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Well, our scheduled trip from LAP to FLG on the Chief is just a little more than 2 months away. As a first-time train traveler (traveling alone with my nearly 2 y/o daughter) I have a couple more questions I hope the group can answer... 1) I have a roommette reserved. Do I still need to bring along headphones for use with the DVD player? 2) When leaving a tip for the sleeping car attendant, do you leave the tip in the roommette when you leave (like I usually do in a hotel), or do you hand it to your attendant? 3) I'm trying to think in advance about sleeping arrangements. I'm assuming the top bunk in the roommette doesn't have a rail or anything that would make it safe to place a toddler up there. So, is there enough room on the lower bunk for us both to sleep, or can I lock the door to the roommette from the inside (to prevent any late night "escapes" and allow my daughter to sleep on the lower bunk?
Thanks for your advice! I'm sure there will be more random questions to come in the next couple weeks!
Posts: 9 | From: Missouri | Registered: Feb 2008
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Caitenji, I would take headphones as the walls are very thin.You hand the tip to the attendent. Most of us do when we detrain but some people feel they get better service if they tip beforehand. ( I don't agree) As to the berths, yes the doors dolock from the inside. They used to have a net barrier which could be attached to the upper to keep little ones in bed. I would suggest you contact Amtrak and ask . As to both in the lower I think it would depend on how big each of you are and whether or not you can sleep together.As you know some kids are quiet sleepers and others are all over the place.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
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I agree with trainlady about the headphones----please bring them. As a sleeping car passenger, I do not enjoy hearing my next-door-neighbor's Barney movie playing over and over, all day long.
Is it possible for you to sleep on the upper bunk, and your 2 year old to sleep on the bottom? I would think this is a safer way to do things. There is a strap there (two nylon straps that attach to the ceiling), but I could easily see a young child slipping through it under the right (wrong) circumstances.
Tipping: whatever you feel is appropriate. For one night, $10 is perfectly acceptable. But remember that a tip is because someone did a good job. If you receive terrible service, absolutely do NOT tip. And you just hand your attendant the tip as you're getting off the train in Flagstaff---they're used to it.
Do you live in La Plata? I love that town, and the people. I've been to the Depot Inn twice. If you're a local, can you tell me how Harold is doing? I heard that he has cancer and was hospitalized. Thanks.
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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Whether or not I even used the upper is an open question. Depending on your size and your toddler's size, you may find the lower sufficient to the purpose.
Otherwise, agree with the other posters.
Posts: 1404 | Registered: Oct 2001
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by smitty195: [QB] As a sleeping car passenger, I do not enjoy hearing my next-door-neighbor's Barney movie playing over and over, all day long.
You and me both! She's never even heard of Barney and I prefer to keep it that way However, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse does get on your nerves. I think headphones might help me keep my sanity, too, lol. I think I'll take her shopping to help pick some out and get her used to wearing them now.
>Is it possible for you to sleep on the upper bunk, and your 2 year old to sleep on the bottom?
That's what I was thinking. I just wanted to make sure that the door was lockable -- don't want her "going visiting" in the middle of the night!
>Do you live in La Plata?
I actually live in Kirksville -- about 13 miles north of La Plata. It really is a pretty nice place to live.
>If you're a local, can you tell me how Harold is doing?
I'm afraid I don't know Harold. If you can give me his last name I can check with a co-worker to see if she has any info. She is a La Plata native and it seems like she knows everyone.
Posts: 9 | From: Missouri | Registered: Feb 2008
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Harold's last name is Marshall. He is the father of Tom Marshall, who is the co-owner of the Depot Inn and Suites. One of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. He's one of those guys who you can sit down with and have a cup of coffee with, and feel like you've known him your entire life. He is very talented in woodwork, and just about everything else that needs to be fixed or built.
Oh, and regarding the lock on the bedroom doors....it's simple enough. You can lock the door from the inside when you are in the room, but not from the outside. It's a bizarre door lock, where you flip over a metal "thing", and then hold it in place with another rotating metal "thing". It's easy once you see it---hard to describe in words.
And don't forget your duct tape!!!!!!! Seriously. You might need it if the air conditioner vent in the ceiling is blowing too much on you (or your daughter) at night. The control to open/close the vent is, well, right up there with Amtrak standards. LOL! You also could use the tape to keep your curtains closed. As you will see, the velcro on the curtains NEVER matches up with the velcro on the door----so the tape will fix that in a jiffy. It's awful that we have to recommend these things to first-time AmTravelers.....
(PS: I've been to Kirksville once to pick up my rental car at Enterprise!)
Posts: 2355 | From: Pleasanton, CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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As the father of a just past 2 & 1/2 year old, I'd recommend letting the 'wee one' sleep in the bottom berth.
Our daughter (who loves the 30 minute train ride pulled by an authentic narrow gauge steam locomotive at a nearby amusement park) is just super wiggly and she would certainly find a way to slip through the netting from the upper berth.
Why tempt fate when there is a safer alternative?
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I agree with all advice here and do recommend or both of you in the bottom bunk; door does lock from inside and I don't think a child could open it. I also want to mention another good reason to bring headphone--if you want to listen to music etc while in the observation car. This can be fun as you look out the window. Just try to use small, lightweight headphones--they won't be difficult to bring.
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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