If you were traveling by train what kind of cars would you want in it?

Question

You could choose to ride in a coach or a room-type sleeper. Would you want a dining car with full service, a car with a vend-o-mat snack bar, or some other sort of meal service? Would you want a club car with a full bar? How about a vistadome or similar observation car?

Would you prefer a luxurious train or a more economical train? And if your ride were more than a day, would you want shower facilities on the train or would you prefer to have them available at a stop?

What sort of rail experience would be your preference?

I rode trains in the U.S., by the way, when everyone traveled by train and we always rode coach. We didn't use the dining cars--we bought food at stations we were stopped at and ate in our coach.

Dining cars tended to be very expensive. Most train travelers avoided them.

Answer 1

A mix of powered cars, viz., cars each equipped with onboard propulsion in the form a Diesel-hybrid module with a 20-litre twin-turbo flat-twelve driving appropriate generator capacity plus onboard air compression for the friction brakes.  The full range of "varnish" (viz., baggage cars, coaches, dinettes, sleepers, club cars, &c.) could be accomodated in one basic car design that way; the driver in the lead car could control all the cars from one point (a matter first worked out decades ago, when the Electro-Motive/GM F3 was first ordered en masse, and now standardized across all locomotive manufacturers).

I happen to like the latest coaches myself; the National Rail Passenger Corp. (alias Amtrak) did the right thing in using reclining seats across both Amfleet and Pullman Superliner series, taking precedent from the airlines with whom NRPC competes.  A dining car is a good thing, albeit somewhat pricey, for a train with a long stretch between stops; likewise onboard showers.  Sleepers are a good thing for families on vacation but unnecessary for party-of-one commuters.

Answer 2

Dodge Vipers!!

SPEEEEED!!!

Answer 3

I like the early British Railways Mk 1 corridor carriages which were once used on most main line services.

They came in 1st and 2nd class, open saloon or compartment interior, also buffet and restaurant cars, sleeping cars etc.

The seating was more comfortable and spacious than most  carriages in use in Britain now. Unfortunately they have disappeared from regular service and are only to be seen on heritage railways and the occasional main line vintage steam trip.

I travelled in Europe by rail in the 1970s and 80s and found the rail carriages there more spacious than in Britain because of the more generous loading gauge. My favourite trip is one I made in 1976 on the Holland-Skandinavia Express (Hook of Holland-Copenhagen) where the buffet car was a former Wagons-Lits pullman c.1930, still with the original wood panelling and marquetry, spotless white tablecloths, luxurious upholstery, etc. I remember sitting with the car to myself, munching my breakfast and watching the countryside go by.

Another memorable journey was a year later on the Lorelei Express (Hook of Holland - Basle) where the presence of a DSG (German) buffet/bar car with its plush seating and ready supply of Pilsner beer was a welcome sight.

My ambition (as yet unfulfilled) is to travel across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Express. The journey takes about 6 days and the train is basically a rolling hotel, sleeping cars, dining car, etc. My parents took this trip some years ago and said it was the most amazing journey they had ever made.

I'd also like to travel across America by train as it would be a better way to see the country than by flying.

Answer 4

Oh i would like something like the Orient Express, lots of luxury, dining service with full waiter service, and if travelling for more than one day then yes definitely a shower would be good.

I dont do roughing it in standard

Answer 5

As a child I rode on the City of Los Angeles, a top-of-the-line American streamliner of the 1950's. It had roomette sleeper service and a full dining car. As recently as 1993, I travelled extensively in Japan on its famed Shinkansen "bullet trains." A few years ago, I took a night train from Manila to Legaspi in the Philippines. So speed and distance are factors I would consider when making decisions about accomodations and food service. So, if I'm travelling a long distance, and the train is moving slower than 100 kph, I would want better accomodations. I agree that dining car service is expensive.

Answer 6

Depends on the trip and my budget.

A short trip  a coach would be fine.   But after 48 hours,  that seat would be getting old,  and a sleeper would be preferred.   The level of luxury would not be a factor to me,  as long as it was comfortable.     Showers on-board would be preferable,  as it would eliminate the lines and hurry to get cleaned and not miss departure.    As for food,  vending or snack bar would be OK if there were good offerings and not just junk.   Dining cars  providing a good meal at fair prices would be good,  and could be included as part of the fare package.    Having nothing but vending on-board would mean more carry-out brought onto the train with the accompaning debris problems.    I like the idea of an observation car also,  but question why all coach cars could't be opened up a bit more to eliminate the need for an additional car.

Answer 7

I'm used to trains in Japan and Korea.  The Shinkansen was great.  It was kind of like flying except with seats like business class, leg room like first class, and a coach ticket price.  Also the air was better, it was quieter, and the scenery was way more awesome.  

Anyhow, that's the best experience I've had.  I'd have to go with that.  Just a nice comfortable seat with lots of leg room.  I don't care about food.  I'll buy something at the stations.  Japanese and Korean stations are well-appointed.

Answer 8

in the grand scheme of things dude when all is said and done its a f*****g train dude!

Answer 9

I would want it to be mid-range priced. A nice dining car is always a good thing, but it does add cost. A Bar service could help to defray the cost of the food service.

Having Observation cars would be a must have item. Kids and Parents love the observation cars.

On the Cars, yes you would need sleepers if it was a multi day trip. Just comfortable coach cars if it was a several hour trip.

Stopping along the way for food and shopping would be good.

The cost of maintaining the track bed, track and signal system, plus paying the right of ways fees if you accessed another rail line would have to be included in the cost some where.

PS: Most of my overseas rail travel was in West Germany and the UK. Germany has a fantastic rail system, though it's for travel only, not for pleasure.

Answer 10

Fascinating.  My mother and I are talking about taking a train to AZ soon.  It's a short trip, but I think she will want a private compartment because she is fragile and I take care of her.

Dining Car, for sure.  For me, I'd like to find a car where they played Texas Hold 'em -- I think it is fun.  But I wouldn't get much time away from Mom, so I'd just bring good books to read.

Since this would be our first trip, and she must have a walker or a wheel chair, I think we would have to make this a luxury train, though we would probably have to take meals in our room.  Sometimes it is difficult for her and I think private cars have necessities.

Thanks for bringing this up.  I had not considered any of these questions and we are thinking of taking a trip this week.  That's my procrastination again.

:-)