worried about eating with others...

[MooGooGaiPan]

...it's not something we do in daily life. I know I can ask for food to be brought to our room, but the dining car is supposed to be part of the experience.

I imagine weird people, disagreeable people, obsessive talkers, foamers, spitters, birthers...to say nothing of the waitstaff.

If needed, can we pick up our plates and escape to our rooms? Sort of like carryout? We'd skip dessert in any case.

Is it safe to assume that breakfast and lunch are served quickly and so require less social interaction than dinner does? If so, we can do dinner in the room.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I know I can ask for food to be brought to our room, but the dining car is supposed to be part of the experience. I imagine weird people, disagreeable people, obsessive talkers, foamers, spitters, birthers...to say nothing of the waitstaff.

Those weird, obsessive, disagreeable, foaming, spitting, birthers are the experience everyone's been talking about. :lol:

On a more serious note you can get up and leave at any time, but you may look a little odd if you dart for the door.

If you want your food to come with you then you might have to stick around until it's ready.

Maybe you should start out by visiting the lounge first and getting a feel for the passenger train vibe.

If you find someone that looks friendly you could strike up a conversation.

Maybe they'll join you as your table mates at the next serving in the diner.

Sometimes you'll get hermits who cannot share a peep between them.

Sometimes you'll get folks who cannot speak the same language as you.

Sometimes you'll get folks who want to tell you all about their lord and savior.

But, in all seriousness, it's really nothing to be afraid of.

In all my travels on Amtrak I've only had a few truly weird diner experiences and I still survived it.

 

[Ryan]

All of the meals come out pretty quickly - there's a lot of demand for those tables, so (in theory) the waitstaff has incentive to keep things moving.

You've probably got your best chance at eating solo (or getting paired with someone that's been there for a few minutes or arrives a few minutes after you do, limiting the time you spend with a stranger) at breakfast. Lunch and dinner are pretty much the same.

I wouldn't let your imagination bother you, though. Most folks are pretty reasonable.

 

[Shanghai]

One of my greatest joys in train travel is meeting new people in the dining car. Yes, sometimes you get strainge people, but in my

case, it has been rare. We usually enjoy chatting with our tablemates and often learn of new places and techniques in travel.

I would hope that you would give it a try - I think you will like it.

 

[TVRM610]

I think you are wayyyy too worried about this. Railroads and Boats have had community seating for decades and people survived! I love getting to meet new people in the diner and it's really nothing to worry about.

To answer your questions... You can always ask the wait staff for to go containers... Nothing wrong with asking for dessert to go too.

And yes, breakfast is by far the quickest served meal in my experiences. Lunch depends on the train... If there is only one call for lunch, things can get pretty crowded and then the wait gets to be longer than you would expect. But again, that depends on which train you are riding.

 

[Guest]

Only occasionally have I encountered that awkward silence at a table in the diner. However, I've learned that the one thing everyone on the train has in common is that they are going somewhere. Generally, I'll I have to do is ask "Where are you traveling?" and a pleasant conversation always follows.

I'm a pretty shy person with strangers, but I found this to be an easy way to "break the ice."

I have never encountered anyone "scary" over a meal in the diner. You don't have to become BFF's since you'll never seen them again. Meeting people unlike myself is much more interesting than talking to someone just like me.

 

[DeJordy]

...it's not something we do in daily life. I know I can ask for food to be brought to our room, but the dining car is supposed to be part of the experience.
I imagine weird people, disagreeable people, obsessive talkers, foamers, spitters, birthers...to say nothing of the waitstaff.

If needed, can we pick up our plates and escape to our rooms? Sort of like carryout? We'd skip dessert in any case.

Is it safe to assume that breakfast and lunch are served quickly and so require less social interaction than dinner does? If so, we can do dinner in the room.

Just try to have a positive attitude. Generally, I've enjoyed the people at the table; there have been some whom I didn't love; but in all my trips, it has never been actually an unpleasant experience. One time going to NY, I sat with people who knew two people in all of New York City. Those two people lived across the hall from the apartment where I grew up. So you never know who you are going to meet.

 

[greatcats]

Breakfast on #4 this morning was not fast. Snippy server and one cook. Passengers are OK. Enjoy the ride.

 

[Eric308]

In all my LD train travels I've NEVER had an unpleasant experience in the dining car. Don't be surprised if you really hit it off and end up meeting your group for a future meal. I sat with a 92 year old woman on the EB last year who was just RETIRING as a teacher in MA....we arranged to share each meal from CBS all the way to PDX. She even sent me a Christmas card this year.

 

[california dreaming]

This was actually the highlight of my trip, talking to people I would never pick to eat with. Every one has a story and every one is interesting... even if they are pompous. The people and their tales still linger with me. On the longer trips, it was nice to see our fellow sleeper passengers walking through the passage ways and share attendant stories - one attendant completely spoiled his passengers so much - I was almost tempted to tip him but did tell him how wonderful his smile and attentiveness made my trip.

The very worst breakfast companion ordered and whipped out her Iphone and never ever looked up or engaged. Don't be that person.

