All that reminds me of the mid-70s, when as a poor student I traveled all over Europe in overcrowded trains. The surefire way to empty out a compartment (that was in the days before those cars with airplane like seating) and have it all to myself was to unwrap a hunk of cheese and some ripened liverwurst that had been traveling in my backpack for days (or longer) and start preparing a yummy lunch on that little fold-out table right next to the window.

Ah, those were the days, unencumbered by hopes for an upgrade on the next transcon...