That’s what I was coming here to say. I actually have bought shoe bags over the years (and they are washable) but the plastic store bags work well too especially for flip flops used in the shower. Great info Allie.

❤😊Dollar Tree disposable shower caps are good to keep your shoes or slippers covered, as well. You get a lot for $1.25. I always wear slip-on sneakers or shoes for my long-haul train trips. I always bring a long extension cord to share with the person sitting next to me. I almost always lucky to get a window seat; providing the extension cord prevents someone having to reach over me to charge their items.

​​@MissEvv77 that's a good idea on using the shower caps!

I carry those items as well and clean my roomette also.

Yes! Gotta have that cleaning stuff even for hotels and cruise ships.

Plane train or boat!! Definitely requirements!

I’m traveling by myself

Showers are only for sleeper car passengers. Coach passengers are not allowed to use them. But definitely you do need to wear slippers or shoes in the bathrooms.

What r loops

@carolarabian9049 Soft earplugs that have a round loop that is easy to grab to put in or pull out of the ear. They come with several sizes to give everyone a good fit. Tiny carrying case so perfect for travel. Soft enough to wear as a side sleeper and blocks out a ton of noise. Trains can be noisy so things makes sleeping on trains so much nicer. The name brand is "LOOP".

I got a sleeper back in early 2020 because I had a chronic illness and have to use a CPAP but no one said they cut off the electricity repeatedly throughout the night 😳. how do you deal with that. I'm planning on traveling again by Amtrak across the country and I'm not sure what to do other than carry a big power station which is heavy. Thanks 😊

Have a small power adapter which you charge with outlet when power is on, and when power is off plug your cap machine into the power adapter which will give you power for a few hours. It happens remotely when no power it is usually when the cars have to be switched or added on or being removed. Otherwise you will have power most of the time.

I meant a battery pack to bring with you it’s in this video.

@@KimtheElder There's 2 factors I see. 1. type of chronic illness. Which I hope you get healed from. 2. The train route. Some will detach & connect to another train. Plus any train that goes south of Washington D.C., will lose power due to the changing of locomotives from electric to diesel, or vice-versa.

I use a 13 gallon trash can liner to contain used clothes. Works great to separate them from clean items if I live out of my luggage, and great for taking to a laundromat during longer trips.

They have bath wipes, too. They let you wipe down without having to rinse. I have them in my emergency kit but would take them on a train ride.

😊Yes, I always carry mini-fan as well. I use it on coach trips too.👍🏾

She went on at length that this what fits in the stowage space. I'd say that like when camping, if it doesn't all fit in your backpack, you need to scale down your stuff.

I packed pj's, a change of clothes, toiletry bag, camera, kindle, adapter, small purse, electronics, water bottle, charger and smartphone all in my backpack with no problems. Fit perfectly in sleeper car and under seat on the airplane.

@@kathyfox5193 I didn't see the "at length" you are referencing. I watched the video a few times. Such great info from the video and I love it. Thank you for your feedback.

Allie has not been able to answer you yet so I figured I’d offer my thoughts. She actually showed her toiletry bag in the large suitcase when she first opened it. We probably can assume that all of the items in the overnight bag go in their backpack or large suitcase when they disembark the train. @annbolandloveslife

Regarding Viewliner luggage racks for coach passengers - Last time I looked, there are two racks with two shelves; each suitable for no more than maybe six (6) suitcases. They are conveniently situated at each end of the single level coaches; next to the toilets. In my opinion however, the actual limiting factor should be determined by the ease with which you can single handedly hoist your own belongings up the steep and narrow boarding steps without endangering yourself or anyone else. If you cannot do that, you probably need to check that bag. Yes, an attendant might be able to assist but they are also likely to be immersed in checking tickets and seat assignments. So please, to avoid back injuries and (more importantly), not to delay the already painfully slow boarding process for everybody else) do check that large suitcase. Only exception should be if you are disembarking at a small intermediate station with no bag claim facility. Thank you

Under your feet, you can place the backpack when in the dining car.

@@gericummings6122 I didn’t think of that 😂 thanks for the tip.

NYC to Chicago. Transfer to Texas eagle train. Arrive in Dallas about 24-26 hours later

No

I bought similar from Target. Nice because your sleep kits is own package. Easy to pack up in night.

Good idea to pick one up before your trip. I tried to buy an Amtrak kit but they were sold out on that day.

I was just going to mentioned but saw your comment. Definitely!! I fold my scarf into a separate bag and use shoe liners.

I used a collapsible silicone kettle on coach, and kept it and the freeze dried backpacking meal packet on the floor. I was not going to risk spilling it on my lap. And immediately unplugged after use. I have food allergies that Amtrak does not accommodate.

