Thanks for all the great info on this forum. And I would like advice, comments, suggestions, etc. I am so psyched I can't stand it! We have standard rooms the entire way.

While a newbie, I am a moderate train buff and have been reading these pages and several books. A few questions:

what size luggage should I take? What will fit under the seat?

With a standard room I would like to maximize useful nooks and crannies. What size or shape containers, bags, etc. would you bring for a standard room?

On the superliners, there is a baggage rack where you can get to your luggage, correct? Where is the carry on luggage stored on the viewliners?

Are there no more sodas at all, or just no longer an unlimited amount? ( I don't like coffee and prefer diet pepsi) Do they still serve juice in the morning?

What are prices like in the snack bar? For a can of soda what is it? 50? 75? 1.00?

For a standard candy bar what is the price?

As this is a new and possibly one time experience for both my son and I, is it considered proper to ask amtrak employees about their jobs and the function of the train and so on? (For the ingnorant but curious)

I would appreciate any comments, suggestions and advice.

* I'll leave it to others to address luggage size. I would suggest that you pack a couple of small overnight bags for what you will need on-board the train. Check the big stuff (camping gear etc..) so that you won't have to deal with lugging it around during your Chicago layover. The Sears Tower is two very short blocks from Union Station and a good place to spend some of your layover time.

Are there no more sodas at all, or just no longer an unlimited amount? ( I don't like coffee and prefer diet pepsi) Do they still serve juice in the morning?

What are prices like in the snack bar? For a can of soda what is it? 50? 75? 1.00?

* No more complimentary sodas in the sleepers. You can still get diet soda in the lounge and dining cars. As a sleeping car passenger they will be free with your meals.

At other times it seems like they are now $1.25 or $1.50 for a 12 ounce can. (I was on the Carolinian two weeks ago and still had complimentary soda in business class.) If you drink alot of diet pepsi (as I do), you might consider bringing some of your own on-board in a small cooler (keyword being SMALL. You'll understand when you see the standard viewliner room!) You can replenish your stock from vendors in the Chicago station and again during servicing in Denver. Don't expect to find anything during the servicing stop in Sparks, NV. Don't plan to explore much during the brief stop in Sparks either lest you become a Union Pacific hood ornament!!!! (In other words....stay on the train platform)

Have a great trip!!!!!!

But with that having been said, there is quite an array of nooks in the Viewliner Standard (HBG-CHI) that are not there with the Superliner. I strongly suggest "soft" luggage; it is so "squisshable". However, if a bag will fit under an airline coach seat, it will fit under, with room to spare, a seat in a Standard.

The soda pop in the cars is gone; but coffee and juice remain.

Snack Bar prices for any item are "high" but not "obscene", but lest we forget, "three squares" are included in your accomodation charges.

Now asking an employee about their job, is something that in any area of life, is best done with great trepidation. I do not think Amtrak employees are an overly "para" bunch, but they are still employees, albeit represented by a strong Union. However, they are still paid far far more than a comparable job would pay elsewhere, especially when considering a Sleeper attendant has duties that are not much different than a hotel housekeeper. Too many questions can easily breed "suspicion". Tact, tact, and more tact are the order of the day.

There is only one shower in a car for all the standard rooms, do you just take your chances? Is there plenty of hot water? Are towels, washcloths, soap and shampoo provided like in a hotel? If so, how do you get them, from the attendant?

I often get up very early; can one wander the train prior to sunrise and is the sightseer lounge open to watch the sunrise?

I am sorry for those of you going on the CZ that will get the re-route through Wyoming. As of right now, we will not get the re-route either out (June 2-5) or back (June 17-20). But I don't trust the repairs to stick to schedule, so we will see.

What are your opinions of current service on Amtrak and the California Zephyr in particular? Are things on the upswing or downswing? It sounds like a great deal depends on what kind of car attendant we get.

Where are openable windows located and is it OK to open them when the train is stopped? ( I know you don't open them when it's moving)

Should we bring our own pillows and extra blanket?

What equipment will be used on the CZ? Will it be Superliner I or II? The Three-rivers will be Viewliner with the TV removed, I believe. Doesn't bother me that they are removing the TV. These days you can get a protable DVD player for less than $200 and take your own DVD's.

Questions, questions, questions!!! Thanks for all your help! 78 days to go!

Now, for the next round of questions.

The community shower does serve all Standard rooms of which there are 12 in the viewliner and 14 in the Superliner. It is "first come first served". One of the reasons i like the Lower Level on a superliner is that you are close to the shower - just peek out your room and you can see whether or not the "occupied" light is lit.

Secondly, there are no windows on any Amtrak train that open for passenger use. The crew has one in each car, but that is just for crew. Days of opening a "Dutch Door" or "Orient Express" movies are long gone.

All bedding soap and towells are provided in Sleepers.

The Sightseer observation car is open at all hours, and you are quite free to go there and watch the sunrise.

The California Zephyr is regularly assigned Superliner I cars.

We are also going to try the PBS radio plays of Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. That should be perfect for the train.

If your carry-ons are smaller than that, they will fit under the seats. However, once your attendant deploys the beds, the space is not accessible, and you'll not be able to retrieve you bags from underneath without undoing the beds. So it is best to move them out from under if there's anything you'll need before morning.

Superliner Is have a closet, which is more aesthetically pleasing. Superliner IIs have a short coat hanging rod and a strap to hold things against the wall. I actually prefer this over the closet because it is easier to access things in coat pockets, garment bag pouches, etc, without taking them off the hanger.

I have a travelogue of the California Zephyr here, which will give you a good idea of what to expect. http://hometown.aol.com/MPtoybox2/CZ_aug_2001_p1.html

------------------
Sing to the tune of Humoresque:
Passengers will please refrain,
From flushing toilets while the train,
Is standing in the station,
I love you.