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Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Jul 29, 2011
- Messages
- 11
I am a former Amtrak Conductor, and I just wanted to share a few tips about baggage on board trains.
While the Auto Train does not have checked baggage, you can bring some on board. Keep in mind that you might be leaving some of that baggage on the lower vestibule of the train. For the most part everyone has access to this baggage. LOCK IT! It's not like the baggage area on a jet airliner. I have seen and caught people rummaging thru others baggage and stealing. If you have valuables like a camera or laptop or money, keep this bag with you at all times!
As far as other Amtrak trains to Florida, the same applies. If you don't have your bags within your sight, LOCK THEM!
As far as a baggage car on the train, most of the equipment is from the 1960's and 1970's. It's old stuff. Amtrak operates on a shoestring budget as it is. They don't have money to replace or weatherize baggage cars. Snow drifts in, rain gets in, and baggage gets WET all the time, sometimes ruining personal items. The best way to mitigate this is to either pack your items inside your suitcase in plastic bags, or just put the whole suitcase in a big heavy duty plastic garbage bag. Sometimes you can get away with that, sometimes not. Depends on the station agent checking your bags.
And even though your bags are in the baggage car, LOCK THEM! You never know who might get into that baggage car!
One last thing. DO NOT put valuable or easily damaged items in checked baggage.
While the Auto Train does not have checked baggage, you can bring some on board. Keep in mind that you might be leaving some of that baggage on the lower vestibule of the train. For the most part everyone has access to this baggage. LOCK IT! It's not like the baggage area on a jet airliner. I have seen and caught people rummaging thru others baggage and stealing. If you have valuables like a camera or laptop or money, keep this bag with you at all times!
As far as other Amtrak trains to Florida, the same applies. If you don't have your bags within your sight, LOCK THEM!
As far as a baggage car on the train, most of the equipment is from the 1960's and 1970's. It's old stuff. Amtrak operates on a shoestring budget as it is. They don't have money to replace or weatherize baggage cars. Snow drifts in, rain gets in, and baggage gets WET all the time, sometimes ruining personal items. The best way to mitigate this is to either pack your items inside your suitcase in plastic bags, or just put the whole suitcase in a big heavy duty plastic garbage bag. Sometimes you can get away with that, sometimes not. Depends on the station agent checking your bags.
And even though your bags are in the baggage car, LOCK THEM! You never know who might get into that baggage car!
One last thing. DO NOT put valuable or easily damaged items in checked baggage.