 

[Train Rider]

...it's not something we do in daily life. I know I can ask for food to be brought to our room, but the dining car is supposed to be part of the experience.
I imagine weird people, disagreeable people, obsessive talkers, foamers, spitters, birthers...to say nothing of the waitstaff.

If needed, can we pick up our plates and escape to our rooms? Sort of like carryout? We'd skip dessert in any case.

Is it safe to assume that breakfast and lunch are served quickly and so require less social interaction than dinner does? If so, we can do dinner in the room.

Just imagine what they imagine you to be!

 

[zepherdude]

I think you are over concerned as well. I have had all kinds of table sharers. The last time I took the train, lunch was spent with a couple that had no interest in me at all, we ignored each other. Very small talk was shared. The worst experience was a couple that chided me for having a sleeper. They talked about all the stuff and I listened, but did not respond. I finally said, I suppose your upset because I can afford the sleeper and you can't, Please get over it! Life will go on and I am really enjoying my meal.

They got really irked and stormed out. They left no tip! They also begged for a lunch burger (it was dinner). I ordered more wine!

Most people on Amtrak are great and adventurous folks. Many seniors that love to chat. People from everywhere that enjoy the train and the scenery. I think you will get along fine. Like you said, you can always dine in your compartment. The attendant will deliver your meals. Be positive, smile and have a good time!

 

[ScottC4746]

...it's not something we do in daily life. I know I can ask for food to be brought to our room, but the dining car is supposed to be part of the experience.
I imagine weird people, disagreeable people, obsessive talkers, foamers, spitters, birthers...to say nothing of the waitstaff.

If needed, can we pick up our plates and escape to our rooms? Sort of like carryout? We'd skip dessert in any case.

Is it safe to assume that breakfast and lunch are served quickly and so require less social interaction than dinner does? If so, we can do dinner in the room.

I have only had positive experiance except at breakfast I've bumped into those who CBers woud call motor mouth which I am not in the morning.

 

[MooGooGaiPan]

The worst experience was a couple that chided me for having a sleeper. They talked about all the stuff and I listened, but did not respond. I finally said, I suppose your upset because I can afford the sleeper and you can't, Please get over it! Life will go on and I am really enjoying my meal. They got really irked and stormed out. They left no tip! They also begged for a lunch burger (it was dinner). I ordered more wine!

I have only had positive experiance except at breakfast I've bumped into those who CBers woud call motor mouth which I am not in the morning.

There ya go...people tend to forget the bad and remember the good, but I'd love to hear some more war stories so I'm prepared...

 

[BCL]

I have very little experience with LD trains. I've taken Amtrak LD trains twice and both times were the Coast Starlight for than two hours each trip down to San Jose with my kid from either Richmond or Emeryville. Those also happened to be during breakfast hours. My kid was generally pretty well behaved, although we went through a lot of jam packets. I think the people we were seated with were somewhat entertained by the juvenile factor. My biggest worry was that they stacked mugs in the flat area behind the seats, and that my kid was going to start going for them and break them. BTW - anyone know where I could buy an Amtrak mug? I had been given one of the plastic plates once when I asked for leftovers to go and they didn't have any boxes. They just wrapped it up in foil. Now I don't suppose they'd let me have the Corelle.

It always tended to be uneventful. Maybe a little bit of chit-chat about where you're from and where you're going. Other than that I'd hope that people taking the train would figure out that it is a social thing to some degree.

 

[Guest]

The worst experience was a couple that chided me for having a sleeper. They talked about all the stuff and I listened, but did not respond. I finally said, I suppose your upset because I can afford the sleeper and you can't, Please get over it! Life will go on and I am really enjoying my meal. They got really irked and stormed out. They left no tip! They also begged for a lunch burger (it was dinner). I ordered more wine!

I have only had positive experiance except at breakfast I've bumped into those who CBers woud call motor mouth which I am not in the morning.

There ya go...people tend to forget the bad and remember the good, but I'd love to hear some more war stories so I'm prepared...

I think 99% of diner experiences are not bad and I'd disagree with you and say that people tend to focus on the bad more than the good in their memories regarding such experiences.

One thing to remember is that those couple of people who listed a bad experience here clearly lived to tell about it and pointed out that they have had more good experiences.

 

[Alexandria Nick]

I have little interest in talking to strangers when I'm eating and my strategy of "look unfriendly and quiet" has worked. However, this is my usual demeanor so it comes more naturally.

Should a unattached pretty girl be seated across from me, I reserve the right to modify this strategy.

 

[BCL]

Should a unattached pretty girl be seated across from me, I reserve the right to modify this strategy.

Doesn't work for me since my wife will probably find out. Strangely enough, the kid seems to be somewhat of a chick magnet, but that doesn't do me any good at this point in my life.

 

[oregon pioneer]

I've met people at meals that I enjoyed talking to (for their different perspectives), but never cared to talk to a second time. And I've met friends for a lifetime, too! And everything in between. If I disagree with someone who seems to hold strong opinions, I just listen and smile and say "oh, really?" I don't feel the need to impose my views on them. Then I watch for when they go to the next meal, and wait awhile longer, or arrange to go in together with someone I want to sit with. When I traveled alone last fall, I found there were many older women like me in the sleeping cars, and we would arrange to go to dinner together, as we found we had much in common and looked forward to more conversation across the tables.

