All aboard!

It would be a disservice to romanticize my recent train trip, one that took me toVirginiaandthentoNorth Carolina and then back to Slidell, Louisiana. The fact that the trip was not luxurious or at times convenient does not minimize the advantages of traveling by rail. A train trip is simply another option, and I am glad that I chose it this time.

To preface, I am no seasoned veteran when it comes to Amtrak, nor am I a novice. I have ridden the Sunset Limited to the West Coast from El Paso and a shorter trip from Alpine to El Paso. The Texas Eagle transported me from Fort Worth to Chicago, where I then took the Empire Builder to Saint Paul, Minnesota. Twice now I have taken the Crescent from New Orleans to parts east.

Road trips will always be my favorite, but as I age it is becoming clear that solo long distance road trips are more difficult and more expensive for me. This last train trip took 25 hours, but I was able to afford a roomette for about $375 (including refundable insurance and three meals). That meant I had some privacy, a toilet, a big window, and two seats that folded out to a single bed. I slept really well on the trip home because I was pretty tired from a five-hour layover prior to boarding. I saved on gas, hotel and food costs and arrived sooner.

I did take some motion sickness medication prior to taking off. The motion on the larger trains is not pronounced or severe—more like a rocking motion with a few small jostles (equivalent to hitting bumps in the road). When trains go over the switch tracks, the movement is noticeable but certainly not scary. And trains slow down over bridges and curves. I was able to read and do a crossword and got up and did some stationary leg exercises to keep from getting stiff. Connecting trains are another story—double dose the Dramamine (think propeller plane as opposed to 747).

As I posted on social media, I do wish Amtrak’s sleepers were more upgraded. It was clean and comfortable, but my room facilities were worn and not modern. I want The Orient Express without the murders. And be realistic: delays can happen, just like at an airport. I had none on this last trip.

An easy thing to test out the rails would be to drive to Fort Worth and hop on the Texas Eagle. Get off in Austin and spend a night or two. Or maybe a quick trip from Alpine to El Paso. Both of these trains, at least when I did those trips, had observation cars and dining cars—a fun perk.

I still prefer to see the USA in a Chevrolet (or Honda), but the tracks can be a fun alternative.

Snyder, Texas, native Sue Jane Sullivan is a retired schoolteacher whose thought-provoking commentary appears occasionally in several West Texas newspapers, including The Texas Spur and The Caprock Courier.