Train anxiety....
Hello everyone...I don't know if this is the right place to discuss this or not, but I have nobody close to me that would understand my fears...I have tried to talk to my mom (who is a size 8) and she is apathetic to my plight.
Ok, here's the thing. I'm supposed to take train 8 hours to my parents house for Christmas this year. It'll be just me and my 5 year old daughter traveling. I havn't ridden on a train for at least 3 years, and I remember it being a tight fit then (I think I was a size 24/26 then). Now I'm a 30/32 and am having serious anxiety over whether or not I will fit on the train? In the small seats? up the tiny stairway? through the crowded aisles? I have the option of sitting in the downstairs seats which are bigger (by a whole 2 inches, whoo hoo) but the down stairs usually has elderly and disabled passengers, and my 5 year old is high energy and may be difficult to keep quiet to their liking.
It would be better upstairs where we could move through the train cars (assuming I can fit up the stairs and down the aisles) but I just don't know what to do. I told myself I would try to loose a pant size by Christmas for several reasons, but what if I can't? I've been trying to loose a pant size for the past year, and the only thing I've managed to do is not go up a size!! How embaressing it will be if I actually get STUCK in the stairwell or something like that!!! Does anyone have any ideas??
I've been so stressed out about this I can't sleep at night....(I know Christmas isn't for awhile, but Mom and Dad are bugging me to solidify plans, so I've been overthinking it)
Anyway, thanks for everything....it feels a little better to vent.
-Heather S.
Ok, here's the thing. I'm supposed to take train 8 hours to my parents house for Christmas this year. It'll be just me and my 5 year old daughter traveling. I havn't ridden on a train for at least 3 years, and I remember it being a tight fit then (I think I was a size 24/26 then). Now I'm a 30/32 and am having serious anxiety over whether or not I will fit on the train? In the small seats? up the tiny stairway? through the crowded aisles? I have the option of sitting in the downstairs seats which are bigger (by a whole 2 inches, whoo hoo) but the down stairs usually has elderly and disabled passengers, and my 5 year old is high energy and may be difficult to keep quiet to their liking.
It would be better upstairs where we could move through the train cars (assuming I can fit up the stairs and down the aisles) but I just don't know what to do. I told myself I would try to loose a pant size by Christmas for several reasons, but what if I can't? I've been trying to loose a pant size for the past year, and the only thing I've managed to do is not go up a size!! How embaressing it will be if I actually get STUCK in the stairwell or something like that!!! Does anyone have any ideas??
I've been so stressed out about this I can't sleep at night....(I know Christmas isn't for awhile, but Mom and Dad are bugging me to solidify plans, so I've been overthinking it)
Anyway, thanks for everything....it feels a little better to vent.
-Heather S.
Hi Heather!
I totally understand your anxiety. I haven't ridden on a train for years, but my kiddo has ridden the train from Seattle to Salem and Albany Oregon alot recently. I believe there is info on the Amtrack website that may help you. I bet they have somone to contact about just such concerns.
Don't be shy about sitting in the disabled seats - they are meant to help those who need it. Most elderly people enjoy kids. Take plenty of things like coloring books, small games, books, etc.
One other thought is to contact your local train station - would that be Salem? See if you can work out a time when you can go and check out the cars in person during a stop.
My personal fear right now is theater seats. I love live theater, especially community theater, but I am concerned about seating. Not only will the butt fit, but also will I have arm space. I'll make you a deal - you check out the train and I'll check out the theater. And if you want, I'll even go with you as I see you are pretty close to me.
Patty
I totally understand your anxiety. I haven't ridden on a train for years, but my kiddo has ridden the train from Seattle to Salem and Albany Oregon alot recently. I believe there is info on the Amtrack website that may help you. I bet they have somone to contact about just such concerns.
Don't be shy about sitting in the disabled seats - they are meant to help those who need it. Most elderly people enjoy kids. Take plenty of things like coloring books, small games, books, etc.
One other thought is to contact your local train station - would that be Salem? See if you can work out a time when you can go and check out the cars in person during a stop.
My personal fear right now is theater seats. I love live theater, especially community theater, but I am concerned about seating. Not only will the butt fit, but also will I have arm space. I'll make you a deal - you check out the train and I'll check out the theater. And if you want, I'll even go with you as I see you are pretty close to me.
Patty
Hi Patty!
Thanks for your post! I think I'm going to HAVE to check it out in person, because I'm just not finding information that helps. I checked online and they have a section on traveling for their disabled passengers, but nothing that addresses concerns for x-large people. I called, and they didn't have any info either, all I could get was the widths of the seats and aisles (upper level seats 18", lower level seats 20" and aisles 23") and all that did was increase my anxiety, because I KNOW my butts bigger than all those measurments!! Yikes!
