Here's my list of autotrain tips I compiled over the years.
Usual disclaimer--only my experience, may not match yours....
1. If you're riding coach, the biggest suggestion is to bring a blanket and pillow. None available on the train (tiny pillows, hard to sleep on they provide one of)
2. Get there early enough to get the dinner seating you'd like. We always go for the earliest one, in order to be through in time for the movie.
3. They do a really good job assigning people according to their age levels. When we've gone, we always get assigned to the "families from Heck" car, which is actually pretty good since my kids could meet other kids and maybe my exhausting to entertain daughter could go join someone else's family for a few hours. The other cars, the times weve been, are for families with older teens/gen xers/boomers and then another car for Builders (senior riders.) The folks in that car tend to try to land the early dinner slot. Many also get there early in the morning to check in, then wait for hours and hours and hours to get on.
4. You will be assigned seats in a car, which is great compared to the general free-for-all on other Amtrak routes. When you get on, you will probably discover, unless it's really full, that there are unassigned seats
across from the stairs down to the lower level and at the ends of the cars where the lights are brighter. Dont hang back trying to snag a couple. We've successfully been able to do that everytime we've gone.
5. Since those seats are much brighter, I bring an extra large beach towel or lightweight dark colored blanket which I can hook over the luggage rail to hang down so the light isn't right in your eyes. I've been thinking that one
of the those lightshade masks to wear would be a good idea. If you get to stretch out on 2 seats, the seats are separated in the middle by a metal strip which is indented between the foam of the 2 seats and very uncomfortable. I bring a small baby blanket or hand towel to insert into the gap to make them level. Feels much better.
6. Once the train starts going there are free snacks in the lounge car--a yummy mix of pretzels, cheese doodles and cornchips. (My last time was just prior to 9-11 so am hoping they still do it.) You can bring bowls back to your seat. They don't announce they're putting them out. My son is allergic to cheese and nuts, so I bring different snacks for him.
7. Extra batteries for the walkmen, if the kids areinto that. (you can tell it's been awhile: charged up iPod and gameboy!) There is one plugin for a laptop per car, located in one of the seats, but it may not be available. If important try to chisel this info out of amtrak before you get there.
8. On one trip only we were in a car in which the seats were very worn and smushed down. We happened to discover the car behind us was completely empty, much newer, and got permission to switch over. If your car's not in the best shape look around for beter options. All the other times the car was very nice.
9. I bring lysol wipes for the bathroom. There is a ladies' "lounge" in each car with a long counter with room for makeup bags, etc. I get up early on the train---like at 6:30 (they announce breakfast at 7) and freshen up, change my undies, and exit feeling perky and ready to go for the day. I bring a separate smaller case in my carryon with all the toiletries in it to carry downstairs. I happen to be allergic to the amtrak soap (which is liquid with an almond base and smells lovely) and bring my own face soap, along with a hand towel and wash cloth.
10. Some people really like to snag the downstairs compartment, but I think it smells like a chemical toilet downstairs (which would be what is downstairs. We like upstairs much better.)
11. The service in the dining car can be rushed to the point of being almost rude (they have to turn around 2 or 3 seatings depending on the passenger load.) Since my hubby doesn't drink coffee I have him get a cup too so I have 2 cups, as refills very hard to get. They put a nice carafe of white wine on your table.
12. We were delayed by an hour and a half once getting into the station, but haven't experienced any of the horrendous delays. Waiting can be quite crowded, with a lot of heat outside where most of the seats are, and lots of crowds inside where its air conditioned. This is a good time to haul out the game boy game they havent seen for awhile, or a new book or magazine if youve got kids to keep entertained. Theres a small playground at at least one of the stations, but its been too hot to use when weve been there.
13. Our kids are now older and not early risers, so we let them sleep while we go have a nice breakfast (you share a table if you don't have 4); and bring them a to go tray back, which the staff is sometimes gracious about. I also bring breakfast snacky stuff in case I can't bring something back. Breakfast is cereal, bagels (not toasted but pretty good) bananas juice and coffee.
14. Traffic can be a nightmare getting into Lorton. There's an exchange (Springfield??) which has been under construction forever. We've twice waited to eat till we got that far, and got into a nightmare trying to get back on the freeway. If you're a AAA member find out what the status is this summer and find a better place for lunch. (There's no real food for meals at either station--some vending sandwiches, etc. Which makes no sense; why don't they do a cafe for people checking in and waiting for train? Captive audience?Big money??? Food is a little better at Lorton than Sanford. Plan ahead for the traffic. They mean what they say about the check-in times.)
15. The drinking water on the train tastes chemical; I bring bottled water.
