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As part of a trip to see relatives and do some family business, my wife and I are planning to take the SWC from Albuquerque to Garden City, KS later this month. A few days later we will be using AGR points to go from Garden City to New York via SWC/LSL. Western Kansas in January should be very 'interesting'.
The question is, should we use the additional points to get a deluxe bedroom or stay with a roomette for the two relatively short trips on the SWC/LSL. How does the upper bunk in a roomette compare with the cramped one in a superliner deluxe room for both the superliner and viewliner cars.
When traveling together we have always gotten the deluxe but not sure it will make that much difference for this trip.
RRCHINA Member # 1514
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Since you will arrive at Garden City @ 11:35 PM you should not need beds for sleeping on your 1st leg. So if you just wish the privacy and two meals the roomette should suffice, or coach and have lunch before boarding and purchase dinner.
palmland Member # 4344
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thanks RRchina - but my question is really on the second portion of the trip. The overnights on the SWC to Chicago and LSL to NYC.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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My wife and I are getting on in years, and we have decided to take two roomettes instead of a deluxe bedroom for two reasons:
1. A twosie is cheaper -- sometimes a lot cheaper -- than a deluxe bedroom.
2. There's no struggle to navigate the climb to the top bunk.
Younger folks may not care about #2, however.
train lady Member # 3920
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We still prefer the bedroom. Much more room during the day and not having to trot down the hall at night to use the facilities is a plus. Since neither of us is able and willing to make the upwrd climb we simply share the bottom bunk. I do get separate blankets so there is no problem.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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I can answer the question "How does the upper bunk in a roomette compare with the cramped one in a superliner deluxe room for both the superliner and viewliner cars?" for the superliner. I tried both on the CZ on the same trip, same sleeper. Both were equally cramped and I suffered through a noisy ceiling fan on both. The deluxe was slightly better because of the bigger room, and you could lean over and see the window even if you couldn't see much out of it.
If cost is not a concern, I would say the upper in the deluxe is better. And two will fit in the lower if the upper is too uncomfortable.
palmland Member # 4344
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thanks all - since it's AGR points we'll probably go for the bedroom. That AGR Mastercard is well used.
We may try Train Lady's suggestion though. Since we won't have our dogs sleeping in bed with us, the lower bunk for two will probably seem spacious.
Since the SWC will give us plenty of time for the Chicago connection, anyone have good idea for dining. I think we may go far a steak house - any favorites?
notelvis Member # 3071
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Well.....there is the Golden Arch Steakhouse right there on the concourse but somehow I don't think McDonald's is what you have in mind. (hee, hee)
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Gibsons, Ditkas, Harry Caray's, Morton's (best of the "chains"), Chicago Chop House - they are all in the River North area - taxicab ride from CUS.
In The Loop, and a walk from CUS, Miller's Pub and 17 West @ The Berghoff both have perfectly good steaks on their menus. While not a steak joint, Walnut Room at Macy's (Marshall Fields) may or may not be open for Dinner. I also go to Rhapsody, but I think its main "pull" is its location within the Symphony Center complex - obviously a convenience for concerts.
Bob from MA Member # 4686
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Regarding the Viewliner sleepers on the LSL: The Viewliner cars have fewer deluxe rooms, so you might have trouble booking one. Also, they are rather pricy. Of course that would not matter using AGR points. My wife and I, in our 70's, still use the roomette. The mechanism of the upper bunk is quite different than those on the superliners. The bed rides up and down on vertical runners while remaining horizontal. I use the top bunk and find it easy to get into. I can get up and down without unhooking the safety strap. There is definitely more headroom than in the superliner roomette upper bunks. And, as you probably know, the upper bunk also has a window! Henry's suggestion of TWO roomettes is one we might look into, however. Some of you may remember the Slumbercoach cars. We often booked two adjoining roomettes in those. Of course it was much cheaper to do so then.
palmland Member # 4344
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Bob - thanks for the info in the upper berth on the Viewliner - I have never been in one, so it might be fun to see what that upper window is like. The upper berth on the Superliner might be ok since it will be after midnight before we get horizontal on the SWC. After a few days in the cold of Kansas, I suspect sleep will come easily.
