Checking a gun in with Amtrak, who has done it?

[gunsrfun]

Wife and I are taking Amtrak up the coast and I am going to being my pistol for around town and the drive home (CCW permit). I already called Amtrak and got a reservation # for my pistol and ammo. My question is, are the Amtrak employee's smart enough to know how THEIR system is supposed to work? Amtrak says to get there 45 min early, but I am wondering if I need to get there early enough to give them an hour and a half plus to figure it out. We are going from LA Central Station to SLO if it matters.

[Redeyedrider]

Get a hold of user "cactus". He will tell you anything you need to know about Amtrak

[motox917]

I'd just drive or not take a gun

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=1205418&highlight=Amtrack

[deckhandmike]

Why not just put it in a locked container in a back pack and skip the hassle?

[nadodave]

Can you not CCW on a train, if you have your permit?? I had no idea.

[Plead the Second]

Like with an airplane, you aren't supposed to have access to it while traveling on the train - supposed to be in checked baggage.

The AMTRAK rules say you can travel with it in checked luggage, but you must check in advance whether your destination station has luggage handlers for the station / time of your final destination. Otherwise, you'll arrive at checkin only to have them refuse it. For those destination stations, your luggage must be hand carried onto your car and thus you can't bring firearms with you.

No, you and your bags won't get screened so you probably could get away with having it in your bag, but technically not legal. My greater concern is any nutjob / terrorist could bring weapons onboard and do a lot of unchallenged damage...

[Erion929]

[deckhandmike]

When you get out of prison they give you gate money to get a train/bus ride home. I won’t go on a train/bus unarmed.

[BigFatGuy]

Please remember, if you have a sleeping birth, you cannot lock the door when you aren't in the room.

If you are in the common seating area, your bag could easily be out of your control if you fall asleep.

and, never trust an Amtrak employee to be good at their job.

[Sousuke]

Wife and I are taking Amtrak up the coast and I am going to being my pistol for around town and the drive home (CCW permit). I already called Amtrak and got a reservation # for my pistol and ammo. My question is, are the Amtrak employee's smart enough to know how THEIR system is supposed to work? Amtrak says to get there 45 min early, but I am wondering if I need to get there early enough to give them an hour and a half plus to figure it out. We are going from LA Central Station to SLO if it matters.

I did it with the Zephyr. Its very low key. You make the reservation for the pistol as you have already done and bring it with you. When you go to the counter you mention the reservation. In my experience, they had me go through the door to their side of the counter and had me open my luggage showing the locked case. They stuck a piece of paper I signed in the luggage on top of the case and I rezipped. They added a second tag to the luggage and took it away and gave me a 2 baggage receipts for the luggage and the firearm. On the other end, you show your tags and they give you your luggage.

[Sousuke]

The sleeping cars for long haul are not hop on off. You have a reservation that includes free checked bags and meals.

[gunsrfun]

I did it with the Zephyr. Its very low key. You make the reservation for the pistol as you have already done and bring it with you. When you go to the counter you mention the reservation. In my experience, they had me go through the door to their side of the counter and had me open my luggage showing the locked case. They stuck a piece of paper I signed in the luggage on top of the case and I rezipped. They added a second tag to the luggage and took it away and gave me a 2 baggage receipts for the luggage and the firearm. On the other end, you show your tags and they give you your luggage.

Thanks for the answer

[HK9]

Why not just put it in a locked container in a back pack and skip the hassle?

Be very careful with "Common Carrier Transports":

[BigPimping]

I saw Under Siege 2.🙄

[The War Wagon]

Yeah - only those interested in peace, love, and doobs, would ever carry on a train...