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Heejoung Kim
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Is anyone traveled from NYC to Chicago by coach seat? I hope to see the lake view, but it takes 19 hours as you know. Will be possible? Or something crazy?
What he said. If you're coming from New York (I assume you're taking the Lake Shore Limited) you'll be able to see the Hudson, which is even better I think than seeing Lake Erie. Depending on when you wake up and how late the train is you might see the sun rise between Sandusky and Toledo, which is quite pretty. You'll also get glimpses of Lake Michigan on the run into Chicago.Well, WB a lot of the lake will be passed in darkness if the train is on time (I got to see some of Erie one morning last year because we were late and the sun woke me up in my sleeper).
And...I've done similar lengths of time in a seat before, and I did not enjoy it (this was RVR-DLD...actually my first LD train trip). The biggest saving grace was that I was able to, quite bleary-eyed and half-asleep, wander to the dining car and get a proper breakfast (with coffee), and you'll have the same privilege on the LSL of access to a dining car in the morning either way.
Because of the Slumbercoach's confort, I would say that it was a mini Sleeper more than an improved Coach.I did it frequently when I was in college 30 years ago. A slumbercoach was a much nicer, if a little isolating ride.
A lot depends on how well you sleep in general. If, like me, you are a "light sleeper," then you might do better in a sleeper car. Bring a pair of "noise cancelling" headphones to drown out ambient noise, even if you don't listen to any music. Talk with your doctor about any "sleeping aids" s/he might think are appropriate for you. Also, any aids to help with "motion sickness" if that's an issue for you. I always carry some "Bonine" (OTC Meclazine HCL) for motion sickness. Try to find seats (or be assigned a room) in the middle of the train car, as opposed to being on/near the end of the car, where you could be directly over one of the trucks. When seated at meal time, always ask to be seated facing the direction of travel. Sometimes, they will try and make you sit in the opposite direction, just to fill the table. Insist that you be seated in the direction of travel, even if it means you have to wait for the next table.Is anyone traveled from NYC to Chicago by coach seat? I hope to see the lake view, but it takes 19 hours as you know. Will be possible? Or something crazy?
Excellent advice - it also depends on what you're doing when you get there. If you need to be on your "A-game" for a business meeting or something, getting a poor night's sleep on the train isn't the best plan.A lot depends on how well you sleep in general. If, like me, you are a "light sleeper," then you might do better in a sleeper car.
Thanks! :hi: BTW, did you get my PM?Excellent advice - it also depends on what you're doing when you get there. If you need to be on your "A-game" for a business meeting or something, getting a poor night's sleep on the train isn't the best plan.A lot depends on how well you sleep in general. If, like me, you are a "light sleeper," then you might do better in a sleeper car.
If you've got the time to take it easy on your first day in Chicago to relax from a potentially poor night of sleep, that's a different story.
I will be doing it twice coming up in Aug. Taking the Cardinal to Trenton NJ which if on time is a 20+ hour ride then returning on teh Penn/CL to chicago, both trips will be coach...Is anyone traveled from NYC to Chicago by coach seat? I hope to see the lake view, but it takes 19 hours as you know. Will be possible? Or something crazy?
We are exactly the opposite. For us, the train travel is at least as, if not more, important to us than the destination. Therefore we "splurge" on the train accommodations and get a sleeper for every LD trip.......Personally, I'd rather spend more money on my destination accommodations but that's just my personal preference, many here only travel in sleepers....
I wonder how often random passengers simply perish in coach and never reach their destination.I rode in coach from New York City to Indianapolis. I survived, but I much prefer a sleeper.
It's quite possible to enjoy a trip of this length -- or even longer -- in coach. I've ridden the California Zephyr between Chicago and Denver and then Denver and Emeryville in coach and enjoyed the trip. I also rode the Southwest Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles -- a 43-hour journey -- in coach without issues.Is anyone traveled from NYC to Chicago by coach seat? I hope to see the lake view, but it takes 19 hours as you know. Will be possible? Or something crazy?
There was that lady that found her way off the Auto Train a few years back. Wasn't she a coach passenger?I wonder how often random passengers simply perish in coach and never reach their destination.I rode in coach from New York City to Indianapolis. I survived, but I much prefer a sleeper.
Philosophically, I'm with Joanie in that I decide what I really need or want, and say the heck with what everyone else does. That way I can do what I really want to do.We are exactly the opposite. For us, the train travel is at least as, if not more, important to us than the destination. Therefore we "splurge" on the train accommodations and get a sleeper for every LD trip.......Personally, I'd rather spend more money on my destination accommodations but that's just my personal preference, many here only travel in sleepers....
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