# Do (Did) Long-Distance Trains Carry Emergency Rations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 27, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-did-long-distance-trains-carry-emergency-rations/926606 "2020-11-27T17:56:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-did-long-distance-trains-carry-emergency-rations/926606/21 "2020-11-28T13:53:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > And of course- Hardtack. That’s serious. Serious as a Hardtack. ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-did-long-distance-trains-carry-emergency-rations/926606/22 "2020-11-28T14:34:35Z")
I’m late to this topic. I’m reminded of the Movie Breakheart Pass (based on the novel by Alaister McClain)which contains just about everything brought up. Stuck train, luxury travel, a rescue, sadly not a mention of extra -food- supplies, and criminal activity.And I think a bridge crash at the end. Worth a look. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2020, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-did-long-distance-trains-carry-emergency-rations/926606/23 "2020-11-28T17:51:10Z")
A couple of years ago there was a series of incidents where the air conditioning on German long-distance trains failed - in the middle of a summer heat wave. A couple of people fainted from dehydration. In that summer, when temperatures got particularly high again, train attendants would walk through the train and hand out free bottles of water to passengers. Of course, that’s not exactly what the OP had in mind - it’s not a matter of emergency rations to keep people alive while they’re stuck over days, it’s just to keep people hydrated for a train ride that takes a couple of hours. But still I think it qualifies; these water bottles were carried by the train specifically for distribution to passengers when the need arises. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-did-long-distance-trains-carry-emergency-rations/926606/24 "2020-11-29T14:53:08Z")
Here in the US airline industry we do carry emergency rations. Seriously. Each aircraft is required to be equipped with spare food and water to be given out in the event of an extended delay trapped on the ground and unable to get the people off. It’s bottled water and granola bars enough for about 150% of the seat count. We have an elaborate time-tracked decision tree to decide when they’re needed and a reporting system to make sure HQ knows, and can inform the government as required by law, when they are used. And of course the maintenance infrastructure to replace them when used or when past whatever expiration dates they may have. _Nothing_ is simple any more. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-did-long-distance-trains-carry-emergency-rations/926606/25 "2020-11-29T20:31:56Z")
Before roads and trucks in some areas like Kansas, Nebraska, etc train companies set up some town locations based on how long it took to get crops to the train stop without going bad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-did-long-distance-trains-carry-emergency-rations/926606.md?page=1)