Choice of "Roomette" on Lakeshore Limited Amtrak?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone - Sorry if this isn't the right type of web site, but it's tough to find train-specific travel web sites. I'm traveling on the Amtrak Lakeshore Limited train in a few weeks and booked a Viewliner "Roomette". I was told once the reservation was confirmed that I was assigned Room 001, car 4811.

Are there room numbers that are better or worse? Is this a double decker type train and should I ask to have a different room number?

Thanks for any help!
-Randi

[CG9602]

if a roomette is "better" or "worse" depends upon the opinion of the passenger. Due to the fact that the Lake Shore Ltd. goes to the Big Apple, it has single level equipment only. I think you should be just fine with roomette #1. It really depends upon what your expectations are regarding the amount of space that you'll have. The roomette has just enough room for the bunks when the bunks are "down." It can be very tight for two people (capacity), but is very sufficient for one person. I've had no problems or issues when travelling alone in the sleeper. It really depends upon what is your personal concept of "space," as there have been many folks who thought that they were getting something straight out of the Orient Express only to discover that the roomette is smaller than the deluxe accomodations aboard the A.O.E. I use the top bunk as a place for storing my bags, and sleep on the bottom bunk. Where you may have issues is the crew. The crew for this particular train is notorious for acting as though they are a law unto themselves. I've had much better experiences with the crew from The Three Rivers (very curteous & professional) & the crew aboard the Capitol Ltd (again, professional and polite).

Then again, that is just my experience & my perceptions. It is highly possible to have very different experiences aboard the very same train.

[railman]

The Builder is also a very nice train to ride....

[ndbprr]

The preffered location in any car is the center. It minimizes truck noise and sway and offers the smoothest ride. For most travellers the preffered side is the right side to keep passing train noise as low as possible while sleeping. Last time I rode the Capitol limited the stretch from Chicago past Toledo was run wrong handed so that freights could get in and out of ELkhart easier but we were past Toledo by 11PM so it wasn't a problem.