I just booked a trip on #4, the Southwest Chief, LA to CHI. I was assigned roomette #11 in car 0431. This is a lower level room. Should I be happy with that or ask for an upper level roomette? Any thoughts?
Inside the room, there is no difference between those on the upper level and those on the lower level. there may be a smoother ride, as to noticeable sidesway (I have never noticed any upstairs). You do not have to walk as far to the shower room, but you do have to go up and down the narrow stairway to get and from the diner and the lounge. You do not have to carry any baggage up or down the stairway, and if you want to leave a suitcase in the storage space by the entry, you do not have as far to go if you need something from it.
As to the view outside the window, the horizon is a bit closer--and you want to be sure to close the curtains at night to keep people from seeing in.
I don't think it is worth it to ask for a room upstairs, though I have had more rooms upstairs than downstairs.
Johnny
I like the downstairs room for the reasons listed by Deggesty. Also, it is closer to the rails, which for a true rail buff, is worth every bit of whatever view of the horizon is sacrificed by being in a lower level room as opposed to an upper level room.
When I travel in a roomette, although the cost of the meals in the dinning car is included in the fare, I frequently eat lunch in the lower level of the lounge car. The lounge car on the Texas Eagle has an excellent Turkey and Cheese sandwich on whole grain bread that is better than anything served up in the dinning car for lunch. And I can eat it close to the rails.
I have never been able to bring myself to call these rooms Roomettes. When these rooms were first introduced, Amtrak called them economy rooms. Now Amtrak calls them roomettes, even though they are quite different from roomettes. A roomette, according to my trusty old Webster's, is "a small, private room in some railroad sleeping cars, furnished with a bed that folds into the wall, a toilet, washbasin etc." Economy rooms in Superliner sleeper are more like sections with a door for privacy in addition to the curtains, and narrower beds. But that's a digression.
I can add a couple more things to consider. For one thing, the rooms in the center of the car are going to give you a smoother ride because they're suspended between the trucks, rather than over the trucks. I think of it as a "hammock" effect. That means that the smoothest-riding economy rooms (all other things being equal) will be #1 and 2 upstairs and #11 and 12 downstairs. Some say the ride is smoother downstairs because there is less sway, but I've never felt a difference. Sometimes the noise level is higher downstairs because of proximity to the track.
There is only one small public restroom upstairs. Downstairs there are three, plus the shower room.
The family room is downstairs, and summertime is the prime time for families to travel. On the one hand, kids can be noisy and rambunctious. That's just how normal kids are made. We were no different. But on the other hand, I have noticed that the rocking of the train tends to put most little kids to sleep at an early hour, especially if they've been active during the middle of the day. Very often they're asleep before the first dinner seating is finished & they have to be carried out of the diner. If anybody has trouble sleeping on the train, it's usually an adult.
Very often the evening noise level can be higher upstairs due to noisy passengers going to and from the diner or lounge.
So a lot this depends on chance. If I were in your position, I don't think I'd change. A change could put you in 7 or 8 (over the truck) or possibly 9 or 10 (over the draft gear and close to the sliding door).
Whatever you do, have a great trip!
Tom
The roomette on the CAlifornia Zephyr is simply grossly inadequate. It is a nice day time coach type seat but impossible for night time. There is about 6 inches between the door and the edge of the bed. The upper sleeping area is simply a plywood sheet with about a 2 inch pad. Climbing up to it is a challenge. Climbing down in the middle of the night to go pee is a nightmare.Whoever designed these "rooms" should be made to sleep in them for a cross country bone-rattling journey.
See my comment July 20 regarding whether these are properly called roomettes or not.
Suitability of the upper berth is somewhat subjective, although the people who like the upper are probably outnumbered by those who don't.
It might be a bit of an exaggeration to say there is only 6" between the bed and door, but it's not a great exaggeration.
A "bone-rattling journey" is entirely dependent on the track, IMO, a nice, heavy Superliner rides more smoothly than a Heritage or a Viewliner car, all other things being equal.
No plywood, although I'll concede that it can feel like it.
A small electric pump and a single air mattress solves the upper berth (plywood) problem. It folds nicely into your bag and the pump can blow up the mattress quickly. Slip it under the 2" mattress and "sweet dreams".
Tom, I'm not sure that it was even proper to call the small rooms "bedrooms."
I acknowledge that it is difficult to get into and out of the upper berth. Three years ago, when my wife and I were traveling, we had to use room H, for she was no longer able to go up and down the stair; and I, of course, had to sleep in the upper (when we had bedrooms, we both slept in the lower berth)--and I had to be very careful both going up and coming down (and I had to remember not to sit up suddenly--not a problem in a Viewliner).
