RAILforum: SWC to LA-SD

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Posted by jimdim8151 (Member # 3592) on :

Well only 11 more days until my first Amtrak trip, but who's counting?

The folks on this forum have been so helpful for this newbie and his questions. One more thing I forgot to ask ... When I transfer trains at LA to go to SD, will Amtrak transfer my checked luggage or am I responsible for that?

Can't wait to head West on the SWC!

Jim

Posted by Rob Dehlinger (Member # 3700) on :

Hi!

Are you cheking your own baggage or carrying it? If so, you will be responsible, though they do have redcaps in LAUS.

If not, make sure the train you are connecting to has checked baggage service, otherwise one of 2 things are a possiblilty: 1) You will have to carry your own baggage or 2) They will forward it on a different train and you will have to wait for it.

Enjoy the trip. I have never taken the SWC, but have always wanted to. I have taken the Texas Eagle, and tho the timekeeping was terrible between LAUS and San Antonio. I thoroughly enjoyed myself!

Cheers,

Rob

Posted by Railroad Bob (Member # 3508) on :

As Rob says, not all Surfliners have checked baggage service. So, if you hop on the very next southbound to SAN after you arrive in LAX, there's a chance your bags will go later in the day. Ask the local conductors about the baggage procedures. Or, you could just claim your stuff at LAX and hand carry it onto a Surf. Recommended if you don't have too many big heavy items that don't comply with the "new" bag policies for hand carry...

Posted by Charles Reuben (Member # 2263) on :

I'm pretty sure the Surfliner does *not* check bags, so you will have to pick them up at Los Angeles Union Station. I think the Surfliner runs about 12 trains a day, so the logistics for transferring bags would be a nightmare.

Just between you and me, I wouldn't check your bags. The system is surprisingly low tech, it takes forever to retrieve your bags and there is really no guarantee that you will ever see your bag again. As you can probably figure out by now, I once had a rather nasty experience.

Your bags will be just fine in the vestibule. Nobody will mess with them and they will be there, should you need to access them en-route.

Posted by Rob Dehlinger (Member # 3700) on :

Hi!

System is low-tech and it takes forever???

NOT!

At a bust station like Chicago Union Station, you rarely have to wait much longer than 30 minutes, usually less.

The Surfliners do handle baggage at LA and San Diego, not all trains, but the ones that connect with the long-distance ones do. Check the timetable for the little suitcase symbol by the station name or train time in the case of multiple departures...

It is the same system the airlines use, so if Amtrak is low-tech, so are the Airlines..

This is not a personal attack on Chucky, btw. If it looks like it I am VERY sorry!

Cheers,

Rob

Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chucky:
Your bags will be just fine in the vestibule. Nobody will mess with them and they will be there, should you need to access them en-route.

Well, I don't know about nobody messing with them. Several times your bags will be moved around by other passengers along the way as they board and add their luggage to the racks. And as others depart your bags will likely be moved once again. Be prepared for this and don't freak out if you can't find you bags right away, they're there just moved to a different place.

Posted by jimdim8151 (Member # 3592) on :

Yikes!

I am planning on bringing just two bags with me, both within the guidelines for size.

I will have a small duffel bag to bring into my roomette and one other bag 26". I didn't want to bring the larger bag into the roomette because from what I've been reading, there isn't a whole lot of room for much more than one bag in there.

I'll probably forget about checked baggage and just place the larger bag in the vestibule of the sleeper car (or whatever storage area is available).

Thanks everyone for your help.

Posted by travelplus (Member # 3679) on :

What happens if one checks their bags on the SWC and later finds out there is some important info and needs access to it what happens? How would one retrieve their luggage enroute? Is it like on an airplane once it's checked it can't be accessed until the next day. Or can one tell the conductor to get the bag at the next staffed stop?

Posted by jimdim8151 (Member # 3592) on :

travelplus:

Thanks to the fine folks on this forum, I've already prepared for that dilemma and I'm packing essentials in my duffel so that I have what I need (or could need) and hopefully won't need anything from my larger bag.

Jim

Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :

I've taken MANY MANY AMTRAK rail trips over the last 30 years or so, and have NEVER checked my baggage. I usually travel with 2 suitcases -- one for clothes, etc., and one for my map books showing the routes. There is always ample space between the lower level Superliner storage area and storage area in the roomette (of course, once my suitcase was mistakenly taken off the lower level storage area of the Sunset Ltd overnight by a couple who got off before I did and mistakenly thought my baggage was theirs, but that's another story!!)

Posted by Rob Dehlinger (Member # 3700) on :

hi!

Here is a baggage story to brighten up your day!

A number of years ago my mother and sister took the SWC from Los Angeles to Chicago. Somehow the baggage got booked on the Texas Eagle and got there the day after they did. (Amtrak delivered it to their home)

In 1998 I rode the Texas Eagle from Los Angeles to Chicago (You get to know your fellow passengers well, one very lovely lady w/ waist length black hair was nice enough to say good-bye to me when she got off at Dallas). My Baggage was booked on the SWC and got to Chicago a day BEFORE I did!

Isn't life interesting?

Cheers!

Rob

Posted by MOKSRail (Member # 3163) on :

What happens if one checks their bags on the SWC and later finds out there is some important info and needs access to it what happens? How would one retrieve their luggage enroute? Is it like on an airplane once it's checked it can't be accessed until the next day. Or can one tell the conductor to get the bag at the next staffed stop?

------

I actually came down with a splitting headache on the Calif. Zephyr in Colo. I expected the conductor would let me into the baggage car to get some aspirin I had at the next stop.

However, he walked with me straight into the baggage car, which was noisy moving at speed.
He let me find my aspirin. That was great.

I can't guarantee another conductor would allow that though.