Mr. Norman, Millers pub sounds interesting. I have heard Lawry's is good- do you know anything about that?
David- if the SWC is late Mickey D's might be the restauant of choice. We can then drown our sorrows in the happy hour, or whatever it's called, on the LSL.
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If you have not been in a Viewliner roomette, one other point might be noted. Each roomette has its own toilet. The cover serves as a place to set things and also as a step to the upper bunk. If a person prefers privacy when using the toilet, the other must stand in the aisle or sit in another roomette temporartily if one is available. There is no community bathroom in the car (as there was in one type of the old slumbercoaches). We have been in a Viewliner sleeper where the attendant designated a vacant roomette as a community bathroom, but that's uncommon. There is a pull-down sink in each room also.
train lady Member # 3920
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Bob, we used the slumbercoach several times. The double is so tiny I doubt that anyone would be comfortable. We would get 2 across the hall from each other . That way we had views on both sides.
Bob from MA Member # 4686
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Train lady: Interesting to read about your Slumbercoach memories. My apologies, Mr. Palmland, that this thread has strayed off the track. That seems to happen. The comments on my recent trip report evolved into a discussion of the Bob Evans Scrambler!
Back in January 1982, my oldest son was a graduate student at Purdue University. I rode back to the school with him in his car after the Christmas break. He later drove me to Chicago to catch the train back home. It was my first ever ride on Amtrak. The agent offered me a sleeper (Slumbercoach) and I took it. I think it cost an extra $40. All the sleepers then went to New York City, so I changed to coach in Albany. Later on you could take a sleeper into Massachusetts.
My wife and I tried the double slumbercoach compartment, but we also found it much too confining. After that, we too would book single rooms across from one another if possible. I remember that there was a community bathroom, little used, at one end of the car.
There was another type of Slumbercoach car. We encountered that on the Crescent. I don't think that one had the extra bathroom, but I'm not sure. We were sorry to see those cars retired from service.
train lady Member # 3920
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I agree with you Bob. Those slumber coaches were fine. They didn't include meals but from DC to Chi it was only $27 extra/ We had to go by coach to Harrisburg and changed there to the Broadway limited to go on to Chicago. The Broadway had the baggage car and the slumber coaches, the Capitol did not. While it wasd smalleer than the regular roomette you didn't have to raise the bed during the night to use the facilities as you did in the roomette. We would check our baggage the day before so that it would get to Chi or DC when we did. Going east it would go to NYC and then back down to DC
palmland Member # 4344
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Bob- guess I contributed to Bob Evans saga. But evolving topics are a good thing.
My only slumbercoach experience was on a college trip on the NYC - after most of their trains became numbers, not names. The room was perfect for my college budget and the quick overnight from Chicago to NY.
One step up from these cars were the 16 duplex roomettes-4 bedroom cars on the B&O. Somehow these Bird series cars (Thrush, Cardinal, etc.) squeezed 2 more roomettes in the same space as a standard 14-4 pullman. Very nice cars and later in their life the SCL used them and sold the space as budget rooms.
PullmanCo Member # 1138
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I rode double slumbercoaches during the 1 year revival of the Chief in 1972.
The upper had one, and only one, advantage over a Superliner "roomette" upper: A guy could sit up.
I did not like sacrificing berth width for the access to the hopper. Now, in Amtrak SL era, I despise sacrificing berth width for NO HOPPER.
Give me an open section with a full Pullman berth any time!!!!!!!!!!!
palmland Member # 4344
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Guess we'll have to head for Canada for that ride in an open section - or maybe a trip on Dover Harbor.
My question on getting a roomette or bedroom on the CONO / LSL may be moot. I now learn that the Amtrak strike, if it occurs will be on Jan. 30. That's the day before we leave Kansas.
So, I have a mental picture of my wife and I on a cold, snowy night on a deserted station platform in Garden City, KS waiting for a train that doesn't come. This should be quite a trip.
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