Decisions, Decisions for a Newbie Train Traveler

[Anonymous]

My grandson Timmy is in love with trains. He has oodles of HO trains and is practically in vapor lock every time we see a freight train with a spectacular bright engine. I have promised to take him on a passenger train voyage and although I've lusted after the Venice Simplon Orient Express for eons, I'm not prepared to spend that kind of money to entertain a 6-yr old. I'd still like to travel first-class (my idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn with no elevator and a limited wine list), I live in Minneapolis and I imagine a trip out West would be my best choice since the scenery would impress me while Timmy is focused on the "train stuff". I read an article that indicates the location of the accomodations on the train are important (kinda' the equivalent of making sure your hotel room isn't near the elevator or pool). Is there a particular train I should select for our adventure and is there a particular car/compartment location I should request (or avoid)? I don't wanna spend a whole bunch of money only to discover I've been naive and am stuck in the "cheap seats". LOL Help!!!

[thirdrail1]

Are you sure you want to start out with a long distance trip that will take several days? A six year old can rapidly lose interest and you can find yourself trapped in a compartment with a bored and cranky child. There are several steam locomotives in your area that operate one day excursions several times during the year. You might start with something like that. There are also several "tourist" railroads in Minnesota and Wisconsin that he might enjoy. If you want to make a long trip (and it will be expensive if you travel first class), look over the accomodations on Amtrak's website and get a bedroom on the upper level in the center of the car - that will have the smoothest ride. But be prepared to make reservations months in advance, as the best accomodations go first.

[Anonymous]

By all means come out west. The Empire Builder from Minneapolis is 2 nights 1 day to Portland or Seattle and the scenery is spectacular. The EB traverses the southern end of Glacier Park and then on to either the Columbia Gorge on the Portland section or the north Cascades on the Seattle section. I would recommend ONLY a deluxe sleeper though. The standard bedrooms looked cramped. I do agree that this may be too long of a trip for a six year old but you know him better than we do. If you do come pack some munchies and some wine (alcohol is permitted in the sleepers) because the prices are kind of steep in the diner.
Good Luck

[edahrenhoerster]

As the proud "owner" of 7 grandchildren under the age of 7 I would hesitate to do a 2 or 3 day trip for a 6 year old without a parent along. I have one grandson (age 4) who is a raving maniac train fan and can handle 6 or 8 hours of action at Rochelle, but even with him our first venture was designed so we could cut it off at an hour or 2, though he did out last me. For the others 2 hours with nothing else to do would really be pushing it. I agree with Gregg's comment about trying a short tourist run first. For a first "real" trip, how about a shorter one, maybe to Chicago to ride the "El" and visit the layout at the Museum of Science and Industry. Whatever you do, do it soon while you still can. Have fun.

[Anonymous]

I concur with the "shorter is better" crowd here. I was once a six year old boy who loved trains, and an afternoon at a short steam excursion line left me with a powerful memories. The tourist excursion trains often are more friendly about letting people watch what is going on up close--many times a wistful little boy might get an invitation into the locomotive cab for a quick tour before or after the trip. The equipment is also often more fun to ride, with vintage cars with opening windows.

By the time I was sixteen, my parents let me (and helped bankroll) solo long distance rail trips...and we enjoyed some nice ones together when I was about eight-twelve years old.