One of my favorite New Year's Eve parties was on an Amtrack over a decade ago. I was headed back up to college and because of my schedule had to overnight it o

One of my favorite New Year's Eve parties was on an Amtrack over a decade ago. I was headed back up to college and because of my schedule had to overnight it on a Northboand Amtrack on New Year's Eve. I'm not sure if it was because it was New Year's Eve, or a particularly long route, or just a special train, but it's the only time I ever remember seeing a liquor bar on an Amtrak (the entire bar was smaller than any closet in my house). I had brought my own liquor, and did my best to keep it out of sight. Several hours before midnight, the coach I was in started morphing. Normally people didn't really talk to each other. That night, seatmates started talking, impromptu cardgames were started, I was certainly not the only one with hidden alcohol, and the bar was providing plenty for those without. By midnight the car I was in, and the adjacent car with the bar, were in full party mode. It was simultaneously one of the most surreal and awesome trips I have ever taken. --- As for the Amtrak writer program - very cool. As a young serviceman, I would frequently catch a Friday night Amtrack away from the military town I was stationed in, picking a random location that I could spend Saturday in, and then ride back Sunday afternoon. I didn't write about or photograph my travels (wish I had), but I can't image a writer worth their salt not being inspired by the scenery, events, or people met on such random jaunts.