1st time on a train

Taking a train is not similar to taking a plane, and yet it is. The security is minimal so far as I have seen. (except for the green-uniformed border patrol guards who searched my train for illegal aliens. They actually found a few.) If you have the fortune of having two seats to yourself like I did, you end up with about 4 times as much room as a plane seat. They have the same little tray table things, but the seat backs recline much farther and they have a foot rest like a recliner. I am describing the coach seating of course. I have no idea what kind of accommodations the rooms have. Passengers may opt for a sit down meal at meal times, or just snack on food from the lounge car. They sell cheeseburgers and beer also.

I didn’t know if I would have internet on the train. I didn’t have internet. Once or twice I grabbed a wifi while we stopped at a station. Remember that we rarely stayed at a station for longer than 3 minutes. That sums up the internet. Cell coverage consisted of the areas around the towns or cities we passed. Spotty at best.

The most different part on a train is the smoke stops. Most of the stations the train stops long enough to exchange passengers. But sometimes the train stops for a longer time and the passengers may exit and get some fresh air, or some smoky air, whichever they prefer. Sometimes I miss smoking when I see others talking and smoking. The habit is a social habit primarily, consisting of built in ice-breakers and conversation topics. It elicits instant camaraderie among those “needing a smoke”.

Walking on a train takes effort and balance, much like walking on a boat. However, instead of the rolling of a boat in the water, this is the swaying of a large machine attached to rails. Sometimes you may hear some creaking as the train takes a harder turn than normal and a lot of wait shifts to the other side of the car. I finally got my train legs the second day.