A college friend and I are planning for our first rail excursion and I had a question about sleeping car accomodations. We are taking the California Zephyr from Chicago to Emeryville, CA - from Emeryville we are taking the Coast Starlight to Portland - and from Portland we are taking the Empire Builder back to Chicago. With the exception of one day in San Francisco, we will be on the train for an entire week. I have read on this forum that people say the Superliner Roomette is actually quite small. Do you think 2 people would be okay in a Roomette for an entire week on a train? (We are both 22, 6'0 - 150lbs and 175lbs) I was thinking that maybe we should both get our own Roomette. I would appreciate any experiences or comments you could offer.
Thank you in advance,
Kyle
Posts: 3 | From: Norfolk, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2005
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Whenever I travel even one night with my wife, we get a bedroom. Despite the fact that there are two beds, I find the roomette to be a suitable acomodation for only one person. I would get a bedroom. You would then have your own bathroom, as well. You will appreciate that after a week.
Posts: 255 | Registered: Nov 2001
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Well, if you can afford it, each getting your own would obviously be your best bet. However, if you want to keep costs down you can definetly fit two in there. Just know what to expect so your not let down. During the day there are two chairs facing each other, with plenty of leg room. During the night those chairs make a bed and there is a bunk that folds down. This is where it will get a bit cramped: there is literally about 6inx12in of floor space when the bottom bed is made. But this really will just affect you for the 30 seconds it takes to get into bed. I have pictures of my roomettes on the webpage below my name. good luck! and enjoy -- its a great experience!!
I did think about just getting a bedroom, but it's actually cheaper to get two roomettes. I don't think I will mind the bathroom at the end of the hall so much.
I like the idea of getting a bedroom, but its too expensive.
-Kyle
Posts: 3 | From: Norfolk, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2005
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I suggested what I did because with a multi-leg Chicago--SF--Seattle--Chicago sleeper trip planned for the apparent purpose of continuously rising trains, it did not seem like dollars were the primary consideration. After all, it was not just Chicago to SF and back.
Maybe you would prefer to go to Emeryville, stay a day or two longer, then return on the Zephyr, or to Seattle and back on the Builder, taking bedrooms both ways.
As for the bathroom, it is one thing when a guy just runs in and out of there a few times a day. A week of this--including, perhaps, some lengthier visits to the reading room--including shower and maybe shaving, as well...this may be a bit more than you bargained for on a first-time rail trip. Remmber, others will be using them, as well.
Posts: 255 | Registered: Nov 2001
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Personally, I would suffer through the one shared roomette, esp as you are only 22 and likely limber enough to do it. What I would do, though, is break up the trip a little so you are not on the train for so long, and use the money you might have spent on a bedroom or 2 roomettes and instead spend it on some stopovers!!! I know a lot of people here just like to ride the rails, but I personally cannot imagine going all the way to Portland or Seattle and NOT stopping over and to see them. I haven't been to either yet, but they both seem to have so many neat things to see, good food, good music too . . . so that's what I'd spend the money on. And if you split up the trip more, you will have some comfortable sleeping nights, even if you are a little cramped in the roomette.
You never know when you will get to these places again . . . so see all you can, that's my advice!!!
Posts: 2642 | From: upstate New York | Registered: Mar 2004
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I agree with Sojourner. Portland and Seattle are fun cities for for spending a day or night. One other thing, I went from San Jose on the Coast Starlight and transferred to the Empire Builder on the way to Montana, this past summer. I had a 1 night stop-over in Portland, which turned out to be a good thing as the CS seems to constantly be unable to hook up with the EB, in Portland, because of the CS constantly arriving late into Portland. To avoid a bus trip from Klamath Falls to northeastern Oreg, to meet the EB, it might be good to figure a night stopover in Portland.
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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My wife and I just took the Crescent from ATL to WAS and then from NYP back to ATL and we had a Viewliner roommette, which should be similar if not the same. Granted, it was only an 18 hour trip from Penn Station to Atlanta, but wife is expecting our first child and it was not too bad. We actually found the room much more "roomy" when both beds were down so that we could each stretch out more. With the upper bunk "up", the room with the chairs seemed tight.
