Help: Accordions&TrainTravel

Subject: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 06:32 AM

It looks like I'm going to be doing some traveling by train sometime soon. I hope to be able to bring one suitcase, one overnight bag, and my accordion.

Does anyone know if I will be able to carry my accordion on with me or if I will have to give it up to the baggage handlers? If so, does anyone have any advice about how I should prepare it for the trip?

Thanks,

Carol

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 06:58 AM

I should probably add that my travel will be in North America.

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 20 Jan 01 - 08:31 PM

Pretty please?

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: bill\sables
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 04:05 AM

Carol I'm not sure about trains in the USA much except I traveled from upstate New York down to Grand Centeral carrying two suit cases and a banjo and just took them into the train with me, no one even asked me if I wanted to put them into a baggage car. Now in the UK it is a different thing, It would be quicker to fix wheels to the accordion case and ride on that.
Bill

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: nutty
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 07:04 AM

I also read the thread and thought ' This must be the other side of the pond ' Baggage Handlers????
They would spoil the railway companies fun - watching all those people, young and old, struggling to get on and off with their luggage and paying for the privilege
If you come to the UK bring your accordion and entertain yourself and all the other passengers who are endlessly waiting for trains that never arrive on time or never arrive at all

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 07:15 AM

Bill, when you traveled by train in the U.S., where did you stow your two suitcases and your banjo? Is it overhead compartments on trains? Is there room for that much stuff? It's been a long time since I traveled by train and I don't remember much.

Carol

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: bill\sables
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 07:28 AM

The train I was using was reasonably empty so I just kept the cases near me on the floor with no problem.The conductor suggested I needed a "Redcap" when I reached NY to carry my cases to a taxi for JFK airport, so he phoned ahead to order one when I got there. The Redcap suggested I get a shuttle bus which would save me about $100 and carried my cases to the place where the bus stopped across the street from Grand Centeral. You don't get this service in the UK, You don't even get a seat most of the time. And the coffee on the trains costs about 90 pence a slice. But they keep death off the roads by having it on the railways.
Bill

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 02:26 PM

Hi

I travel in England and abroard lots with my accordion. My advice is only let go of it if you are forced to and if you do give it to someone to look after make sure they know it is fragile. Otherwise don't worry about it's size people WILL move when faced with an accordion case it leaves them very little other options.

Cheers, Sam

Happy traveling

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 03:02 PM

On the west coast of America, traveling north and south, trains have a room to the side at the entry level where the luggage goes and you carry only small bags up the stairs. I don't know what kind of security the train provides or how much liability they assume.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 21 Jan 01 - 09:14 PM

Thanks everybody. This is good stuff.

Carol

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: rangeroger
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 01:18 AM

I thought you were supposed to throw the accordion under the train wheels, along with assorted banjos and bagpipes.

rr

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 01:41 AM

rangeroger, are the lives of all of those passengers so cheap to you that you would sacrifice them just to rid the world of one lousy accordion?

(If the answer is yes, you'd probably a fine accordion player.)

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 01:41 AM

rangeroger, are the lives of all of those passengers so cheap to you that you would sacrifice them just to rid the world of one lousy accordion?

(If the answer is yes, you'd probably make a fine accordion player.)

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 01:42 AM

Oops

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: Gypsy
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 03:40 PM

And i thought this was an informative thread regarding the need to ship off accordians far away by train!

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 04:16 PM

Actually, Gypsy, it is. Only I'm going to accompany the accordion while it's being shipped far away by train. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it.

Carol

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: Manitas
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 04:40 PM

Sam,

I found that people WON'T move when faced by an accordion case - they expect you to swing it around out of the way in microseconds. But that's ok the case is stronger than their knees and they're too crippled to run after you and complain.

Manitas

*Of course if you want them to move away quickly, just start playing it!!!* LTS **BG**

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: CarolC
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 05:06 PM

Manitas, maybe you need to get a bigger accordion.

Subject: RE: Help: Accordions&TrainTravel
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Jan 01 - 05:15 PM

Oh, please he has 7 of the damned things, one of the cases doubles as a bedside table it's that big..... The other will fit a small child (she made me empty it one day so she could climb in.... she's very strange), so I don't think that will solve anything....

LTS - Manitas' partner