I spent 23 hours on an Amtrak train from Orlando to New York - and it was a roller-coaster experience with extreme highs and lows

Advertisement
I spent 23 hours on an Amtrak train from Orlando to New York - and it was a roller-coaster experience with extreme highs and lows

Amtrak train review

Áine Cain/Hollis Johnson/Samantha Lee/Business Insider

Sleeping was rough.

Advertisement
  • I took an Amtrak train from Orlando, Florida, to New York City.
  • The journey took a bit over 23 hours.
  • Being on a train for such a long time is a bit of a bummer, but the experience did have some bright spots.

I'm no Amtrak novice. I've taken the train between Williamsburg, Virginia, where I went to college, and New York City plenty of times. The trip's about eight hours.

But a few weeks ago, I decided to embark on a considerably more intense voyage. My friend ran the Disney Princess 5K in Walt Disney World this year, and I flew down to cheer her on.

Read more: Amtrak is sending people on its most scenic routes across the country for free. Here's how to apply.

At some point, I got it into my head that it'd be interesting to take the Amtrak back. The trip would take a little over 23 hours, barring any unforeseen problems. My ticket cost $120.

Advertisement

Here's a look inside my 23-hour Amtrak train ride:

{{}}

After spending a long weekend in Orlando, my friend and I took an Uber over to the city's train station on a sunny afternoon.

After spending a long weekend in Orlando, my friend and I took an Uber over to the city's train station on a sunny afternoon.

I wandered around the station, snapping pictures like the world's most easily impressed tourist.

I wandered around the station, snapping pictures like the world's most easily impressed tourist.
Advertisement

I was surprised to find that the Orlando Amtrak stop featured a rather pretty building in the Spanish Mission style. Maybe I'm just too used to Penn Station.

I was surprised to find that the Orlando Amtrak stop featured a rather pretty building in the Spanish Mission style. Maybe I'm just too used to Penn Station.

There weren't too many people in the waiting room on the day I was set to travel.

There weren't too many people in the waiting room on the day I was set to travel.
Advertisement

But the station did have some empty, old phone booths ...

But the station did have some empty, old phone booths ...

... and a food stand that may or may not have been operated by a former Spice Girl.

... and a food stand that may or may not have been operated by a former Spice Girl.
Advertisement

We waited around for about 15 minutes.

We waited around for about 15 minutes.

And then the train rolled up.

And then the train rolled up.
Advertisement

The conductors ushered us into a line, and we began to board.

The conductors ushered us into a line, and we began to board.

The conductors would ask about each passenger's destination, and then direct them to the appropriate car.

The conductors would ask about each passenger's destination, and then direct them to the appropriate car.
Advertisement

When I got to my seat, I was surprised by how much legroom I had. There was even a metal footrest that I could pull out.

When I got to my seat, I was surprised by how much legroom I had. There was even a metal footrest that I could pull out.

There was even enough room for the balloon animal hat my friend and I got in Universal Studios' Margaritaville (which we refused to discard because it was cute).

There was even enough room for the balloon animal hat my friend and I got in Universal Studios' Margaritaville (which we refused to discard because it was cute).
Advertisement

The presence of a balloon animal at my feet did cause me to spend the whole trip in a state of mild paranoia that it'd pop and spark a panic on the train. Fortunately, that didn't happen.

The presence of a balloon animal at my feet did cause me to spend the whole trip in a state of mild paranoia that it'd pop and spark a panic on the train. Fortunately, that didn't happen.

Overall, the seat itself was quite comfortable and bigger than I expected.

Overall, the seat itself was quite comfortable and bigger than I expected.
Advertisement

There was enough space that I felt comfortable reclining my seat, without having to worry about crushing or inconveniencing the person behind me.

There was enough space that I felt comfortable reclining my seat, without having to worry about crushing or inconveniencing the person behind me.

I plugged in my iPhone and got settled. So far, so good.

I plugged in my iPhone and got settled. So far, so good.
Advertisement

For a while, I was content to chat with my seat neighbor and watch Florida whoosh by the window.

For a while, I was content to chat with my seat neighbor and watch Florida whoosh by the window.

Then, a woman sitting a few rows behind us kindly passed over a dining car menu. I've patronized Amtrak snack cars in my time, but never a full-fledged dining car.

