I've learned a lot thanks to searching this forum; following are the questions I still have re: my trip w/ wife and two kids (3yo/5yo) on the CZ and LSL (emy<->spg). We're travelling late July/early August.

- phone situation: Is there any sort of onboard phone similar to what one finds in the sky?

- tipping: does one tip the attendant at the end of the leg? every time s/he fetches something? every day? What is the recommendation?

- deluxe sleeper seats: looks like there are two seats. There are four of us. Is that a problem?

- hours of "public areas". Does the observation car close down at some point? (or the lounge car or whatever)?

- is the observation car hopelessly crowded? Does one have to fight for a seat etc.?

- vegetarians: I know they have veggie stuff on the menu -- should I keep my expectations no higher than pasta and garden burgers?

- smoking: will I need to drag my family through any god forsaken smoking areas in order to get from Point A to Point B (e.g. our berth to the dining room)?

- emeryville long term parking -- do I dare leave a vehicle there for two weeks?

Thanks all!

First, regarding phone service, I know of no Superliners that have phone service, certain Amfleet I Cafe Cars have RailFone Service and sometimes one ends up on the Lake Shore Limited. Service is available throughout Upstate New York as these cars are regularly assigned to the Empire Service Trains that run in Upstate NY and whose RailFone Service is advertised.

I've never rode in a sleeper so I can't answer your question on tipping the attendant, though I've eaten countless meals in the dining car and the generally accepted practice is to tip at the end of your meal when you leave the car like in most traditional sit-down restaurants.

As far as hours of "public areas", generally in a Superliner Sightseer Lounge the lounge area in the upstairs of the car is open at all times. Depending on the train you ride, the Food Service area on the lower level of the Car is open from early morning before Breakfast until usually Midnight or around there. On the Lake Shore Limited, I've noticed that sometimes during the overnight the lounge car (usually an Amfleet I or II) may be closed for cleaning though I've found that depends on the train crew as the car sometimes remains open all night just with no food service between midnight and 630am.

As far as crowds in the lounge car, A Superliner Sightseer Lounge can hold more people than an Amfleet Lounge as the overall seating area occupies the entire upper level of the car as opposed to an Amfleet that usually has tables on one end, a bar in the middle and either coach seats or lounge tables on the other end. Usually in Superliner Equipped Trains, movies are shown during the evening in the lounge car which can draw a crowd or clear one out depending on the movie! In my travels, I've found that Sightseer Lounges are busy all the time during the day since they have huge windows that allow for great photography opportunities. I've found at least on the Lake Shore that in the evening, the car is pretty crowded with people socializing, playing cards, drinking, relaxing, you name it.

As far as smoking, this policy has changed for the Lake Shore Limited I believe, someone correct me on it if I'm wrong. On the California Zephyr, smoking is most likely limited to the lower level of a "Smoker Coach" which has an enclosed, ventilated room just for smoking. The Lake Shore Limited had traditionally had a lounge car with an enclosed smoking room, (this is where I may be wrong as smoking policies on this train have changed) a section of the lounge car is open at certain times for smoking if no smoking room is available in the car. If no smoking is allowed on either train, its likely that "smoking breaks" would otherwise be permitted on platforms as announced by the train crew.

Concerning the Sightseer lounges, if you are traveling on the CZ from Emeryville, I suggest you find a seat in the sightseer lounge EARLY before you begin crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains (which begins just E of Sacramento), and find a seat EARLY for the entire day on the second day of that trip, as the train goes through the Utah desert and the Rocky Mountains, and because of the nice scenery, the lounge car will be very crowded during those periods. During the Sierra Nevada crossing in California, they generally have a couple guys from the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento in the sightseer lounge giving a narrated commentary of the trip from SAC to Reno.

