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Today I called 800 USA rail to change my seat to the lower level as I have seen on previous trips it's a quieter place to relax and sleep in. I will walk up to the lounge and dining car to see the scenery. And since I have been on the SW Chief and Coast Starlight and saw this mini-lounge I'd thought what the heck I may have the lower level to myself if not 8 people with me.
Did I do a good job? The Amtrak agent said the conductor cannot move me if I have reserved the lower level since I'm a light sleeper and need somewhere quiet. Any takes on the lower level lounge? Anyways at least I will have easy access to the restrooms.
Will I be one of the first to be asked for dining car reservations?
Thanks
Grandma Judy Member # 3278
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Good luck with those dining reservations. If the sleeper passengers haven't taken all the spots, they will go through the cars looking for takers, but they won't be looking on the lower level first.
dilly Member # 1427
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The lower level is fine when riding in coach. As long as you're not traveling in June, July, or August, there's a fairly good chance that it won't be completely full for most of your trip.
As for the dinner seating, someone may come downstairs to take your reservation. But don't count on it.
However, if you're traveling alone, your watch says 6 o'clock, and you're hungry, don't sit there starving, waiting for a formal invitation. Head for the Dining Car anyway. Chances are, there'll be at least one seat open. If so, it's highly unlikely that you'll be turned away.
Mr. Toy Member # 311
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The lower level is not a lounge. Just a small section of standard coach seats with an aisle down the middle. I think they have a wheelchair space in there as well. Lower level seating is often used by (though not limited to) those who have limited mobilty.
Chucky Member # 2263
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I believe the lower level accommodates a total of 12 people and, as Mr. Toy said, its a compartment, not a lounge.
I frequently travel in the lower level and have found the politics there very interesting. Most people who use the lower level have limited mobility or are senior citizens. Since the compartment has a sliding door, it is indeed private.
The downside of the privacy is that if there is something wrong with the heating or air conditioning, it can get stifling down there. Also, if somebody happens to be sick, you will probably catch whatever they've got. I caught the flu from a sick child who was on the lower level about a month ago and was sick for a couple weeks. I then gave that nasty illness to my girlfriend and she has been sick for a month.
One of the most dreadful experiences I had in the lower level was cohabitating the place with some old lady who would spray the joint with the most dreadful disinfectant imaginable when nobody was watching. The conductor finally caught her doing it and she really got into trouble.
Half the seats are facing the "right way" and half the seats are facing the "wrong way," incidentally. Since, judging from a previous posting, you will probably be jumping the line to get a seat facing the "right" direction, this shouldn't be a problem. Unless, of course, some old bitty gets upset at you, then prepare for combat.
Also, be aware that two of the seats, those that are in front of the place where wheelchairs generally are placed, do not have footrests. I like those spaces because there is about 10 feet of free space in front of them. However, if the train gets packed, as it probably will, those 10 feet will probably (in violation of the rules) be packed with baggage. It will then be your task, as a strapping, healthy, young lad, to sort them out and get them out of the way. Don't expect the attendant to do that, she will probably be busy with other matters.
Good luck.
(p.s. I second Kiernan's comment, i.e. the view is much better on the second level)
Geoff M Member # 153
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quote:Originally posted by travelplus: The Amtrak agent said the conductor cannot move me if I have reserved the lower level since I'm a light sleeper and need somewhere quiet.
I wouldn't count on that! Once those senior citizens get going on a story, you could be up all night listening to them. Been there, done (or heard) that. Being a small compartment with little to absorb sound, the noise level can be louder than upstairs. Granted, it *can* be quiet a lot of the time, but don't count on it.
I second the air flow problems. It just doesn't seem to be ventilated as well as upstairs.
Geoff M.
Kiernan Member # 3828
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You get a much better view up top.
D. David Member # 4055
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Yeah thought that was for the handicapped or ill. When I boarded the SW Chief there was a group of dour faced elderly sitting there in a small clump on my way up.
I wouldn't do it if I went coach on the SL2.
notelvis Member # 3071
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This post reminds me of a July 1998 trip on the 'Empire Builder'. My brand new wife and I boarded the eastbound train in Whitefish, MT and the train was packed. The only place they could seat us together was in one of the lower level coach areas. The area was populated by the same folks described so far in this thread plus an elderly man who complained loudly about everything anytime the car attendant came through. It got to the point that by mid-morning the attendant was avoiding our area entirely.
We stopped for servicing and a crew change in Havre. Minutes after departure the new conductor comes in and the gentleman demands to know if he is the conductor. Upon receiving confirmation, the passenger says "I've got a problem I need to complain about." New conductor says "I'll go send your car attendant down." Elderly passenger responds, "No. HE'S my problem!"
So......essentially riding downstairs could be heavenly or it could be......well....you know. Just depends on variables which are beyond your control.
Grandma Judy Member # 3278
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I'm one of those senior citizen-old biddy-mobility impaired travelers, and I can tell you that if I had a choice, I wouldn't be on the lower level. I don't get carsick, but the scenery whizzing by at eye level is dizzying - you can see much better on the upper level. So if your knees permit, go upstairs. I only took the lower level once on purpose (a short hop which didn't make the roomette an economically feasible option), and I won't do it again. I have had roomettes on the lower level & didn't seem to have the same difficulties that I did in the coach seating. I still prefer the upper level, but only if I have a bedroom to elimiate the stairs. You can't count on that common commode on the upper level being available when you need it.
Funny story in lower level coach: I boarded in Essex, MT enroute to Pasco, WA, so I was in the Portland half of the Empire Builder- at the end of the train. The next morning zooming along through eastern Washington in a shortened consist, I overheard a discussion on why the engineer kept blowing the horn. The concensus seemed to be "to wake up the cows". These people had boarded in Minnesota and, being at the end of the train, didn't realize that the engineer had been blowing the whistle at every crossing for 2 days. I finally spoke up and explained that it was not a bovine wake-up call!
sojourner Member # 3134
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I had a roomette on the lower level on the SW Chief last May. It was OK but I spent most of the daytime in the observation car anyway!
D. David Member # 4055
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On my return trip from KC to Chi in August, I sat on my bed crosslegged in the roomette and watched the scenery go by. It was great! Sitting up against the window and seeing the ground speed below I can imagine is a bit much; here I was a slight distance and not up against it.
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