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Is it better to book rooms on the lower level or the upper level to minimize motion. My son is sensitive to all motion (planes, trains, cars). Right now, I have a room on the upper level, but I heard that there is a lot of sway on this level.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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With 15 AT trips made to date, I prefer Lower Level rooms where as far as I'm concerned, there is less mption. However if you have booked a Bedroom, all are Upper Level. Roomettes 11-14, Family, and Special Room "H" are all "down below'.
NYRailFan Member # 2692
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Thanks for responding. Right now, we have a deluxe room (which, I gather is on the upper level). I've been thinking about switching to 2 roomettes on the bottom level. I guess the bottom level is bumpy, but the upper level has more sway. Ah, decisions...
Grandma Judy Member # 3278
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Although I don't get "car sick" myself, I have heard that for some people part of the problem is looking sideways out the window at fast-moving scenery & people who have this problem do better in the front seat. If that is the case with your son, I think the lower level is a mistake because the scenery does whiz by & even made me a little giddy. From the upper level windows, there is more prospective.
Ira Slotkin Member # 81
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I suggest you stay on the upper level and ride facing forward and look far outward at things you can gaze on. I agree with Grandma Judy - the rapid movement of the eyes side to side can cause balance problems. And because the scenery goes by so fast our eyes are going side to side a lot. Remember those little playground merry go round things we rode on as kids? Or ever get a DUI and have the officer move their finger back and forth in front of you to see how your eyes track the finger? Eye movements and tracking are connected to the same part of the brain that manages balance. To much involuntary movement of the eyes - as in looking out the window at the rapidly passing scenery - and bingo: dizziness. Veritcal Nystagmus. Not just the movement but the eye movement as well.
Ira here in full-of-bits-of-info-Denver
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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I think Judy has a point worthy of consideration. I can recall being on a small boat on a clear day in Chesapeake Bay but still an extremely choppy sea (anyone else around here familiar with the Bay knows it can get that way). I was attempting to navigate but I found that as I was trying to take bearings off fixed shore points that this was going to be a mal d mer day. However, if I concentrated on the LORAN-Charlie set (then-state of art positioning system), all was well.
However, back on the rails, even if it is not advisable to look out at the passing scene, I guarantee you are not missing very much. As I've often noted regarding my many East Coast journeys, absent being an arborist, "if you've seen one Pine tree, you've seen 'em all".
train lady Member # 3920
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Grandma and Ira are both right.I have suffered from motion sickness since I was a child. As one who can get sea sick in the bath tub I can understand your son's problem. The only time I felt "queasy" on the train was when I was facing the rear. He should be fine in the bedroom.Also when walking be sure to keep your legs apart rather than one's usual gait. That helps your balance and you don't feel the motion as much.
NYRailFan Member # 2692
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Thanks for your replies. I'm going to stay with the bedroom on the second floor.
Do you know of any way to tell if we will be riding backwards? I have bedroom "C" on one leg of the trip and bedroom "D" on the other. The sofa-style seat of the two bedrooms are opposite, so I assume that I will be riding backwards at least on one leg of the journey. I asked the reservationist, and she stated that they can't tell in advance and that it's all according to how they position the cars.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Has your son tried those beads people put on their wrists, or those things behind the ears? I have heard they work for seasickness and presume they would for motion sickness as well. There is also dramamine (sp?) but I never recommend pills when other methods will do. Anyway, check with your pharmacist or doctor about all of this.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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The reservationist is quite correct, Mr. Railfan. The AT equipment is not turned at either terminal, which means NB, the Sleepers will be on the head of the passenger cars, SB on the rear (the auto carriers are always on the rear).
For what it be worth A C and E all face the "A-End" of a Superliner.
Best advice is to have your child limit his window viewing; there is really nothing to see anyway,
train lady Member # 3920
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The couch is on one side and the arm chair on the other. so it's easy to figure out which way is forward and which is back. Just look out the window. Let your son sit on whichever is facing forward.
NYRailFan Member # 2692
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Okay, so if I understand, we could be riding the right way both directions or the wrong way both directions.
But the way, what is "A-End?"
train lady Member # 3920
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no, since you will be facing each other one of you will be facing forward and one back depending on which seat you take in your room. The sofa and the chair are on either side of the room facing the middle.Think of the roomette.The seats face each other . It's the same way in the bedroom except one seat is a sofa and one an arm chair.
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