There is one advantage the upper has over the lower; since the base is in one piece and not four, there is not the problem of having a mismatch in height from the floor that there may be with the lower--or that one end of the berth will rise up if there is not enough weight on it (I had this problem the first time I rode in one of the small compartments, in 1982).
But--sleeping accommodations are available on Amtrak trains.
I couldn't agree more with the sentiments expressed here regarding the difficulty of climbing into the upper berth. To me, it doesn't matter if it's Viewliner or Superliner equipment: it's difficult, discouraging, and dangerous. Then, for good measure, throw rough track into the equation and it's easy to see why nighttime travel in Amtrak bedrooms is not for the faint of heart. More than a few times I've cursed the ladder that rattles all night and is shaky, or that slides around just as I need it to be still. It's also in the way of the person in the bottom bunk who also needs to get up in the middle of the night to use the "annex."
On the other hand, some few years ago between Paris and Barcelona I found there is a much easier way to climb the Stairway to Heaven. The City NightLine equipment had stairs built right in to the side room in such a way that they were always in evidence, safe & solid in feeling, and not at all discouraging or noisy.
One would think that with all the over-50 customers that Amtrak sells its bedrooms and roomettes to that there would be increasing consideration given to mobility and safety in the rooms, to say nothing about the ignorance and inconvenience of removing toilets from the new, if not improved, roomettes.
I think Amtrak could make their first class beds a lot safer, more accessible, and comfortable.
"stairs built right into the side of the room"*
dmikee The roomette on the CAlifornia Zephyr is simply grossly inadequate. It is a nice day time coach type seat but impossible for night time. There is about 6 inches between the door and the edge of the bed. The upper sleeping area is simply a plywood sheet with about a 2 inch pad. Climbing up to it is a challenge. Climbing down in the middle of the night to go pee is a nightmare.Whoever designed these "rooms" should be made to sleep in them for a cross country bone-rattling journey.
As a high school graduation present I rode in the newly equipped Superliner California Zephyr in the very early 1980's my younger brother shared a roomette compartment with me, across the aisleway was my parents. I am 6 foot 5 inches tall and I was very comfortable in it. I have to say from experience......good luck with German or Swiss 2nd Class Sleeper accomodations if you do not like the American Superliner roomette. Though the German and Swiss First Class Sleeper does make the Superliner roomette look crappy but hey, Amtrak can't win on all points and I believe the Europeans charge more per mile for their First Class Sleepers than Amtrak does but still manage to lose money on them in Europe.
Deggesty Tom, I'm not sure that it was even proper to call the small rooms "bedrooms." I acknowledge that it is difficult to get into and out of the upper berth. Three years ago, when my wife and I were traveling, we had to use room H, for she was no longer able to go up and down the stair; and I, of course, had to sleep in the upper (when we had bedrooms, we both slept in the lower berth)--and I had to be very careful both going up and coming down (and I had to remember not to sit up suddenly--not a problem in a Viewliner).
Again, I think the German and Swiss First Class Accomodations even beat out the Superliner Bedroom although the Europeans are minus a shower and toilet.......just more comfortable. Maybe when Amtrak comes out with a second generation sleeper after the Superliner we might see a better design that is a little more spacious. Also, my feeling was that German Sleeping Car attendents usually had the personality of Mr. Spock on Star Trek.........Swiss Sleeping Car attendents were more jovial.
CMStPnP Deggesty Tom, I'm not sure that it was even proper to call the small rooms "bedrooms." I acknowledge that it is difficult to get into and out of the upper berth. Three years ago, when my wife and I were traveling, we had to use room H, for she was no longer able to go up and down the stair; and I, of course, had to sleep in the upper (when we had bedrooms, we both slept in the lower berth)--and I had to be very careful both going up and coming down (and I had to remember not to sit up suddenly--not a problem in a Viewliner). Again, I think the German and Swiss First Class Accomodations even beat out the Superliner Bedroom although the Europeans are minus a shower and toilet.......just more comfortable. Maybe when Amtrak comes out with a second generation sleeper after the Superliner we might see a better design that is a little more spacious. Also, my feeling was that German Sleeping Car attendents usually had the personality of Mr. Spock on Star Trek.........Swiss Sleeping Car attendents were more jovial.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
I totally agree with Toms assesment, tho I'd like to add two points. The downstairs rooms are noisier due to the cars entrance as with folks getting on and off all hours. I have accompanied my wife who required the use of the accessible/handicapp bedroom on several trips. Having the handicapp room on the lower level is a great idea. The attendent had to bring my wifes meals to her. The gentleman provided great service & with a smile. Another thing to consider, the noise of passing trains in much more noticeable on the lower level.
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