Do you get off at longer stops (a poll)?

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When you have 15 minutes or more at a stopover, do you get off to stretch your legs?

  • Yes, always - as long as I'm awake!

    Votes: 82 59.4%

  • Sometimes, but not every time

    Votes: 53 38.4%

  • Nope - I'm afraid the train will leave without me!

    Votes: 2 1.4%

  • Only when I need to have a smoke.

    Votes: 1 0.7%
  • Total voters
    138
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oregon pioneer said:
I stay near, but walk the train back and forth at a brisk pace till they call the "All Aboard." Then I jump on the nearest car. I try to avoid the smokers, since it's *fresh* air that I'm after!
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That surprised me.

I wasn't aware that they still allowed smoking on trains in the USA. Are specific cars designated as such? Are there "No Smoking" and "Smoking" cars? What applies in the restaurant or parlour cars?
 
I do. I like to look around the station and when possible, the area overall.
 
Me also, need to stretch the legs, walk the length of the train and view the locale -- BUT

IF your time sense isn't that good, or your watch is bad, or the train is late and cuts that service stop short, or you have AADD -- be careful and aware -- and be within a few feet of the open door when you hear the "all aboard".

There's been stories posted about failure to board on-time.

Myself, never a problem, until last April, train #7, Minot. I was trackside, near the diner, when I heard the "ALL ABOARD". I looked up and down the train, and the nearest open door on the coach behind the diner slammed shut. The door to my sleeper was maybe 120 feet away, so I hustled. Maybe 30 feet from that door, it closed too. When I reached that door a few seconds later, it was latched shut, and I heard the two toots from the engine. Believe I got anxious. But the SCA opened the door, I said "thanks much" (she got a good tip at end of trip). Maybe I just got careless, having ridden the EB a few dozen times.

So, I'll still take advantage of a good walk on solid ground, and take pictures, etc.

But I'll be near that open door on time any future time.
 
NW cannonball said:
I was trackside, near the diner, when I heard the "ALL ABOARD". I looked up and down the train, and the nearest open door on the coach behind the diner slammed shut. The door to my sleeper was maybe 120 feet away, so I hustled. Maybe 30 feet from that door, it closed too. When I reached that door a few seconds later, it was latched shut, and I heard the two toots from the engine. Believe I got anxious. But the SCA opened the door, I said "thanks much" (she got a good tip at end of trip). Maybe I just got careless, having ridden the EB a few dozen times.
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Sounds to me like it was the staff that was being rather careless in that instance. No wonder people are being left behind.
 
This summer as a Westbound Empire Builder pulled out of Havre MT I heard "There's a couple of people running down the tracks behind the train yelling and waving their arms frantically" or words to that effect over the intercom. The conductor quickly responded with something like "Once this train starts moving, I won't stop it!" Our next stop was Shelby MT (about 100 miles down the tracks) and lo and behold who's waiting on the platform but the folks that got left behind in Havre - having been sped there by some good samaritan in her car at 90mph! SCA said they'd been in a nearby tavern having a beer.

What a couple of maroons!
 
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niemi24s said:
This summer as a Westbound Empire Builder pulled out of Havre MT I heard "There's a couple of people running down the tracks behind the train yelling and waving their arms frantically" or words to that effect over the intercom. The conductor quickly responded with something like "Once this train starts moving, I won't stop it!" Our next stop was Shelby MT (about 100 miles down the tracks) and lo and behold who's waiting on the platform but the folks that got left behind in Havre - having been sped there by some good samaritan in her car at 90mph! SCA said they'd been in a nearby tavern having a beer.

What a couple of maroons!
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Actually, it would not be hard for a driver to beat the train from Havre to Shelby. It takes the Builder 2hr 18min to cover 105 miles - an average of just 45mph. Any Montanan with a decent pickup should be able to beat the Builder to Shelby with time left over to have another beer. Speed limit on US 2 is 70.
 
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Does anyone have stories about what they do if the train is in the station for over 30 minutes, waiting for time? Will you stay outside for the entire time? Will you leave the train and see local sites?
 