I am pretty easygoing, and don't mind if someone across from me prefers not to talk. On the other hand, Hubby and I have met many wonderful people at meals in the dining cars. One time, we sat with a distinguished-looking black man that the couple ahead of us had refused to sit with (they had been invited by the dining car steward to leave the facility, if they did not like family-style seating). He turned out to be a cardiovascular specialist at a major New York research hospital (gave us his card, and I looked him up online), and a great conversationalist. We enjoyed his company, and sat talking quite a long time over the wine. So you can't judge by appearances. Give everyone a chance.

 

[the_traveler]

Yes, sometimes some people at your table can be bores. However on 99.999999999% of my trips on Amtrak, the most interesting people I have met and talked to have been people at my table. And in everyday life, I am VERY shy and hardly talk to anyone.

People that I've met at my table range from people from all over the US and other countries all around the world to a member on the board of directors for Amtrak and an Amtrak VP!

Breakfast on #4 this morning was not fast. Snippy server and one cook. Passengers are OK. Enjoy the ride.

Every Dining Car (except on the Empire Builder) only has one cook!

 

[ozbuc]

On our last Coast Starlight trip on the # 11 everybody we shared a table with were very quiet. They would smile and nod at our queries and the just mutter to each other. I thought a monastery booked the train.

 

[pennyk]

I know I can ask for food to be brought to our room, but the dining car is supposed to be part of the experience. I imagine weird people, disagreeable people, obsessive talkers, foamers, spitters, birthers...to say nothing of the waitstaff.

Those weird, obsessive, disagreeable, foaming, spitting, birthers are the experience everyone's been talking about. :lol:

On a more serious note you can get up and leave at any time, but you may look a little odd if you dart for the door.

If you want your food to come with you then you might have to stick around until it's ready.

Maybe you should start out by visiting the lounge first and getting a feel for the passenger train vibe.

If you find someone that looks friendly you could strike up a conversation.

Maybe they'll join you as your table mates at the next serving in the diner.

Sometimes you'll get hermits who cannot share a peep between them.

Sometimes you'll get folks who cannot speak the same language as you.

Sometimes you'll get folks who want to tell you all about their lord and savior.

But, in all seriousness, it's really nothing to be afraid of.

In all my travels on Amtrak I've only had a few truly weird diner experiences and I still survived it.

I totally agree with Chris (which does not happen all that often ). On the Canadian, I sat with a couple from China (who did not speak any English) and their daughter who lived in Toronto (who spoke many languages). We had a wonderful dinner and very interesting conversation.

 

[JayPea]

Add me to those, who, like Traveler, don't talk much. I'm very introverted and it's been said of me that I'm stuck for an answer when someone says hello. But when I'm on a train, particularly in the diner, I'm much more outgoing. It helps that I do a lot of my train traveling with my uncle, who could get a good conversation from a cigar store Indian. But when I'm on my own I talk much more. I have been seated with a few folks who never uttered a peep, but mostly folks are more than eager to talk, especially if you ask them about their travels. The one and only time I had an unpleasant experience was at breakfast one morning. The man seated with my uncle and I proceeded to ***** as loudly as possible about how rotten Amtrak was, how horrible the service was, and how inedible the food was. He told our server in no uncertain terms about all his rotten food and service on past trips, and told her the biscuit better not be "hard and cold, like usual". Naturally, when his biscuit arrived, he bitched loudly about the quality and practically threw it back in the server's face.

On the whole, however, my experiences have been very positive. I've met many wonderful folks from all over the country and around the world as well.

 

[BCL]

You've already got ready-made questions that make chit-chat easy.

Where ya from? Where ya going?

If you ask those questions of someone at a diner counter, they might think you're a stalker. However, everyone on a train is from somewhere and trying to get somewhere.

 

[SarahZ]

Wildcat - traveling on a train with others is not the same as interacting with them and making small talk. Introversion does not require therapy. Introversion does not equal "social anxiety". Therefore, I don't see your point. Some people simply prefer to keep to themselves, and there's nothing wrong with that. I don't talk to the person next to me on the plane either (though, I'm polite if they start chit-chatting away - I'm not a complete jerk).

I'm shy and introverted, so small talk terrifies me. I can sit and discuss things with friends for hours, but small talk with strangers? Oh, heck no.

I started dreading meal times on the SWC last Thanksgiving, even though our dining companions were pleasant. I couldn't wait to escape back to my room where I didn't have to put on my "customer service" personality and chit-chat away. I prefer to stay quiet and not answer questions about myself, but that comes across as rude when seated with other people. So, since my boyfriend is pretty much paralyzed around strangers, it's up to me to carry the conversation ball.

A lot of this "dread" has to do with my job, since I make small talk and niceties on the phone all day. When I'm on vacation, I want to be able to avoid conversation with strangers. It's my quiet time.

If you are uncomfortable, you can always ask your SCA if it's possible to order meals to go. Depending on the SCA, they'll either bring them to you (please be sure to tip), or you can go to the diner and get it from the LSA. We're considering doing this for our next trip.