On theater seating; I've found that with movie theaters, if they are newer and have what they call 'stadium seating' they have arm rests that lift up. I Love this! I'm always going to afternoon showings that arn't very full, and I keep one arm rest down (so I have a cup holder!) and put the other one up...I havn't been to community theater in years, but can definantly understand your concern!! Let me know what you find out! :-)
Heather
Thanks for your post! I think I'm going to HAVE to check it out in person, because I'm just not finding information that helps. I checked online and they have a section on traveling for their disabled passengers, but nothing that addresses concerns for x-large people. I called, and they didn't have any info either, all I could get was the widths of the seats and aisles (upper level seats 18", lower level seats 20" and aisles 23") and all that did was increase my anxiety, because I KNOW my butts bigger than all those measurments!! Yikes!
On theater seating; I've found that with movie theaters, if they are newer and have what they call 'stadium seating' they have arm rests that lift up. I Love this! I'm always going to afternoon showings that arn't very full, and I keep one arm rest down (so I have a cup holder!) and put the other one up...I havn't been to community theater in years, but can definantly understand your concern!! Let me know what you find out! :-)
Heather
My butt may be bigger than 23", but I'm not a totally solid object. Just like meeces, we can squish to fit though openings - LOL.
And isn't it nice that movie theaters now have those moveable arms? I don't think that Pentacle (Salem's community theater) does, nor would the Elsinore. SIGH. Another goal.
Heather
Relax the wife and I took a train a few years ago on vacation. I was 350+ at the time at 5'6". yes it was a tight fight but not terrible. the train was not to awfully full. We went from cleveland to st. louis. What i did was take enough things to do that I did not have to do a lot of moving through the train. I did not eat or drink to prior to boarding the train so I didn't need to get up and use the restroom. I dont think it will be to bad for you. try and travel very early morning or very late night and maybe your daughter will sleep through the trip.
Just have fun.
Thanks MrBill65,
I wish I had the option if picking when I travel. I'll be going from Salem OR to Klamath Falls OR and the train ride south will be from about 2:30pm-1015pm and going north from 8:30am-2:30pm, if it isn't running late. SO no choice on the times. And I'm I'm going to have to bring snacks and drinks (so I won't have to pay expensive train prices) because I'll be traveling with my 5 yr old who i'm sure will be hungry several times during the trip. I'll also be taking her to the bathroom often for the same reasons. But thank you for your suggestiions!! :-)
Heather
I wish I had the option if picking when I travel. I'll be going from Salem OR to Klamath Falls OR and the train ride south will be from about 2:30pm-1015pm and going north from 8:30am-2:30pm, if it isn't running late. SO no choice on the times. And I'm I'm going to have to bring snacks and drinks (so I won't have to pay expensive train prices) because I'll be traveling with my 5 yr old who i'm sure will be hungry several times during the trip. I'll also be taking her to the bathroom often for the same reasons. But thank you for your suggestiions!! :-)
Heather
Heather~
I took the train to NYC at my heaviest (440) and it was fine. If you find a seat towards the back of the car - there is a cluster of 4 together. Put your stuff on the one side and maybe your daughter there and sit across from her. You are going to be fine - go and enjoy your holiday with your family!!!!
I took the train to NYC at my heaviest (440) and it was fine. If you find a seat towards the back of the car - there is a cluster of 4 together. Put your stuff on the one side and maybe your daughter there and sit across from her. You are going to be fine - go and enjoy your holiday with your family!!!!
Thanks Heather! I'll look for those seats, they sound like they would work perfect! Do you remember having problems fitting up the stairs or down the aisles at that weight?? I'm 5'5" and about 430 lbs...I just have a mental image of me getting stuck in the stairwell and them having to call the fire dept. to get me unstuck!! :-(
(deactivated member)
on 11/4/08 2:14 am - San Antonio, TX
on 11/4/08 2:14 am - San Antonio, TX
Shimmy sideways up the stairwell if you need to. Its scary, but don't lose sleep over it! You poor thing *hugs*
I understand your worries, at 5' tall and 440 lbs I think I was wider than I was tall. I'd call and explain your concern and ask to see a train car. I don't think it will be a big deal. I also agree, if they have the four seats in the back, grab that, and since your child is small you will have some of her room too. As for getting up for the bathroom and stuff, you'll just have to deal with that as it happens. I also think sitting in the disabled area is not a bad idea, kid or no kid. A few inches can make a big difference!
I wish you all the best!
I understand your worries, at 5' tall and 440 lbs I think I was wider than I was tall. I'd call and explain your concern and ask to see a train car. I don't think it will be a big deal. I also agree, if they have the four seats in the back, grab that, and since your child is small you will have some of her room too. As for getting up for the bathroom and stuff, you'll just have to deal with that as it happens. I also think sitting in the disabled area is not a bad idea, kid or no kid. A few inches can make a big difference!
I wish you all the best!
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