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Is there somewhere on the train that you can get power to charge batteries for say a laptop or other portable devices. I was looking to take something for my trip from Mass to Calif.
F40PHR231 Member # 1350
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Depends on your luck. If you're traveling coach, just cross your fingers that you are assigned to a "refurbished" car. This type of car features electrical outlets at each seat, and is pretty comfortable!
Maybe someone can shed some light on how to tell the difference between a refurbished car and a non-refurbished car. Since you're traveling far, you should ask an attendant if you can move to a car or a seat that has a plug for your use.
~Chris
Eric Member # 674
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Refurbished Superliners will probably have newer exterior silver paint with the PH. IV striping (broad blue stripe and smaller red and white stripes). The interior of the cars are "brighter" than the unrefurbished cars. They will have grayish seats and curtains (compared with the orange-red of the unrefurbished cars), and maybe new carpeting, along with some smaller changes. I was in one of these coaches last February, but didn't see outlets. You should take F40PHR231's advice, and ask the attendants if an outlet is available. Have a great trip!
RRRICH Member # 1418
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If you go in a sleeper, the power outlets in the rooms are generally reliable on Superliners and Viewliners. I take long trips by AMTRAK every couple years, and have a camcorder in which the batteries always need recharging, and I have not yet been unable to charge my batteries in the power outlets in my rooms. On the rare occasion when the power outlets don't work, ask your car attendant and he (or she)can probably find you a room in which the power works.
traveler Member # 1415
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In the observation car there is an outlet in the wall next to the stairs to the lounge in the aisle. Don't trip anybody.
------------------ brad
lakeshorelimited Member # 576
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It really is hit or miss with the electrical plugs in the single level Amfleet cars. If you are going coach, try to get in the cars with the blue seats. If you are leaving from Boston, you probably will have an assigned coach, but not an assigned seat. Since you will be going all the way to Chicago, they usually put the long distance passengers in the more comfortable, newer coaches.
Amtrak207 Member # 1307
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LSL- no promises there. Lately they've been hauling out the phase 3 cars to handle demand. The train I saw two nights ago had three nonrefurbished cars and only one blue bomb. This is an improvement over the pair of Horizon cars in that particular trainset a week ago. By the way, the non-overhauled amfleet cars have a power outlet at the center of the car on the wall, down low. This may or may not be beside a seat, depending on which way it is turned. They use these to plug in a vacuum cleaner and other equipment during servicing. If you can grab a seat near the midpoint of the car, it's yours. Not to mention the better ride and visibility, lack of vestibule and bathroom noise, and other advantages of riding in the middle of the coach.
------------------ F40PH #757099-8 March 29, 1976-November 18, 2001 P42DC #53063 November 18, 2001-???
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