posted
I'm usually giving advice, but now I need some. About 9 months ago I took up the banjo. It is something I'd been wanting to learn for a long time, and on my last train trip I met a terrific banjo picker in the Parlour Car who gave me that final bit of inspiration to push me over the edge.
On my next train trip (which I hope will happen before long) I want to take my banjo with me so I can keep up with my lessons and entertain my family at my destination. We usually travel in a Roomette, so I'd probably have to keep it on the luggage rack downstairs. Has anyone else had experience carrying musical instruments aboard? How did you work things out? I know it is counted as a carry-on bag, but beyond that I don't know how to travel with a banjo.
JONATHON Member # 2899
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Do you have a case for it? if you dont then you'll want to keep it with you so no damage is done to it, my friend has a gutar, and it seems very fragile, I'm assuming a Banjo is to, I dont think you will have trouble keeping it with you on the Train, I seen Saxaphones on board the Satrlight, and BTW, does a Banjo use a pick to be played?, If it does, you can do like my friend did and use a flatend penny for one, it's kinda neat!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I can understand your concerns, Mr. Toy. Musicians routinely when flying will purchase an extra ticket so that they will not be out of sight of their instrument.
Many are too valuable to even consider checking or shipping.
I recall a 1963 WB trip on the Century, when a violinist was practicing a cadenza in a Bedroom. You can be certain that instrument was never out of his sight.
Of course there are extremes; I note an unfortunate incident that occurred over ten years ago on a CNW/METRA train I believe at Highwood, IL where a violinist was dragged by the train after the violin was trapped in the automatic doors. Unfortunately, while the musician survived, a leg had to be amputated, but below the knee.
Also unfortunate is that I believe this musician, apparently quite accomplished, played UP/CNW/METRA "like a fiddle' with regards to damages for the personal injuries sustained. Accordingly, I will not attend any concert at which one is performing, I will not buy any of one's records, and will turn off the radio for the expected duration of any 'piece' this musician performs.
I must wonder why this musician saw fit to be 'wheeled' on stage to perform while the matter was pending with the railroad; also why now that the matter is settled, one has reportedly been fitted with a prothesis.
Lest we forget,Itzach Pearlman, who has a mobility impairing birth defect, gets on stage to perform "under his own power', although he does sit while performing.
dilly Member # 1427
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I've traveled with a guitar on several occasions.
If you have an extremely sturdy, hard-shell case, I suppose storing it on the communal rack would be safe enough. However, if other passengers have already taken up much of the available space with their own stuff, the length of your banjo might prevent you from stashing it there.
On the other hand, if you have a soft case (or no case at all), don't even think about storing your instrument in the corridor. Passengers have a nasty habit of "slightly" manhanding other people's luggage to reach their own. My guess is that you don't want your banjo dropped and end up in pieces.
Maybe I'm overly paranoid, but I never place anything on sleeping car luggage racks that I can't afford to lose to accident or theft, as rare as the latter may be. If an important piece of luggage (such as a guitar) won't fit inside the room with me, I simply leave it home.
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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I do have a sturdy hardshell case. I've seen people playing instruments aboard trains, I've just never seen what they do with them outside the lounge cars. I have trouble seeing how it would fit in a Roomette.
For the record, it is not a high-priced banjo, but not exactly cheap, either.
dilly Member # 1427
posted
quote:Originally posted by Mr. Toy: I have trouble seeing how it would fit in a Roomette.
On the two occasions when I traveled alone with a fairly expensive guitar, I put my soft, general-purpose travel bag on the opposite seat of my roomette, and perched the instrument case vertically on top of it, leaning against the backrest.
To keep the case from falling over due to train movement, I fastened the top of the neck to the car wall with duct tape. At night, I simply placed both items in the upper berth and slept in the lower.
When traveling with my girlfriend, we kept the upper berth in the 'down' position for the entire trip. My guitar stayed up there by day. At night, when we occupied both berths, the guitar case rode vertically in the narrow space between the two beds and the door.
Again, I used duct tape to fasten it to the closet (it was a Superliner I) which kept it from keeling over during the night.
Obviously, it's not an ideal solution. But if your banjo is the most prized thing you'll be taking on your trip, that's how I'd do it. Especially since you may not be able to fit it onto a crowded luggage shelf downstairs (my guitar case was too long, even if I'd felt inclined to store it down there).
posted ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
my family at my destination. We usually travel in a Roomette, so I'd probably have to keep it on the luggage rack downstairs. Has anyone else had experience carrying musical instruments aboard? How did you work things out? I know it is counted as a carry-on bag, but beyond that I don't know how to travel with a banjo.