft safely across the North Atlantic be comfortable and rested over the passengers.

Anyway, it's a completely different thing from being served an MRE on the rare occasions when the train is so late that emergency rations are needed.
 
MARC Rider said:
And MREs come in vegetarian, kosher and halal varieties. And maybe for sleeper passengers, they could stock French combat field ration packs, which are supposed to have better food than the American ones.
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As someone who has eaten a lot of MRE, any other countries field ration packs were always a welcome break in the cycle of MREs. While the French may of been quite proud of there ration packs, the legionnaires were all ways willing to swap meals for something different too.
 
MARC Rider said:
Not the same thing at all. They were stuck in Goose Bay, Labrador, a place not exactly loaded with spare hotel rooms. Even if I were a passenger, under the circumstances, I'd rather that the aircrew responsible for safely operating the aircraft safely across the North Atlantic be comfortable and rested over the passengers.
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How were they stuck? Did the runways close? Were all other aircraft in use? Did all the pilots strike?

MARC Rider said:
Anyway, it's a completely different thing from being served an MRE on the rare occasions when the train is so late that emergency rations are needed.
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It's the same "let them eat shelf stable cake" attitude. MRE's normally come with wages, pensions, and stipends.
 
Maglev said:
My one emergency meal on Amtrak was beans and rice on an eastbound Capitol Limited. It would be easy to transport a sufficient quantity of beans and rice to the train, and it is likely that some sort of market or food supply establishment would have enough in stock.
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Beans and rice (separately) is actually a good choice because, while many people are allergic to beans and some people are allergic to rice, it is quite uncommon to be allergic to *both*.
 

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