Yes, every chance I get! Last year, a new train friend and I raced to the engines :) . I like to stretch and do jumping jacks. Plus, "see" new towns.
 
Thirdrail7 said:
Does anyone have stories about what they do if the train is in the station for over 30 minutes, waiting for time? Will you stay outside for the entire time? Will you leave the train and see local sites?
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Going south through WAS on 51, I had time to go into the station and pick up an early lunch in the food court - since there was no line.I probably wouldn't venture far at unfamiliar stations.
 
Thirdrail7 said:
Does anyone have stories about what they do if the train is in the station for over 30 minutes, waiting for time? Will you stay outside for the entire time? Will you leave the train and see local sites?
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A few years ago we hit Alpine well ahead of schedule and the Conductors invited folks to wander into town if they wanted; just be back in 45 minutes. Many folks piled into nearby cafes to get a change of pace from Amtrak chow.
 
niemi24s said:
This summer as a Westbound Empire Builder pulled out of Havre MT I heard "There's a couple of people running down the tracks behind the train yelling and waving their arms frantically" or words to that effect over the intercom. The conductor quickly responded with something like "Once this train starts moving, I won't stop it!" Our next stop was Shelby MT (about 100 miles down the tracks) and lo and behold who's waiting on the platform but the folks that got left behind in Havre - having been sped there by some good samaritan in her car at 90mph! SCA said they'd been in a nearby tavern having a beer.
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What, they don't serve beer anymore in the lounge car?
 
Thirdrail7 said:
Does anyone have stories about what they do if the train is in the station for over 30 minutes, waiting for time? Will you stay outside for the entire time? Will you leave the train and see local sites?
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Once on the Palmetto we got into Rocky Mount real early. I got out, checked out the renovated station and when into the shop in the station and had a nice ice cream cone. Then I went and checked out the ACL Pullman car on display on the platform.
 
Hardly ever, mostly never.

I've gotten off at a long stop maybe, just maybe, twice in all of my trips - once for sure on the EB, that's the only one I remember.

Just never occurs to me to jump off the train unless I'm done with my trip. <shrug>
 
I generally would get off if not asleep; however I was traveling on business (Amtrak) with two of my colleagues and we stopped in Memphis on the CONO. The toilets n the sleeper were not working so,we got off, notified the Conductor we were going into the compartment under the car to see if we could fix the problem. We were in phone contact with a maintenance person in NOL who,was talking us through the problem. One of us got back on the car to see of the toilets would flush properly and at that moment th train began to depart MEM! I jumped off, saw the Conductor at the end of the train and signaled him to stop. He did and once we stopped my colleague who was still in the compartment came charging down the platform ready to deck the Conductor. He is close to six feet tall, about 250 and build like a linebacker. We had to physically grab him to protect the Conductor who would have been destroyed. Needless to say, we had to keep,them separated for the remainder of the trip....and th toilets still didn't work!
 
I travel mostly LD trains and get off at every announced "fresh air break" usually at crew change locations. If time is available, I do walk the length of the train and take a couple photos of station landmarks, etc.
 
If the weather is OK it's good to get off and walk, stretch the legs, and maybe snap a photo or two. Of course, I'm a chicken, I don't leave the platform and I keep an eye on the crew. I don't even want to think about dealing with Mrs SP&S if I missed getting back on - and I'd probably deserve whatever I got. :eek:
 
A couple of years ago, the westbound Empire Builder delayed at Shelby for almost an hour. A number of people ventured over into that bar and casino that often has the "Welcome Amtrak" banner out front. Tempted as I was to join them, I chickened out. As far as I know, they all made it back in time.
 
The san antonio layover is the best place to get off and walk around
 
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People straying to far from the train (California Zephyr), or not paying attention and getting left at the Glenwood Springs station seems to be a pretty common deal.
 
I get off, but stay near the train. Sometimes I walk up to the engines (only when I'm at Washington D.C. Union Station) and watch them switch out. When you're sitting down for hours, it's always best to get up and stretch. When a long station stop comes, that is also a relief.
 
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