“We’ll Sleep on the Train!” (And Other Lies We Tell Ourselves)

Yes, I booked an overnight train across the U.S. — and no, I did not sleep.

I had this vision:
Cross-country by train.
New York to California.
Swaying gently in my seat as the heartland rolled by.
Romantic, right?

What I got:
A seatmate who treated the entire train like a TED Talk.
Every. Single. Hour.

The Setup: No Sleeper Car, Just Pure Optimism

I didn’t book a private sleeper. I figured, why not save a little money?
I’m a decent napper. I had snacks. I had a window. I had plans.
What I didn’t have was peace.

My seatmate — bless their chatty little heart — refused to let me doze.

Every time my eyes fluttered closed, they woke me up.
“Did you see that river?”
“Wanna hear my theory about condiments?”
“Check out this picture of my cat’s Halloween costume.”

I tried subtlety. I tried fake-sleeping.
Nothing worked.

Enter: My Midnight Escape

Somewhere around 2AM, I excused myself to go to the restroom.
It was the first time I’d been alone in hours.

That’s when the conductors saw me — bleary-eyed, slightly broken — and asked gently,
"You doing okay?"

I wasn’t. And they knew.

Without judgment, they offered me an off-the-books reprieve:
“Why don’t you head to the viewing car for a bit? We’ll loan you a pillow and blanket.”

It’s normally not allowed for sleeping. But I must’ve looked like a woman on the brink.

So I curled up on a bench under wide train windows, wrapped in railroad compassion…
and got the best 3 hours of sleep of the whole trip.

T.R. Avel’s Now-Essential Train Travel Kit:

• Earplugs.
  Not negotiable. I carry two pairs now — one for me, one for the next traveler in need.

• Travel pillow + blanket.
  I’ve since invested in a compact set that lives in my backpack. They go everywhere I go.

• Eye mask.
  I don’t just pack it. I believe in it.

• A backup escape plan.
  Know where the viewing car is. You never know when you’ll need sanctuary.

Moral of the story?

Don’t assume you’ll sleep.
Don’t assume your seatmate will read the room.
But do assume that kindness exists — sometimes in the form of a pillow and a quiet place to breathe.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.
But this time, I’m booking the sleeper.
And keeping my emergency kit within arm’s reach.