Concerning smoking, all trains are different -- on most Superliner trains (i.e. the CZ), they will have "smoking stops," as Amtrak288 said. On the Lake Shore, one end of the Amfleet lounge car will be smoking, and they may only have designated periods of time when people can smoke, even in that part of the car. In general, smoking is NOT allowed in any coach on any AMTRAK train, and generally not in Superliner sightseer lounge cars, but smoking is allowed in people's private sleeper rooms.

Hope this helps -- have a great trip, and let us know how it went when you return!!

The upper lounge observation area is always open. A few people choose to sleep there. The snack/food area opens about 6:30am, and closes for short periods during the day when he takes breaks, which are announced in advance. Closing is 11:00 or 12:00. Sometimes kids movies are shown during the day. A video about the history of the CZ (Silver Thread thru the Rockies) is also shown. Four seats together in the observation car may be difficult to find at peak scenery times, but there is ample floor space around the seating that kids seem to use in their own ways.

I remember seeing at least one vegetarian choice at lunch and dinner. I think menus are available on amtrak.com somewhere.

I just found out there is a replacement out for the Amtrak Travel Planner called 'Amtrak America - Your Travel Guide to Amtrak's Routes and Services' that is also available thru their website amd may also be at depots. This may provide much of the info you are seeking.

Basically, it's up to the crew. Most keep their cars open for the duration of the trip. But some seem to open and close on a whim.

Basically, it's up to the crew. Most keep their cars open for the duration of the trip, and sell refreshments on something that resembles a logical schedule. But some seem to open and close on a whim.

My 5watt "bag phone" (compared to 1/2watt "cell phones")always gets out anywhere I travel, which I must acknowledge is only in the East. Suffice to say, better luck is obtained near the window; further concur that there are no restrictions whatever on personal cell phone usage away from designated "quiet cars" found in the NECorridor.

My "tipping schedule" is somewhat more liberal than previously noted. For the Sleeper attendant, mine is $5/day in a Standard, but $10/day in a Deluxe. This includes luggage as well as linen and en route cleanup services and one "gofer" a day. Additional "gofers" and especially if the gofer is a meal, it's time to dig deeper.

In the diner, simply look at the menu price and tip as if you were paying for that meal (even though you have already done as part of your accomodations charge). Further be mindful that if you have wine with dinner (their selection, while limited and lacking any "service', is not "the end of the world") that is an additional charge.

- phone situation: Is there any sort of onboard phone similar to what one finds in the sky?

I don't know about the CZ, but the Coast Starlight does have railphones in both the Parlor Car and the lower level of the Sightseer Lounge, and has had for at least in the last two years. The only time I took the CZ (In August 2000) they did not have phones aboard. A public phone was available at the service stop in Sparks Nevada and people were lined up to use it. If you have a cell phone, that will work, as others noted already.

- deluxe sleeper seats: looks like there are two seats. There are four of us. Is that a problem?

There is one long sofa style seat and one chair. They will easily accomodate four. I'm not so sure about the beds though. I know they'll sleep three, but I don't know if you can get two in the upper bunk like you can on the lower.

- is the observation car hopelessly crowded? Does one have to fight for a seat etc.?

It will probably be most crowded in the Rockies, though I found it was much more crowded on the westbound trip than eastbound. I attributed that to the fact that eastbound we had been traveling through spectacular country for over a day by the time we reached the Rockies, while westbound passengers coming off the plains were probably starved for some scenery.

- vegetarians: I know they have veggie stuff on the menu -- should I keep my expectations no higher than pasta and garden burgers?

Download a PDF file of the menu here: http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/Dining_Car_Menu.r5.pdf

- emeryville long term parking -- do I dare leave a vehicle there for two weeks?

Heavens, NO! The immediate neighborhood is kinda scary. Take an Amtrak Thruway, local transit bus, or taxi there.

------------------
Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

The Del Monte Club Car

Tipping - if it's a 2 night trip, I tip $5 or so, after the beds have been made up on the 1st night, just so the attendant remembers me for the next day and gives better service. That's the theory, anyway.