LIFE ONBOARD - All Aboard: The Complete North American Train Travel Guide - page 81

fixed—a coat hanger inside the closet swinging with the motion
of the train or a ladder in the unused upper berth not stowed
quite right. It's amazing how effectively a washcloth wedged into
a crack can silence a rattle. If you can't locate that elusive noise,
call the train attendant. He or she has found and fixed many a
rattle and will probably have better luck.
The Doppler Effect
As your train goes past a grade crossing with flashing lights and
a clanging bell, you'll notice that the pitch of the bell will sud-
denly drop as you pass the intersection. That's the Doppler effect,
named for Christian Doppler, an Austrian scientist, who came
up with the explanation for this phenomenon in the mid-1800s.
The short explanation is that as you reach then continue beyond
the grade crossing, the sound waves put out by the clanging bell
lengthen and take longer to reach you, which accounts for the
drop in pitch. You'll notice the same thing when the engineer of
another train is blowing its horn as it passes you.
Security for Your Belongings
Incidents of thievery are quite rare aboard Amtrak trains, but
that doesn't mean you can ignore everyday common sense. The
best rule is to leave any real valuables at home. If you must bring
them aboard, take them with you whenever you leave your seat.
That's an essential precaution for coach passengers; however, it's
a good rule for sleeping-car passengers too. You can latch the
door to your private room once you're inside, but the doors don't
lock from the outside. Sleeping-car passengers can feel comfort-
able about leaving cameras, tote bags, and even handbags in their
rooms, but put them someplace out of sight, then pull the drapes
and close the door to your room securely when you leave. Notify