Then, a woman sitting a few rows behind us kindly passed over a dining car menu. I've patronized Amtrak snack cars in my time, but never a full-fledged dining car.
Advertisement

I got pretty excited. When an Amtrak employee came around to take our reservations, I signed up for a 6:30 p.m. slot.

I got pretty excited. When an Amtrak employee came around to take our reservations, I signed up for a 6:30 p.m. slot.

But dinner was still hours away, so I headed to the snack car to tide myself over.

But dinner was still hours away, so I headed to the snack car to tide myself over.
Advertisement

For a snack, I bought a cup of hummus and pretzels.

For a snack, I bought a cup of hummus and pretzels.

I made my purchases and then crossed over into the adjacent lounge car.

I made my purchases and then crossed over into the adjacent lounge car.
Advertisement

The place was pretty quiet, and I had a whole table to myself.

The place was pretty quiet, and I had a whole table to myself.

I sat down and proceeded to get really meta by reading "The Girl on the Train."

I sat down and proceeded to get really meta by reading "The Girl on the Train."
Advertisement

As I read the locomotive-themed thriller, I sipped on a plastic cup of cabernet from the snack bar.

As I read the locomotive-themed thriller, I sipped on a plastic cup of cabernet from the snack bar.

Unlike my fictional counterpart, I managed not to drink myself into a blackout or implicate myself in a murder investigation.

Unlike my fictional counterpart, I managed not to drink myself into a blackout or implicate myself in a murder investigation.
Advertisement

Later on, I made an unsuccessful attempt to take an artsy pic of the window. The reflection of my fellow passengers was blurring with the forest outside.

Later on, I made an unsuccessful attempt to take an artsy pic of the window. The reflection of my fellow passengers was blurring with the forest outside.

After a while, I decided that I wanted to check my emails and listen to some music.

After a while, I decided that I wanted to check my emails and listen to some music.
Advertisement

But I got so wrapped up in creating my train-themed playlist that I lost track of time and missed my dining-car reservation.

But I got so wrapped up in creating my train-themed playlist that I lost track of time and missed my dining-car reservation.

I slipped through the narrow corridor leading to the dining car. At this point, I was about 15 minutes late to dinner.

I slipped through the narrow corridor leading to the dining car. At this point, I was about 15 minutes late to dinner.
Advertisement

After taking a quick glimpse into what I assume was the train's kitchen ...

After taking a quick glimpse into what I assume was the train's kitchen ...

... I made it to the dining car. The room was certainly a departure from the bare-bones snack car. This space had fancier light fixtures on the ceiling, wood panels on the walls, and white tablecloths on the table.

... I made it to the dining car. The room was certainly a departure from the bare-bones snack car. This space had fancier light fixtures on the ceiling, wood panels on the walls, and white tablecloths on the table.
Advertisement

The maître d' took pity on me and sat me with a young Mennonite couple and their adorable baby. We made sporadic small talk, and I stared at the Amtrak-branded plates.

The maître d' took pity on me and sat me with a young Mennonite couple and their adorable baby. We made sporadic small talk, and I stared at the Amtrak-branded plates.

Butter, cream, and a suspiciously large basket of Newman's Own packets sat in the center of the table. We all received a warm roll to start off.

Butter, cream, and a suspiciously large basket of Newman's Own packets sat in the center of the table. We all received a warm roll to start off.
Advertisement

I ordered the rigatoni, which turned out to be disappointingly light on actual pasta. String beans dominated the dish.

I ordered the rigatoni, which turned out to be disappointingly light on actual pasta. String beans dominated the dish.

Once I finished my meal, I headed back to my seat. At this point in the night, I was beginning to feel like I'd been on the train forever.

Once I finished my meal, I headed back to my seat. At this point in the night, I was beginning to feel like I'd been on the train forever.
Advertisement

My experience so far, however, had been pretty positive. The food was overpriced and so-so quality-wise, but I'd enjoyed my visit to the dining car, with its somewhat cheesy attempt at setting an elegant ambience.

My experience so far, however, had been pretty positive. The food was overpriced and so-so quality-wise, but I'd enjoyed my visit to the dining car, with its somewhat cheesy attempt at setting an elegant ambience.

I also appreciated the social nature of riding the train. On an airplane, I usually just close my eyes and listen to music. But on the Amtrak, my neighbor — a lovely woman from Québec — and I spent a lot of time chatting about life.

