I fell in love :-)

Hi, all -

I'm new to the forum but I'm not new to trains. I commute daily on the LIRR and NYC subway system and travel the NE Corridor often. But my first LD train ride was in February on The Crescent NYP to NOL, and I absolutely fell in love with the entire experience. Had a roomette (#2) all to myself and an excellent SCA. Saw lots of old train cars along the way, too. (New Orleans was nice, too.)

This morning I booked a roomette on the Empire Builder (got #14 - a little worried about that) and will celebrate my birthday enroute to Seattle. It's nice to have a forum for like-minded folks.

Jean

JeanA said:

Hi, all -

I'm new to the forum but I'm not new to trains. I commute daily on the LIRR and NYC subway system and travel the NE Corridor often. But my first LD train ride was in February on The Crescent NYP to NOL, and I absolutely fell in love with the entire experience. Had a roomette (#2) all to myself and an excellent SCA. Saw lots of old train cars along the way, too. (New Orleans was nice, too.)

This morning I booked a roomette on the Empire Builder (got #14 - a little worried about that) and will celebrate my birthday enroute to Seattle. It's nice to have a forum for like-minded folks.

Jean

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Welcome!

You could try calling Amtrak to ask if there are any upper-level roomettes available. If so, make sure they "modify" your reservation so the price doesn't change.

If there aren't any available, I'd keep calling right up until departure. Sometimes people cancel at the last minute.

Welcome to AU, always good to have new, fresh perspectives from Train Lovers!

You can call to Modify your rez and ask the agent to switch your Roomette from #14 downstairs ( for better scenery and easier access upstairs) to #2-#10 upstairs. (generally most of us think #2-6 are the best Superliner Roomettes),

It shouldn't cost you anything more, and if the agent says they can't do it, ask for a Supervisor or call back for an agent that knows how to do this!

Welcome! Another bitten by the train bug. :wub:

Since you're on the east coast, please consider joining us for our annual gathering which this year is in Washington, DC. You can find info here: http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/index.php?/forum/17-forum-members-gathering/

Welcome.

As noted above, be sure to modify your reservation, and I would double check that the agent recognizes that there is no change in price. (One time, I called to let Amtrak know that I would got off the train earlier than my ticket indicated. The agent wanted to charge me $600 extra.)

Questions for the more knowledgeable members. Is there a chance that roomette 14 in the transition sleeper? If so, then isn't it on the upper level?

No, the transition sleeper roomettes are numbered 1-8 (crew) and then 15-24 (plus the H room on the lower level).

Welcome aboard and an early Happy Birthday! :hi: No better way to enjoy your birthday than with a train ride!

Welcome and I can tell you're going to enjoy discussing amtrak here! As far as room 14 I got assigned to a downstairs room one time and felt like changing my travel date etc. but I'm so glad I didn't because I immediately realized I like it down there! Smoother ride and very easy to step off at quick stops for some fresh air. Now I request it if I'm in a roomette and not a bedroom.

Well, that is reassuring, thanks. I'm inclined to go with the luck of the draw to see what the experience brings me. Maybe I was meant to be in Roomette #14 for a reason... ^_^

JeanA said:

I'm inclined to go with the luck of the draw to see what the experience brings me.

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Welcome!

I am going on the Crescent for the first time in the fall (ALX to ATL) and am glad to hear of your good experience on it.

I like your attitude in the sentence above--that's a great attitude for train travel (or I guess any type of travel)!

And I echo what AmtrakBlue says above--come and join us in DC at the Gathering (several of us are new, so you will have company!)

SarahZ said:

No, the transition sleeper roomettes are numbered 1-8 (crew) and then 15-24 (plus the H room on the lower level).

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If I understand, then any passenger in a Superliner roomette numbered 2-14 is necessarily in a standard car, and any passenger in a roomette numbered 15-24 is necessarily in the transition sleeper. Yes?

Were the transition sleeper roomettes numbered like that when they were new? I was under the impression that putting passengers in the transition sleeper was a recent policy.

Almost, the numbering system is correct except #15 is the Family Bedroom, so the Transition Rommettes are #16-24!

Putting revenue passengers into the Transdorm wasn't done originally, I don't have an exact date it was started but seems like it was in the early 90s.

The numbering system hasn't changed since Superliners entered service, just the terminology that used to call Roomettes "Economy Rooms" and Bedrooms "Deluxe Bedrooms"!

I actually prefer the transition sleeper and wish I could request it. It's so much quieter (well, 90% of the time), and I like the shower/bathroom combinations.

The negative is that you're closer to the horn, but I've found earplugs, an extra pillow, a small bottle of wine, and melatonin work wonders.

How is the transition sleeper so different that you cannot request it? I would have expected that a roomette is a roomette to an agent.

Of course, it would require a phone call to talk to an agent, but that would be the case for any room request, yes?

I'm learning so much!

The computer only sells rooms in the trans-dorm once every other roomette is sold. Normally, there is no specific SCA assigned to the trans-dorm. It is either the SCA of the sleeper next to it or the coach attendant of the coach next to the trans-dorm.

Sorry, that wasn't clear. Are you saying that the computer interface available to an agent only allows sale of a trans-dorm roomette after all other roomettes are sold?

I believe so.