Some of you may recall that my wife and I ride long-distance trains, and travel in sleeping cars. These have car attendants, some of whom my wife and/or I have come to know over the years. Fortunately, they're predominantly on one certain route heading west out of, and east into, Washington DC. As a result, I will not travel in skirts or dresses on that route, even if I'm alone. And rightly so...
Last year, on the first leg of my visit to the west coast, my car attendant on that train was one with whom we have previously traveled. And, as usual, he remembered me. On our way out of town for this year's trip, he reappeared as our attendant, and talked with us for a while. Had I chosen to dress at any previous time on his car, it's possible that he'd have remembered Mandy. Any mention of that around my wife - even a casual compliment like "That was a really pretty skirt you wore last time" - would set off an untimely and unwanted chain reaction. That could turn a good day very bad, very quickly. Thus, Mandy always climbs back into her suitcase when traveling to, or home from, Chicago via that route.
On the first leg of that most recent excursion (the Northeast Corridor to DC) our Conductor, whom I didn't recognize, knew who we were as we boarded at our stop (from the manifest, I presume) as we were the only passengers boarding in business class). Subsequently, he addressed me (in my androgynous mode) as "Miss Sherman." That's always affirming, and quite fine with me! Much better to be addressed as "Miss" than "Mr."
With other trains, elsewhere in the country, being inadvertently "outed" by crew at inopportune times is not so much of an issue, since we primarily travel together on only the one eastern route. I've traveled "pretty" a number of times elsewhere, and had no issues whatsoever. Likewise, I did so on the Northeast Corridor, including last year's cross-country excursion which included a NYC stop, to meet one of my readers in New York "in person" for the first time.
However, deadheading crews seem to be a bit problematic. I now know that they can appear anywhere, at any time. And my recognition factor enters into this. On the most recent trip with my wife, a deadheading car attendant from the western side of last year's cross-country trip, much of which found me en femme, recognized and acknowledged me. He introduced me as a repeat customer to his female boss, who was coincidentally deadheading on the same train we were riding. Fortunately, no public mention was made of my female attire last year. Could it be an extension of that unwritten rule "What goes on in Vegas, stays in Vegas"???? So it seems that dressing simply results in a crap-shoot, the luck of the draw. Am I likely to stop? Probably not...
Due to our schedule, and the need to drive several places rather than take the train, chances are looking slimmer by the day for an en-femme train trip this summer. But I'm certainly hoping for an encore! Time will tell what happens...
Hope January's major east coast blizzard spared my readers who live in that area..though we were gone at the time, and did not get to "enjoy" it...
I leave you with a sunrise scene, over the Atlantic, from an upper-story window in our beachfront hotel at Ocean City, Maryland in early 2012.
Till next time,
Mandy
Each January my wife and I take the auto train to Florida for a few weeks of warmth.
ReplyDeleteThe train leaves either Lorton or Sanford at 4 PM. Shortly after departure the attendant will visit each compartment for a short chat about bed turn down, etc. After that they stay away unless called. As such there is a several hour window prior to dinner (unless you have the early bird).
Last year on the way home we had a larger compartment and as soon as the attendant left I took off my slacks and donned a skirt and heels along with adding my forms to my bra (I had under dressed in hose, bra and slip), added a woman's tank top and my wig and rode along until dinner.
This year, on the way down we had separate small roomettes and, again, being under dressed, as soon as the attendant left I shut the door and changed. I even added a little very light makeup. Being dressed in hose and a skirt is a very liberating way to travel.
Pat
Your trips always sound like so much fun!
DeleteWe've tried larger compartments, but neither of us like upper berths, so the two separate rooms are better for us.
In the times you've dressed on the train, have you ever had one of the car attendants "catch" you? How about any of the other guests? If so, what did your wife say?
When I get up for a potty break in the middle of the night, I'm wearing one of my housedresses. And folks (passengers/car attendants) have seen me. When the train stops while you're in a downstairs potty, and they are boarding passengers in the sleeper, or the conductor is riding in the downstairs entry, you don't have many options.
I don't go out of my way to mention being seen to my wife, even when she is on the train with me...and I don't think she'd care if it happened. The people don't know us. But when I'm alone I tend to let myself be seen a bit more often.
Yes, being dressed while traveling is a wonderful feeling. Glad you get to experience it!
Mandy
I have not been caught by any attendants or others that I know of. Part of the fun of traveling en femme or just getting out while en femme is the fear factor that fuels the fun.
ReplyDeletePat
Whatever works for you, keeps you going...that's always a good thing. Rock on, whenever and however you can!
DeleteMandy