Has anyone ever traveled a long distance by train...specifically Amtrak?

This site might help. It lists info for first time travelers on Amtrak, including seating classes: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1080080554437&pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FTitle_Image_Copy_Page&c=am2Copy

I have been from Washington DC to San Francisco on Amtrack, so I think I have enough experience to tell you some details. There is a dining car with restaurant type service for meal times (they come around and ask you what time you want to eat but because you don't have a sleeping car, you have to pay for it yourself) and there is also a lounge area where there is a snack bar. The seats are really nice to sleep in, well, as good as sleeping in seats can be. They recline back very far and have foot rests that come up. You are almost lying straight parallel to the floor, but not quite. Showers are okay, but I don't know if they are open to people who don't have sleeping compartments. The bathrooms are okay too, not that bad. I think you will be alright if you are only on the train for one night. It is a lot less frantic than traveling by plane. Have fun!

I hopped on an Amtrak in Needles Ca in the middle of the night when the ticket office was closed. I then fell asleep and they did not wake me to sell me a ticket as I had been told. I got to Chicago where I was due to change trains and still no one asked about my ticket. I had to buy tickets in Chicago to continue my trip and for my return trip. There was limited snacks on the train, and some stops where there were places to get snacks as long as you don't miss your train you will be fine. The one thing I did not have right is the time changes, and therefore the extra day it took to get to Pa which was where I was heading. There are "weird" people pretty much everywhere. I find most of them entertaining in one way or another.

Minus the time delay, the several trips I've been on Amtrak have been reasonably comfortable. I've been on trips from Chicago-Little Rock, Minneapolis-Chicago, and Chicago-Bloomington-St. Louis. I'm not sure if I was unintentionally upgraded to nicer cars (I don't think so, though)... but as far as I remember, the coach seats were nice and spacious, comparable to business-class seats on airlines. Lots of leg rooms. And no weird people onboard (or at least I didn't sit by any). I didn't get any food but I do know that they provide it onboard for longer trips.. at least on one of the cars. Do take note that there's usually no luggage check-in though... so it is possible for luggages (which are stored in their own storage area) to get mixed up with one another... And since there're no station officers to check them out, someone might walk away (intentionally or not) with your luggage without you realizing it, especially if he/she gets off before you do. It would be useful to put on visible tags on your stuff. I hope you find my answer useful.

We went from Anniston, AL to D.C on Am train.. IT WAS the most fun ever!! the seats are nice to sleep in-- and the food was good. Go to the lounge car and have a "white Russian" they made the best!! WE met the NICEST folks.. we played cards in the lounge..and just loved the whole trip... HOPE YOU Have fun and Good Luck

When I traveled and if was a few ago, there were no blankets or pillows provided for those of us not in the sleeper cars. The food was very expensive. At the time you were allowed to bring your own food on board, so I brought snacks and then just bought my main meals in the dining car. The restrooms got really messy and smelly. That's all of the negative stuff I remember. The good stuff, was the views were terrific. It was fun to see parts of the country that I hadn't had a chance to see because the roads didn't go there. The porters and the rest of the train staff were helpful and courteous. You got a chance to meet your fellow travelers and talk with them. If I was to travel by train again, I would get a sleeper for anything more than a few hours ride. To me it would be worth the extra comfort and privacy.

My Wife and I traveled from Houston, TX to Portland, OR. We had an unbelivable trip, but it was expensive, as we had sleeping cars the whole way. I wish they had more routes in the West, but if they are going where you are going, and you have the time, It is definantly a fun trip. As with any public transportation keep an eye on your belongings and avoid susiscious characters (or report them to the conductor/train personnel) and you will be fine. Food is not cheap on board, but then again it's about the price of any medium level restaurant, so it isn't terrible.

I traveled Amtrak on a 1500 mile journey, switching trains in Chicago. I chose a sleeping car going and not a sleeping car returning just to have the feel of train travel and to compare the experiences. The sleeping car was a great experience and the train wasn't very full, so it gave an opportunity to meet some interesting people. I tried the dining car once and it is an experience that you will remember in a pleasant way. I shared a table with strangers since I was traveling alone and there was a long wait for any available table otherwise. The return trip was another matter; The A/C went out, so it was a very uncomfortable experience while trying to sleep in a limited environment as a seat. The best I could do was rest my eyes - never fell asleep. People were upset, so was not conducive to any "we're having a great trip" chit chat. Felt pretty surreal being on a train instead of a plane with the dimmed lighting. Sharing facilities found those conditions only going from bad to worse. Yes, is wise to have layering of clothes as someone suggested since you don't control conditions. Your Iowa to Colorado October jaunt may give a chill in the air with overnight conditions and not the best insulation and doors opening to the outside air. I would also suggest taking along your own snacks. Your adventure is short enough, but will probably feel long enough by sitting this length of time for the most part. Get up and walk around. This trip will give you an experience that you'll always remember. Trains have you see the world go by in a unique sort of way. You may have a few 30 minute layover stops at stations where you can get off the train and stretch your legs in the night air chill. I strongly recommend doing that and enjoying the fresh air, sights and sounds. Enjoy and best wishes on your wonderful adventure!

I travelled from Chicago to Los Angeles, but that was long before Amtrack. It was probably Santa Fe. It was very nice. I still think it's nice, but too expensive. You can do better with a jet finacially. One day when we have "Eurail" type passes I might do it just to see the country, but I want to be able to "get off" at any stop, stay for a while and then get on another train and continue. The advantages of it are amazing though. Lots of room. No closed quarters so you don't catch the flu like you do on a bus. Bathrooms are nice, unlike a bus. There's a club car so you can get a drink. A dinner car so you can eat a decent meal. Sleeper car so you don't have to stay awake trip like in a bus! The observation car is great for taking video or pictures. Unfortunately, it's like $500 or $600 to go coast to coast in a sleeper car!