ScottC4746
OBS Chief
I keep hearing about Transitional Dorms. What are they. What do they look like?
It's a Superliner sleeper with a low level gangway connection at one end which connect to the baggage car gangway (which obviously is a single level vehicle)I keep hearing about Transitional Dorms. What are they. What do they look like?
So do all long-distance trains carry these cars? Are their rooms always sold? How can you tell if you are put in one of these instead of a regular sleeper car? What are the pluses and/or minuses, if any?It's a Superliner sleeper with a low level gangway connection at one end which connect to the baggage car gangway (which obviously is a single level vehicle)I keep hearing about Transitional Dorms. What are they. What do they look like?
It has crew quarters downstairs and roomettes upstairs.
Some shots of one on the CS last year...
http://50031.fotopic.net/p56933567.html
http://50031.fotopic.net/p56933554.html
Those photos are actually a standard Superliner II sleeper subbing in for a trans-dorm. You can tell by the windows. And in the first photo, you can see the car number is 32098, which is a standard sleeper. The trans-dorms are the 39000 series.It's a Superliner sleeper with a low level gangway connection at one end which connect to the baggage car gangway (which obviously is a single level vehicle)I keep hearing about Transitional Dorms. What are they. What do they look like?
It has crew quarters downstairs and roomettes upstairs.
Some shots of one on the CS last year...
http://50031.fotopic.net/p56933567.html
http://50031.fotopic.net/p56933554.html
If you are booked in a roomette whose number is greater than 14.How can you tell if you are put in one of these instead of a regular sleeper car?
All Superliner trains that carry a baggage car do. If you're assigned a roomette numbered (IIRC) 17-22, you're in the trans-dorm.So do all long-distance trains carry these cars? How can you tell if you are put in one of these instead of a regular sleeper car? What are the pluses and/or minuses, if any?
Actually that is incorrect, since the Family Room is officially Room 15!If you are booked in a roomette whose number is greater than 14.
I've had good and bad experiences in the Dorms. The service can be REALLY spotty, I waited 3 hours one night before the bed was turned down then it never got put up the rest of the trip, or it can be really good. The horn doesnt bother me, but sometimes the dining car crew clomping up the stairs at 5am can get on your nerves, but overall it's not really much difference.All Superliner trains that carry a baggage car do. If you're assigned a roomette numbered (IIRC) 17-22, you're in the trans-dorm.So do all long-distance trains carry these cars? How can you tell if you are put in one of these instead of a regular sleeper car? What are the pluses and/or minuses, if any?
Pluses:
Minus:
- Less traffic since only the crew uses that car
- The bathroom AND shower are on the upper level
Some people like the trans-dorm, some do not. I have never had a room there, so I have no opinion.
- It's further from the Diner
- Being the 1st passenger car, the horn may be more noticable (but that could also be a plus )
I had the same experience this December on the CZ. Really awful service, no real attendant, no juice, rarely had coffee, etc. That really put me off the whole Dorm experience.I've had good and bad experiences in the Dorms. The service can be REALLY spotty, I waited 3 hours one night before the bed was turned down then it never got put up the rest of the trip, or it can be really good. The horn doesnt bother me, but sometimes the dining car crew clomping up the stairs at 5am can get on your nerves, but overall it's not really much difference.
I chose the word "roomette" for just that reason.Actually that is incorrect, since the Family Room is officially Room 15!If you are booked in a roomette whose number is greater than 14.
Family Bedrooms are not Roomettes, and Transition Dorms do not have Family Bedrooms. So he is correct, and you aren't. Roomettes numbered over 14 are in a Trans-Dorm.Actually that is incorrect, since the Family Room is officially Room 15!If you are booked in a roomette whose number is greater than 14.
I chose the word "roomette" for just that reason.Actually that is incorrect, since the Family Room is officially Room 15!If you are booked in a roomette whose number is greater than 14.
I believe they are in Madison, Illinois at a rail car place. Pretty much every ATSF Hi-Level is there now.Many years ago I rode in that twice transition Coach/dorm. It was on the Chief and great for the the groups (Boy Scouts going to Philmont)
What ever happen to these cars? Did they get scrapped (could of been old ATSF hi-Levels?), or became something trans Dorms
My really bad experience was on the east bound Zephyr a couple years ago, although going through Feather River did soothe our pain a wee bit lol.I had the same experience this December on the CZ. Really awful service, no real attendant, no juice, rarely had coffee, etc. That really put me off the whole Dorm experience.I've had good and bad experiences in the Dorms. The service can be REALLY spotty, I waited 3 hours one night before the bed was turned down then it never got put up the rest of the trip, or it can be really good. The horn doesnt bother me, but sometimes the dining car crew clomping up the stairs at 5am can get on your nerves, but overall it's not really much difference.
Yes, you are entitled, but some sleeping car attendants can get very upset when they see people doing that. I suspect that one reason that they get upset is the fact that it's often an indication that their counterpart in the other sleeper isn't doing his/her job catering to their charges.If you really want some go to the regular sleeper and they should have it (and aren't you toatally entitled to have any coffee/juice, etc from any sleeper you want if you're a sleeper pax?).
I did realise that at the time, but had forgotten by now!Those photos are actually a standard Superliner II sleeper subbing in for a trans-dorm. You can tell by the windows. And in the first photo, you can see the car number is 32098, which is a standard sleeper. The trans-dorms are the 39000 series.It's a Superliner sleeper with a low level gangway connection at one end which connect to the baggage car gangway (which obviously is a single level vehicle)I keep hearing about Transitional Dorms. What are they. What do they look like?
It has crew quarters downstairs and roomettes upstairs.
Some shots of one on the CS last year...
http://50031.fotopic.net/p56933567.html
http://50031.fotopic.net/p56933554.html
I have to agree with Alan. Though "upset" is an understatement.Yes, you are entitled, but some sleeping car attendants can get very upset when they see people doing that. I suspect that one reason that they get upset is the fact that it's often an indication that their counterpart in the other sleeper isn't doing his/her job catering to their charges.If you really want some go to the regular sleeper and they should have it (and aren't you toatally entitled to have any coffee/juice, etc from any sleeper you want if you're a sleeper pax?).
I thought that most, if not all, transdorms were retired from service? And there weren't even any transdorms in Amtrak's new equipment list to Santa (aka Congress).Those photos are actually a standard Superliner II sleeper subbing in for a trans-dorm.
No, the single level Heritage dorms were retired a few years back.I thought that most, if not all, transdorms were retired from service? And there weren't even any transdorms in Amtrak's new equipment list to Santa (aka Congress).Those photos are actually a standard Superliner II sleeper subbing in for a trans-dorm.
(Hope I am wrong, and I am sure you all will clear it up if so h34r: )
Yes, most of them do have an H room, but a handful don't.At least some trans dorms have an H accessible room, because we rode in one this past Sept on the CL eastbound CHI to PGH.
No, only Superliner equipped trains carry these cars. There are several eastern trains that use single level equipment and thus have no need for a transition car.So do all long-distance trains carry these cars?
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