We each had 2 medium size pieces of luggage and moved them around to make it all fit. It is probably better with only 2 or 3 pieces overall however. There is an overhead luggage space that will hold 2 suitcases in your roomette.
We had trouble adjusting to trying to sleep the first night on a train. But by the trip home, I was able to get a solid 7 hours of sleep. My wife got less, but that could be expected.
I think for the huge cost savings, it is well worth while to go with the roommette. Just realize what you are getting in to, a very small space (roughly 3 & 1/2 feet by 6 & 1/2). You can always walk the train, go to the dinner car or cafe car and stretch out for awhile. Riding in the cafe car for an hour or more can relieve the feeling of being cramped in your room.
I think with your age, you'd have a great time.
Just my two cents. Have a great trip and let us know how it goes.
Posts: 12 | From: Mableton, Georgia | Registered: Jan 2005
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I think you'll be fine in the roomette. Let the smaller guy take the upper, though. On the Superliners you won't have the extra storage space Buzz mentioned, but you'll find places to stow everything. Remember that on the Starlight you'll have the Pacific Parlour Car to escape to or, if you want to mingle, the Sightseer Lounge.
You'll have a great time!
Frank in dark and cool SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Many good opinions have been expressed here. I'm inclined to agree with Sojourner and Yukon regarding the stopover in Portland. If the Starlight is running late, as it often is, there is a high probablility that you would be "bustituted" from Klamath Falls, Oregon to catch up with the Empire Builder, and you'd miss the spectacular Cascades crossing, which is the highlight of the Starlight route.
If you reversed the loop, though, and took the Empire Builder westbound and the Zephyr eastbound, you would almost certainly make all of your connections.
As for the Roomette, it really is quite small. The upper bunk is especially tight. Plan to trade off upper and lower to share the burden. Think of it as camping out, but with full meal service.
Consider maybe getting a full Bedroom for your return leg, instead of the whole trip. On that final leg you will be ready for some more breathing room.
I have some travelogues of the Starlight and Zephyr on my Del Monte Club Car web page, complete with photos. The link is below. Scroll down to "Mr. Toys Train Travel Tales." They're kind of long, but they'll give you a good idea of what a complete train trip is like. If you don't want to read them, I don't mind if you just look at the pictures.
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Hey Kyle, I did the same trip a couple years ago; absolutely wonderful! I would urge you to stay at least two or three days in San Fran, not to be missed. One of the great cities! Remember tht you won't be spending all your time in the bedroom. A significant portion of the trip will be in the observation lounge, plus you guys can take turns taking naps during the daytime in the smaller bedroom; just keep the beds made up.
Posts: 171 | Registered: May 2002
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Wow. Everyone here has been so helpful! My friend and I are going to discuss all these options later tonight....I will definitely keep you posted.
Thank you all for your help.
-Kyle
Posts: 3 | From: Norfolk, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2005
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If you do spend any time in San Francisco, do NOT refer to it as "San Fran" or "Frisco". It is San Francisco or, simply, "the city".
I had a great, if rainy, Presidents' Day Weekend there. I finally made it to the Cable Car Museum and rode the old streetcars on the "F" line. If you will be riding the "Muni" much look into buying either a one or three day pass. You'll save money and it's very convenient. Each Cable Car ride is now $3.00 so it adds up quickly.
Frank in wet, again, SBA
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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Just my opinion. . .a long-distance trip in a roomette with two people much larger than the original poster is not uncomfortable in the least providing they enjoy each other's company and aren't particularly shy about the potty thing, etc. Neither my husband nor myself had any trouble accessing the upper berth (and I'm past 50 and not at all limber anymore). A roomette is not my first choice but it's not bad.
