My wife and I have made two 5,000 mile trips in the last two years. We check our large suitcases at our boarding station, then pick them up at our final destination. In our Roomette, my wife carries a small travel bag with her needs for a 2 1/2 day trip and I carry a backpack with what in need, I also carry a power strip with me, for phones, iPads my Cpap and anything else that needs plugged in, the room only has one plug!
Also, if you are getting a room with a toilet, sink and shower, you might want to use the shower on the lower level, you can stand up to take a shower, verses sitting on your toilet taking a shower! A good time to take a stand up shower is when They start to slow down and stop for a extended time, hit the shower, hopefully you take fast showers, LOL!
Hope some of the information posted on here helps you have a trip of a lifetime!
Oh, if you have a smart phone, you might want to download these two apps: CarHome Ultra and Google Maps. CarHome Ultra is a free app for a month, then you will be asked to purchase it, cost after 30 time period, $ 3.99, well worth it. With it you can tell how fast the train is going, where you are at and the Time and Temperature. You can also add other apps to this one location. Google maps lets you follow along the train route on a map, pretty cool. I use this app almost everyday and this one is free!
Have Fun, wish I was going with you, but just got back from Alaska and rode Amtrak almost all the way, we even caught Amtrak out of Vancover, BC on our return trip home!