Are long train trips as "magical" as they seem in the old movies?

Question

Are long train trips as "magical" as they seem in the old movies?

Answer 1

i have ridden a train often in my life, starting with a train ride when i was maybe 5 years old for a 4 hour christmas run through the country side (ya, right, that was country all right).

then in my early adult life i lived in spain and travel often by train

later i travelled around washington d.c. on what is called the metro, and then back to germany for a year and travelling by train.

i took a train trip across russia some years back and that was a combination of magical, terroristic, militaristic and down right dangerous.  i'd go again in a heart beat!

in all my travels by train,  the trip has been wonderful because i chose it to be so, and the people i meet, from the spainish woman who was trying to pawn her coquette 19 year old daughter on me to prostitute who was trying to get money from me in russia, it was an amazing time to be alive.

people are all interesting, and you see so much. if you are lucky, someone is there to tell you the history that you are passing through.

train the call the city of new orleans is one of my favorite songs for i have spent many years of my life doing exactly that, traveling, making friends and meeting exotic people and appreciating them.

Answer 2

not really i thought they would be but there just like the sub way  but they can be kinda fun

Answer 3

no they are uncomfortable...

Answer 4

I have heard it said that heaven and h**l are the same place, but it depends on how you look at it that makes it what it is.

A long trip in coach is not for the feint of heart, nor anyone who doesn't want to sit in a chair for two or three days.

But, until you've actually paid for and slept in a bed on the train, you have never yet experienced the best nights sleep you'll likely ever get.  Rhythm of the rails or whatever you want to call it, it rocks you to sleep and the sleep is sound.

On the other hand, if predisposed to motion sickness, you'll not like the ride.

Answer 5

I depends on the person and the train.

I still have fond memories of travel on British steam trains when a young child and the trip was always looked forward to and experienced as an adventure.

Later on I took the Loreley Express for most of its route down the Rhine, one of the Great Rail Journeys of the World.

Occasionally on one of the Heritage Railways I am able to relive that spirit of adventure that I knew in my childhood, but only for a short time.

I still travel by train nowadays on Network Rail but for me it's a sad combination of waiting around on cold platforms, squeezing into uncomfortable seats (if you're lucky enough to find a seat), missed connections, and all for a fare that is more than you'd pay in the rest of Europe for a better service.

Answer 6

Well, I can't speak for all train rides, but the one my bf and I took last April from Rome to Sicily was pretty romantic, even though we were in a second class compartment with four random Italians, including a cute old couple who told the conductor he didn't need to keep checking our tickets because we'd been on since Rome, and the old lady called us "innamorati" (sweethearts).  :)

Answer 7

Personally, I have to agree with Hoghead.

But I can give you my experience.

My wife and I ride Amtrak out of the Bay Area about twice a year into Seattle on the Coast Starlight #14 and #11.

Except for the one time we rode coach, we have always spent a little more for the Roomette, (sleeper).  Making this change, makes rail travel much more pleasant than Coach.

On Amtrak, when you purchase the Roometter, Room, or Deluxe Room, your meals are included in the fare.  So that is really a bug plus, when like us the rail trip is scheduled for 22.5 hours from San Jose to Seattle.  Often its closer to 30 because Union Pacific gives their freight priority.

But aside from that, the staff has always been great.  No complaints there.  Honestly, its more like a rolling hotel than anyhting else.

As for the other person who had a miserable time riding Coach, I can sympathize.  On our last Coach trip we had to endure some fool parent and her two children running up and down the coaches, screaming their heads off and acting up.  

I finally asked the conductor if there was any possibility to be moved into an alternate car away from that noise.  Unfortunately, that was not going to happen on that trip.  Needless to say, we now reserve our tickets considerable time in advance to ensure that we have reserved our sleeper.

The only thing that I wish were more "magical" is Amtrak being able to adhere to their time schedules a little better than they do.  But that is another issue.

In any event, the trip has always been relaxing, and we always feel better riding the train, rather than getting an o*****e check at the airport, then walking out with bowed legs and a need for Preparation H.  

Anyhow, I hope I was able to answer your question and give you a few laughs in the process.

Enjoy yor trip!

Answer 8

I really wish they were, but unfortunately most train journeys are overcrowded and noisy these days.

Answer 9

not unless theres a bar car and you have a bunk.

Answer 10

Not in the south of England old chap. You can get from Katmandu to Caracus in the same time as it takes to get from South Croydon to Hayward's Heath.  The only magical thing about it is that the commuters haven't revolted.  Oh and the LCD display indicating when the next train is due which starts off at a delay of one minute which magically changes to two, three, four etc.  

Sigh, somehow an aliminium sprinter just doesn't compare to a hunk of steel and steam.

Answer 11

Quite apart from long rail trips when I'm off on holiday and my joy and expectation of all the beautiful countryside I shall see, builds during the journey, I use trains at least 3 times a week to travel fromLondon into the countryside of southern England; the joy of boarding the train just never lessens for me; the hum of the station; the sounds and motions of the train and observing the passing scenery is just great  - so relaxing and pleasurable.

Answer 12

NO WAY!

I went on a train trip of 12 hours and by the time I got to my destination I was crushed from sitting down. It can be fun for the first couple of hours but after all it gets boring and you just want to get to wherever it is you are going.