@@KarlaBundy That's pretty much what I had been thinking... there's a wide variety of food and beverages that can be prepared just with hot water.

Thank you for saying this. I’ve seen videos and read about people using a collapsible kettle on coach and even in the observation car at the tables. I was planning on bringing a very small one to heat up water for instant coffee and cup noodles. I’ll bring one and see how it goes, using it cautiously and discreetly. 😅 The kettle shown in this video is really big and I can see why that would be a problem, but what probably really got these people in trouble was bringing a wok (What??) 😂

I'm planning a very long Amtrak trip in a few months and also saw another video with a person using a small collapsible silicone kettle in coach and immediately added that to my mental packing list. But wanted to try it in real life to see if it would really work. So I did a very short 3 hr trip to try it out. I was also trying out using a backpack and a small suitcase, etc.--to see how much to pack for a long journey. I'm older and didn't think I'd want to lug a backpack around, but it turned out I was able to do it better than I would have thought. I was in coach both ways; on the outbound leg, I had both seats to myself, but during the inbound leg, I had an aisle seat and had a stranger seated next to me by the elec plug. Outbound leg, no problem, could use both tray tops to spread out and make hot tea and eat a pop tart. Inbound, only one tray table and cramped space for the kettle, the travel mug (make sure it's spill-proof!), paper towels, spoon, teabag, sweetener, snack... Plus pulling everything out of the backpack that's sitting on the floor. Not ideal, especially with tray table lowered. I had an extension cord, asked the person sitting next to me if I could reach over her to plug it in (she was very accommodating). Filled the kettle with bottled water; after it got to boiling temp, turned it off and immediately unplugged everything. Filled travel mug with boiling water...never occurred to me how dangerous that could be if it spilled on someone until I had that stranger sitting next to me! Train is very bumpy and everything kind of jumps around on the tray table. Had to keep my hand on the travel mug the entire time. I also discovered that after making the hot drink, it was too hot to drink for a while. Thankfully, I hadn't used up all the liquid that was in the bottled water, so I could pour that into the cup and get it to drinking temperature quickly. And another comment on using the kettle: while it's mostly silicone, it does have a metal heating element/plate and that has to cool before you can pack it away. It gets quite hot and it takes a long time to cool. And it has to sit somewhere while it's cooling. All this being said, I still plan to take the kettle on my long trip, but use it sparingly and judiciously on the train, if at all. But I'll also be in hotels overnight while waiting on the connecting trains for each leg of the journey. The kettle can definitely be used there. And I agree with all the other comments about the wide variety of food and beverages that can be prepared with just hot water. I plan on bringing some of that with me. Happy travels!

@@user-fb4kn3dj1g Remember, you can use a kettle in the observation car where there might be more room to spread out. FWIW, I'm 75 and have wanted to take a long train trip for years. Unfortunately, I live in the Vegas Valley. I was surprised to discover that passenger trains stopped coming here in the '90s. I've been considering Coast Starlight, California Zephyer, and Southwest Chief, but just getting to LA in time without an overnight there has been a challenge. There are buses, but not a lot of early morning westbound options.

If you have room, put them in the overnight duffel. (They can start in the big suitcase and come out.) If you don't, bring them in their own bag; a bag that contains essential medical gear does not count against your baggage allowance. That matters most on trains with no checked baggage service, because the two bags you can carry on are all you get.

Long distance trains have them in theory but they often don't have enough to go around. Regional trains, even the overnight Northeast Regional train, don't provide them at all. So bring them along for coach trips. If you're taking a winter trip, your heavy coat may be able to double as a blanket.

@ShirleyMarquezDulcey Thank you so much for your insight!! I will be on the train with two others in Coacj for 49 hours

That backpack has things like wallet, phone, and laptop inside it -- things that are the most likely to be stolen and the biggest pain if you lose them. That's why they go with you.

No the checked bag goes into a separate compartment that you do not have access to but it is very safe. Just a bring a small carry on bag with clothes on the train with you.

Not to the checked baggage--that goes in a separate baggage car and you can't access it until you reach your final destination. What Allie is talking about is the luggage shelves. In both coach and sleeper cars, on the lower levels on the Superliner trains where you first get on, there are luggage shelves for bigger suitcases or bags or boxes. You leave your large bag there and then go up the steps to the coach seats or the sleeper compartments (unless you have a lower level accommodation) with your backpack and/or small bags. Most of the restrooms are on that lower level, so yes, you can access your big bag if you want to go into the train "changing room" to put on fresh clothes if you're in coach, or into the shower room if you're in a sleeper.

@@user-fb4kn3dj1g what is in a “changing room”? Chair? Sink? Toilet? Is it actually big enough to change your clothes in?

Just suggestions. I found them very helpful.

This the first time I’ve seen it.