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I'm considering transporting a tuba (actually, a helicon), in a custom case (about 3'x3'x2').
This would be round-trip. I'm having a case built for what is now an annual trip - I would really like to bring the helicon rather than play a borrowed Sousaphone. Both ends of the trip have Amtrak stations that handle packages.

Problem 1: the "about 3'" measurement is a bit small on one side - it will probably be about 39"

Problem 2: Amtrak seems to have a weight limit of 50 lb, unless it's on a pallet. I think
the total weight won't be under that limit.

This seems low - even Delta will accept this package (no problem on size - 100lb limit on accepting it - probably charge for "heavy")

This will be a "brick-shaped" case with recessed wheels. Is it worth even considering putting it on a pallet? What "strapping" method would be appropriate? I can do almost anything on the front end of the trip - but probably need to depend on a helpful volunteer to handle the return shipping.

I'm looking for someone who has done this who can tell me if it's worthwhile even contacting Amtrak to see if these limits are flexible?

Any other feasible options? Amtrak is attractive because it's easy to do "station-to-station" without involving "delivery".

Having shipped several tubas via Amtrak, I'd recommend putting on the palette provided that both stations will handle them. Most stations will handle packages, but not all are equipped to handle palettes.

They'll shrink-wrap your case to the palette for you, so I've never had a problem with strapping.

I ALWAYS tip my guy at the Chicago Amtrak station and he loads it in the back of the car (where he tells me its less likely to have stuff tossed on top at stops along the way...Amtrak says the won't, but some have told me they will if they're in a hurry).

I've found over and over again that its the cheapest, but more importantly, the SAFEST way to transport an instrument

Josh Wirt

You might check with Greyhound. The size limits are 30" high x 48" wide x 84" long.

joshwirt wrote:
They'll shrink-wrap your case to the palette for you, so I've never had a problem with strapping.

Excellent! Now, for true newbie questions:

a) who supplies the palette?
b) if me, what's a good source?
c) this is round-trip, where the return trip will probably be handled by
"not me" (I'll be flying back at an early hour). And, local transport will be by
rent-a-car. So...can I leave the palette at the station and re-use it for the return trip?
If it matters, figure 4 days from pickup at the far end until dropoff for the return.

Just a note as I was told by our local Amtrak station that they getting out of the shipping business sometime in the future. There are many stations that used to accept packages but no longer do. They used to be my first choice but now you have to call them just to see if you can ship it where you want the horn to go.

Good luck

They can ship a tuba over 50lbs depending on the station. I shipped mine to Atlanta and back to Newark Penn a few weeks ago with no issues. Call and ask.

Colin Bentuba wrote:They can ship a tuba over 50lbs depending on the station. I shipped mine to Atlanta and back to Newark Penn a few weeks ago with no issues. Call and ask.

Thanks. My local station is quite close, so I think I'll wait until I have the case in hand and then wander over a week before I need to ship to get a personal consult. In the end, the one thing that matters is the opinion of the guy accepting the package.

Oh yeah, and if there are two people working at that station, then there will be two opinions. When I took mine in, a younger guy was at the front desk, and if his boss hadn't come to my rescue, I'd have been in trouble. She took a more liberal interpretation and at least saved me a fair amount of money (I vaguely recall there was a question about paying for weight vs. size), and it wasn't looking real good about going at all, with the younger guy. We tend to end up in some grey areas - size calculations, I forget, this might have been one of the places where they will balk at anything that has "FRAGILE" stamped on it, etc.

OK - looking promising so far. One more detail: for those who have done this for TIME CRITICAL shipments, how much slop would you allow for in shipping times. I don't think my route involves any unloading-reloading along the way, but are there other reasons a shipment might be delayed, and if so...by how much?