Preparation

Preparing for a train riding journey is is a little like packing for a backpacking trip, excepting the fact that you don't have to carry your gear most of the time.  The basics are simple; you need (in order of importance) water, appropriate clothing, food, tools, shelter, entertainment.  As haphazard as I may be at home about maintaining a place for everything, and keeping everything in said place, I find it very easy and basically a necessity on the trains.

Let's see ... Here are some things that I have taken on a train over the past 15 years:  Rubik's cube, many lawnchairs, 4' x 8' panel of recycled carpet, 4' diameter o-rings, a used tire, industrial packing pillows, marbles, multiple bottles of cheap wine, a hammock (for inside the boxcar).

I think I'll keep it pretty basic this time around.  Let's see -

CLOTHES

Long underpants and shirt

black carhartt pants

Cargo shorts

2  x dark t-shirts

black hoodie

2 pair synthetic socks

2 pair underwear

wool hat

rain jacket

work gloves

nylon strap that doubles as belt

FOOD

jet boil

liter water bottle (in backpack)

gallon water jug (I like having redundant water sources)

Trail mix (protein heavy)

bagels

tuna fish packet

sausage stick

cheese hunk

2 dehydrated meals

2 flasks - scotch and tequila

coffee / hot choco

SHELTER

Light tarp

twine

sleeping bag

sleeping pad

TOOLS

Phone charger
phone

scanner

leathermang

TP for my bunghole

earplugs

CCG

Trash Bag
Ear Plugs

ENTERTAINMENT

my naughty mind

headphones

journal
Camera

Suggestions?