Journeys

Another Opportunity to Travel En Femme by Francesca, NWGA member

I read with interest Elaine Lerner's account of flying while dressed up in the November issue of NWGA Newsletter. It might just be the Olympics of cross dressing. But alas not all cross dressers are Olympians, and some might be looking for a less ambitious mode of travel.

There is an alternative form of transportation between Seattle, Portland, the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California in the form of Amtrak's Coast Starlight. It is a train that runs every day between the aforementioned locations taking about thirty or 50 hours to travel the approximate 1400 rail miles between Seattle, Portland and L.A.

The train itself is a luxury hotel on wheels featuring two separate lounge cars both of which offer beverages and snacks - even first run movies after dark, a dining car serving gourmet meals, overnight coaches (airline style seats only with more space) and sleeping cars which contain small, enclosed rooms one may rent for the duration of their journey. For an individual who wishes to travel in drag on public transportation these sleeping cars with their individual rooms are your best bet.

There are, as far as this writer knows, no security checks at the stations. Or baggage inspections. Or metal detectors. You can carry your baggage with you or check it. If you are a cross dresser then presumably you will want to carry it with you. You simply buy your ticket and get on. No hassles with photo I.D., either (unless you want to pay with a personal check).

While there are security guards at some of the larger stations they will not hassle you if you are dressed up. For the most part they are there to keep out the undesirables and troublemakers much like the security guards in a shopping mall do. While the train does have a passenger manifest it is often first name initial and last name.

Restrooms are another story - all Amtrak stations have male and female restrooms so your choice of facilities will depend upon how you are dressed and how much nerve you have. [Has anyone out there in cross dressing land ever looked into the laws governing the use of restrooms? Are there any? Is there a cross dressing attorney out there who might want to comment?] All Amtrak trains, both short and long haul, have unisex restrooms just like the airlines so there is no problem once you are aboard the tram.

While the Coast Starlight runs daily, it, like all other Amtrak long haul trains, is an all space reserved train and is often booked solid especially during the summer months and around the major holidays. It is best to make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Call 1 - 800 - USA - RAIL for fares and reservations. Or you can go to just about any travel agent. For the most part, Amtrak's short haul trains do not require advance reservations.

If you want to travel dressed up, a bedroom in a sleeping car is just the ticket. You have complete privacy. You can pull a thick curtain to cover the large viewing window. For dressing, I would recommend waiting for the longer station stops unless you are already dressed when you board. Trying to apply makeup on a moving train can be exasperating. I would also suggest wearing low heeled shoes unless you are really into high heels. Many women who ride the trains wear tenny runners. Or even glorified slippers. Pumps are common.

Over the years I have seen women dressed in just about everything and anything aboard Amtrak trains. Gowns, dresses, mini skirts, hot pants, off the rack apparel, shorts, cutoffs, blue jeans, even bib overalls.' There is no dress code hence your appearance can range from Ma Kettle to Ethel Mertz to Mary Tyler Moore to Madonna to Murphy Brown to Peggy Bundy and anything in between.

In the Pacific Northwest Amtrak also operates short haul passenger trains between Eugene, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC. All Amtrak short haul trains are coach only although some feature first class coaches - once known as parlor cars (you pay extra for a seat in such cars but get free food and drink, a pillow and newspaper). Most of these trains carry a snack car where one can obtain food and drink such as sandwiches, light meals, candy bars, soda pop, coffee, alcoholic beverages, etc., at moderate prices.