Best thing is to bring what you need on board with you, like prescription headache medication and other personal things.

------------------

[This message has been edited by MOKSRail (edited 02-04-2005).]

Posted by Michael Christiansen (Member # 3604) on :

When I was travelling I brought three bags with me: a duffle for my clothing, a backpack for books, cds etc and a fanny pack for my camera, tickets and other stuff. I didn't check anything and was actually able to keep everything in my roomette. In between the seat and the door wall of the roomette there is "table" space where I was able to store stuff. ALl my bags fit in this area, stacked periously high but remarkably nothing fell on my feet during the night!Also if you are by yourself you can pull the upper bunk down half way or all the way and store stuff up there. good luck!
have fun!
mike

[This message has been edited by Michael Christiansen (edited 02-05-2005).]

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

Best rule of travel; worked for me over likely the past fifty years:

"If you can't carry it, don't bring it".

With the wheeled contraptions nowadays, I guess i had best clarify that carry means carry.

Posted by sojourner (Member # 3134) on :

I'm confused about the space problem on the western trains' sleeper roomettes when only one person is traveling. On the Viewliner roomettes on which I've traveled to FL etc, there is a shelf above the door and to the right where my small wheeled suitcase can be stored--the redcap or sleeping car attendant puts it up there for me. I also bring a small overnight bag which I keep down below with me, in which I put the clothing, books, Walkman, and toiletries that I think I will need in the roomette, plus my purse (which is not small) and a canvas bag in which I store my travel pillow and some munchies (which I don't need in the sleeper but I do need for coach travel later). I have never had a space problem with any of this.

Are you all saying that the sleeper roomette on the western trains is a lot smaller than the Viewliner roomette, and does not have a that shelf? I thought, since they are called Superliner, they were larger, not smaller!

[This message has been edited by sojourner (edited 02-05-2005).]

Posted by chrisg (Member # 2488) on :

In my over 848,000 rail miles I have and never will check my bags as I heard horror stories from my brother the Amtrak agent before I ever took my first trip.

Chris

Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :

No shelf above the door on the Superliners. I have a small roll-aboard that, if it's not filled too full, just fits under the seat. There is also a small cubby at the bottom of the closet. It will hold a small tote and/or a nice box of good wine. Remember, too, that the Superliner roomettes do not have a sink or toilet.

Frank in soon to have trains (They are now saying Monday) SBA.

Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :

quote:
Originally posted by sojourner:
Are you all saying that the sleeper roomette on the western trains is a lot smaller than the Viewliner roomette, and does not have a that shelf? I thought, since they are called Superliner, they were larger, not smaller!

If you plan to travel in a roomette (Standard Room), there's a simple way to deal with the limited in-room storage space aboard a Superliner. Just make your reservation by phone so you can request a room on the lower level (11,12,13,14). The car's general luggage shelves will be mere steps away from your room. Plant your largest piece of baggage there and it'll be easily accessible.

However, if you're only leaving home for a few days, don't do the typical American thing and pack as if you'll be traveling for a year. Live a little dangerously. Try wearing the same outfit (gasp!) two days in a row. Your back and shoulder muscles will thank you.

Posted by Charles Reuben (Member # 2263) on :

No offense taken, Rob,

I will agree with you that it takes "no more than 30 minutes" for luggage to arrive at baggage pickup. That's a pretty long time when you think about it. I mean, all they have to do is take the bags off the baggage car and deliver it to the pickup point. It's not rocket science and its not like there's a bunch of other trains that they have to service.

As far as being low tech, the baggage car that they loaded my bags on the SWC was just an old box car. Nothing special. Not even a shelf. They just threw all the bags in there, with no rhyme or reason.

Maybe that's why my bag was taken off in Kansas City instead of Albuquerque. Fortunately they found my luggage a day or two after the fact and believe me, they didn't deliver it to my house.

As far as "nobody messing with luggage in the vestibule," I did not mean to imply that bags would not be redistributed by the attendant. What I meant to say is that the bag would probably be there at the end of your journey, unmolested. Which is more than I can say about bags entrusted to Amtrak.

If you don't believe me, check out the restrictions on what you can ship. Which is not to imply that anybody at Amtrak is in the least bit dishonest, but why tempt fate?

Bottom line: I've never had a problem putting my bags in the vestibule.

Posted by jimdim8151 (Member # 3592) on :

According to my online itinerary, I'm assigned to Room 004, Car 0330 on my way from Chicago to Los Angeles. Then Room 004, Car 0430 on my return trip.

Does anyone here know if these rooms are on the upper or lower level of the Superliner?

Thanks,

Jim D.

7 days and counting ...

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

Upper Level, center car (best ride).

Posted by Mike Smith (Member # 447) on :

Jim, great room. My favorite roomettes are {in order} 4, 5, & 6. And the 0330 car is right beside the diner.

[This message has been edited by mikesmith (edited 02-06-2005).]

Posted by jimdim8151 (Member # 3592) on :

Gilbert & Mike,

Thanks so much for the good news.

It's amazing the amount of information you can gather from all you experts out there!

Thanks again everyone!

Oh, and by the way, I will be providing a report on my trip upon my return on the 23rd.

Jim D.

Posted by jimdim8151 (Member # 3592) on :

Right beside the diner? Does this mean I'm going to be hungry all the time????

Posted by sbalax (Member # 2801) on :

Jim--

I'll be looking forward to your report. I'm planning a similar trip (SWC CHI/LAX/SBA) for March if I don't get called for jury duty. (No, not THAT trial! They are only calling prospective jurors from Northern Santa Barbara County.)

I'm planning on cashing in GuestRewards points for a sleeper and assume that that would also include Business Class on the Surfliner.

Frank in SBA waiting to hear that 6:49AM Surfliner horn for the first time tomorrow since January 9.