Posts: 149 | From: Joliet, IL USA | Registered: Aug 2004
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23 years ago my wife, 5 year old daughter and myself had a roomette from L.A. to Houston. I had the upper and the wife a daughter shared the wider lower bunk. My wife and I were a bit bigger than average. It worked. I was fine in the upper and the wife and daughter managed somehow in the lower. Durring the day it was no troble at all. If you fold the lower into the table and seats, you can still nap in the upper. Just be careful standing up from the table. My wife and I were just now trying to remember. We recall that there were rest rooms down stairs but are there any upstairs on the sleeper cars?
Posts: 4 | From: Union City Ca. | Registered: Feb 2005
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quote:Originally posted by SuperFudd: My wife and I were just now trying to remember. We recall that there were rest rooms down stairs but are there any upstairs on the sleeper cars?
There is one near the top of the stairs, across from the beverage station. If you are fortunate enough to get an older unrefurbished Superliner I the upstairs rest room is larger than the others, and has a window (with curtain).
Posts: 2649 | From: California's Monterey Peninsula | Registered: Dec 2000
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Stay with the roomette, don't make the bed, sleep when tird, the rest of the time, be in the observation lounge... the scenery is astounding. Try and stay in San Francisco longer...
Posts: 43 | From: Cape Coral, FL | Registered: May 2003
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Yes! Definitely try to have a longer stay in San Francisco. It's a beautiful city. Try to see Beach Blanket Babylon. Take a ferry ride to Tiburon or Sausalito.
Posts: 498 | From: New Hope, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2003
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I went to the "Mr. Toy's Train Travel Tales". You did an excellent job, Mr. Toy! Very well done and the photography, I thought, was really interesting. Any thoughts about "Mr Toy's Empire Builder Train Tales" --my favorite LD train.
I like the idea of going north to south on the Coast Starlight, then heading east on the Zephyr. Problem is, from my home in Northern Calif. it is a little inconvenient to travel that route if I am simply going to the Northwest. It is great to have the Cascades going all the way down to Eugene, for the sake of stop-overs and sight seeing. If we ever get an experimental, privitized passenger rail service, I would like to see somthing linking Sacramento to Eugene. I think a first class service with good meals service might give an indication of how profitable a private service might be (a-la the Rocky Mountaineer). Anyway, I am thinking about a "big loop" , upon retirement, going east, from Sacramento, on the Zephyr and on to Toronto, out of Chicago, to connect with the VIA. I would then take the VIA west to Vancouver and the Cascade back to Seattle, with the Coast Starlight back to Northern Calif. My question, what about connections from Chicago to Toronto? It looks like the VIA has train #71 from Toronto to London, Ont, to Windsor, Ont. I am not sure, but I think the Amtrak "Blue Water" still runs from Chicago to Port Huron. But how to make the connection with the VIA in Toronto? Does the Toronto to Windsor run have a connection with the Blue Water..and if so, where? Maybe London, Ont? Or maybe the reverse, maybe Amtrak connects with the VIA in either London or Port Huron? I don't mind bus connections, but I want to avoid an airplane connection at all costs!
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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Yukon - AMTRAK no longer runs between Chicago and Canada. The Blue Water terminates in Port Huron, and you would then have to take a taxi or some other connection across the border to Sarnia, Ont. to catch a VIA train. Last I checked, I am not even sure how many VIA trains there still are (if any) between Sarnia & Toronto.
You could take AMTRAK to Detroit and try and get across the border to Windsor and catch VIA to Toronto, but the present Detroit AMTRAK station is nowhere near the border (the old Michigan Central station, no longer used by AMTRAK, was fairly close to the border).
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Thanks for the info, "RRRICH". It looks like your idea of a cab ride from Port Huron, across the border, to Sarnia, would be best. Of course, with Amtrak's current situation, I am not sure there will be any long-distance trains in a couple of years. I would like to get a North American Rail Pass and travel in both the US and Canada for 3-4 weeks. If the Port Huron-Sarnia connection doesn't work out, maybe another way of making the big loop would be to get on the Empire Builder, out of Chicago, and travel to North Dakota, say to Fargo on Minot. If they have rental cars, it looks like the trip across the border up to Winnipeg would not be too long a drive. I could catch the VIA in Winnipeg headed west.
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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