I also appreciated the social nature of riding the train. On an airplane, I usually just close my eyes and listen to music. But on the Amtrak, my neighbor — a lovely woman from Québec — and I spent a lot of time chatting about life.
Advertisement

Then, it came time for sleep. For me, that's when things went — pardon the train pun — off the rails.

Then, it came time for sleep. For me, that's when things went — pardon the train pun — off the rails.

The lights dimmed, but the car was still too bright for me.

The lights dimmed, but the car was still too bright for me.
Advertisement

What's more, some passengers continued to talk even after the lights went down.

What's more, some passengers continued to talk even after the lights went down.

I'm a light sleeper at best. As the hours ticked on, I began envying one nearby passenger, who'd had the sense to cocoon herself in a thick blanket.

I'm a light sleeper at best. As the hours ticked on, I began envying one nearby passenger, who'd had the sense to cocoon herself in a thick blanket.
Advertisement

At some point, I did fall asleep. But it didn't last. The train had been stuffy and warm when I managed to drift off. When I woke up around around 3 a.m., I was freezing.

At some point, I did fall asleep. But it didn't last. The train had been stuffy and warm when I managed to drift off. When I woke up around around 3 a.m., I was freezing.

I was also desperately thirsty, probably owing to the wine I'd had earlier in the night. I wandered around a bit, and was overjoyed to find a spigot at one end of the car. The water was metallic, but I didn't care.

I was also desperately thirsty, probably owing to the wine I'd had earlier in the night. I wandered around a bit, and was overjoyed to find a spigot at one end of the car. The water was metallic, but I didn't care.
Advertisement

The rest of the night was pretty rough. Around 6 a.m., I decided to just stay awake and listen to podcasts.

The rest of the night was pretty rough. Around 6 a.m., I decided to just stay awake and listen to podcasts.

My stomach wasn't feeling 100%, so I skipped breakfast that morning. Instead, I talked some more with my seat neighbor and read up on how Amtrak passengers on the other side of the country had been stranded in their train for days — a chilling thought.

My stomach wasn't feeling 100%, so I skipped breakfast that morning. Instead, I talked some more with my seat neighbor and read up on how Amtrak passengers on the other side of the country had been stranded in their train for days — a chilling thought.

Read more: An Amtrak train with 183 passengers on board was stuck for more than 36 hours after hitting a tree in Oregon

Advertisement

I was thrilled when we pulled into Penn Station. At that point, I felt exhausted and stiff from my 23-hour train odyssey.

I was thrilled when we pulled into Penn Station. At that point, I felt exhausted and stiff from my 23-hour train odyssey.

Hauling my luggage to the subway, I realized that I'd never been so happy to see Penn Station.

Hauling my luggage to the subway, I realized that I'd never been so happy to see Penn Station.
Advertisement

On the one hand, sleeping on the journey was nearly impossible for me. Not only was the train loud and bright, but the temperatures seemed to keep shifting between stifling and frigid.

On the one hand, sleeping on the journey was nearly impossible for me. Not only was the train loud and bright, but the temperatures seemed to keep shifting between stifling and frigid.

I'd naively planned to head into work after getting in, but I felt so tired and gross that I ended up going home and taking a nap.

I'd naively planned to head into work after getting in, but I felt so tired and gross that I ended up going home and taking a nap.
Advertisement

On the other hand, I loved getting to meet new people, explore the dining car, and unwind with a book in the lounge car. And I thought my seat was quite comfortable and roomy.

On the other hand, I loved getting to meet new people, explore the dining car, and unwind with a book in the lounge car. And I thought my seat was quite comfortable and roomy.

Oh, and my balloon animal survived the trip. Kind of. I think that's a testimony to the amount of space I was able to take up on the train.

Oh, and my balloon animal survived the trip. Kind of. I think that's a testimony to the amount of space I was able to take up on the train.
Advertisement

I'd say that, unless you're terrified of planes, it's probably best to avoid massive train trips. But if you can sleep anywhere, you're not in a rush, and you're up for a bit of an adventure, a lengthy Amtrak trip might be a good option.

I'd say that, unless you're terrified of planes, it's probably best to avoid massive train trips. But if you can sleep anywhere, you're not in a rush, and you're up for a bit of an adventure, a lengthy Amtrak trip might be a good option.

Work for Amtrak? Email me at acain@businessinsider.com.

Next StoryHere's what food you should pair with Trader Joe's $4 wines, according to a sommelier