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Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Anybody done it?
Does it have to be checked as baggage?
What if there no baggage car? |
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October 2005
Posts: 4080
Location: Utah | Check with Amtrak or whomever the train company is. They have a lot of restrictions now on things like firearms and knives, which in some cases cannot even go in checked bags. They probably have a pretty good section on their website about carry on bags and special items such as musical instruments. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Firearms is gone in Dec 2010 they be checked as baggage. Amtrak says almost nothing about nusical instruments. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Its kinda odd lots of info about bikes and skis.
Not much about instruments.
I email asked them.
No reply yet. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4080
Location: Utah | Another option, depending on your schedule, would be to rent a car and drive yourself. Then you can travel a free man. |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Naw I want to take a train.
I done cars to the Carolinas and back
Nerve racking |
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February 2010
Posts: 243
Location: Australia | I am travelling from NY to Washington DC with my guitar. Here is the response I got from Amtrak.
*************************************************
Thank you for your interest in Amtrak.
Following is the requested information:
GUITARS AS CARRY-ON ITEMS
A PASSENGER MAY BRING A GUITAR ON BOARD A TRAIN AS A CARRY-ON
ITEM, EVEN THOUGH ONE DIMENSION OF THE GUITAR CASE IS LONGER
THAN THE 28 IN/71 CM MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT.
THE GUITAR WILL COUNT AS ONE OF THE TWO ALLOWABLE CARRY-ON
ITEMS.
THE WEIGHT LIMIT STILL APPLIES - THE GUITAR IN ITS CASE
CANNOT WEIGH MORE THAN 50 LB/23 KG.
IF THE PASSENGER IS ALSO BRINGING AN ELECTRIC GUITAR
AMPLIFIER, IT MUST CONFORM TO THE CARRY-ON WEIGHT AND
SIZE LIMITS, AND IT WILL ALSO COUNT AS ONE OF THE TWO
ALLOWABLE CARRY-ON ITEMS.
Ev C. Gautier
Amtrak International Sales
inat2@sales.amtrak.com |
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January 2009
Posts: 4536
Location: Flahdaw | Not to be Mr. Negativity or anything but I don't think you can necessarily trust an email from anyone any more. The last time we flew to Lake Tahoe my friend called to confirm that he could bring a guitar on board as a carry on. "Oh sure, no problem"....until we got to check in, when they said "Oh, no way. You'll have to check that in." Yeah right, thrown in the hold with the rest of the suitcases, and it in a flimsy case. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4080
Location: Utah | Dark Bar, when that happens you say that you will take it out to the gate and gate-check it. The ticket agent at the front counter has zero zip nada authority to prevent you from going through TSA with the guitar. When you get to the gate take a pink or green tag for the gate check, but try taking it onto the airplane while being very polite and pleasant with the flight attendant. He/she is the final word on bringing the guitar on board. If it is a small airplane you may still be able to seatbelt it into an empty row. Worst case is that they hand carry it to the hold rather than put it on a baggage cart thrill ride across the tarmac. |
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Joined:
July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Originally posted by Shaboo:
I am travelling from NY to Washington DC with my guitar. Here is the response I got from Amtrak.
*************************************************
Thank you for your interest in Amtrak.
Following is the requested information:
GUITARS AS CARRY-ON ITEMS
A PASSENGER MAY BRING A GUITAR ON BOARD A TRAIN AS A CARRY-ON
ITEM, EVEN THOUGH ONE DIMENSION OF THE GUITAR CASE IS LONGER
THAN THE 28 IN/71 CM MAXIMUM SIZE LIMIT.
THE GUITAR WILL COUNT AS ONE OF THE TWO ALLOWABLE CARRY-ON
ITEMS.
THE WEIGHT LIMIT STILL APPLIES - THE GUITAR IN ITS CASE
CANNOT WEIGH MORE THAN 50 LB/23 KG.
IF THE PASSENGER IS ALSO BRINGING AN ELECTRIC GUITAR
AMPLIFIER, IT MUST CONFORM TO THE CARRY-ON WEIGHT AND
SIZE LIMITS, AND IT WILL ALSO COUNT AS ONE OF THE TWO
ALLOWABLE CARRY-ON ITEMS.
Ev C. Gautier
Amtrak International Sales
inat2@sales.amtrak.com Kool!
So your going on NE regional?
The connectors was what I was concerned about.
When are you going?
Washington Union Station is great place! |
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February 2010
Posts: 243
Location: Australia | Heading from New York to Washington on the 9th July (I think) |
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February 2010
Posts: 243
Location: Australia | I will be carrying my guitar on several trains/flights and have prepared the following declaration in case of being refused carry on..
DECLARATION.
I _____________________ am a employee of ____________________ and I agree that I have just been provided a copy of _________________ policy relating to carrying on musical instruments/email from ___________________.
I agree that I have read the attached policy/email yet have decided to contravene this information and not allow ___________________as carry on luggage. I therefore agree to render myself / (company name) ____________personally liable for any damage occasioned to this musical instrument namely.____________________.
I also agree that I have inspected _________________musical instrument and state that prior to it being booked as checked baggage, it is in perfect working order with no damage at all.
Signed_______________________________________________________
Print name____________________________________________________
Date_________________________________________________________
Witness___________________ ___________________________________
Print Name/Constact Details______________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Date__________________________________________________________ |
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July 2003
Posts: 3111
Location: Nashville TN. | Enjoy the US in July! |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I've carried a guitar, backpack and roller on an Amtrack commuter between LA and San Diego several times. Nobody has ever said anything and the trains were so vacant that I just put everything on the adjoining seat. I think there were overheads as well. When the ticket checker came by, he looked at the gear but said nothing. Based on my experience, if you can carry it on, they don't pay much attention to you. |
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October 2005
Posts: 4080
Location: Utah | Shaboo, good luck with that!
It looks as if you are an international traveler. There are different rules, so be sure you read those too. In the end, the flight attendants are your best friend and final say on whether the guitar goes on the airplane. Even the agent at the gate can't force you to check it, though some might try to bully you, as long as the official policy allows carry on of instruments. It is legal to seatbelt the guitar into an unused seat as long as it can be secured and it does not block access to an aisle or exit. There may be a closet available. Be real polite and friendly to the flight attendants and they will usually try hard to help you out.
I hate to mention this on a public forum, but there may be restrictions on strings. Pack several of your favorite sets in your checked bag because I hear stories, especially overseas, of strings not being allowed on your guitar or in your carry on bags. Domestic USA seems to be safe for now with guitar strings. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | If you travel any great distance on a train, a guitar can be a terrific companion and song fest initiater. The only issue will be that most of your songs will involuntarily be at the same tempo. ;) |
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November 2009
Posts: 1
Location: Nebraska | I just took a train trip from Omaha to Salt Lake City. I bought a guitar while there and brought it back on the train, riding in the coach section. stored right over my seat, plenty of room. No problems. Even pulled it out of case and played for awhile. Unless you do baggage check, a decent case or even good gig bag should be no problem.
good luck |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 2791
Location: Atlanta, GA. | Originally posted by 2ifbyC:
If you travel any great distance on a train, a guitar can be a terrific companion and song fest initiater. The only issue will be that most of your songs will involuntarily be at the same tempo. ;) And the rhythm of the rails is all they feel |
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traveling by train with guitar