You'll also find that the Viewliner sleepers include a small video screen right in your room. So if you are not impressed with what's rolling by your window, you can watch movies right in your room. You'll find them on Channels 4 & 5. The first 3 channels should be music, although lately it seems like they've stopped supplying music.
As for the first class lounges that Amfleet mentioned, here's where to find them.
Your sleeper tickets qualify you as a First Class passenger on Amtrak. As a first class passenger you are entitled to utilize Amtrak's first class lounges in Philadelphia and Chicago. These lounges are a nice quiet refuge in the often-bustling train station. They have nice plush chairs, conference rooms, computer terminals, newspapers, TV's, free soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea and clean safe bathrooms. They also allow you to board your train before the rest of the masses.
In Philly the lounge is called Club Acela. It's located on the second floor, but the entrance is kind of hidden down a long hall in the corner of the station. Walk down towards gate 1 and you should see the hall leading to the stairs. Go up the stairs and ring the bell next to the door.
In Chicago the lounge is called the "Metropolitan Lounge". It is located on the lower level of Union Station, which is also the track level. If you are standing in front of and facing the Amtrak ticket windows, then the Amtrak waiting area is to your left. When you enter the main Amtrak waiting area through a sliding glass door, just walk forward and slightly to the left. There should be another sliding glass door along with a sign noting the lounge.
Just show your tickets to one of the attendants at the counter inside. They will give you a pass that will allow you to come and go, as you like until your trains departure. So you can either just relax in the lounge or you can wander about the station. There are several places within the station to buy lunch, if you like. Note: The Chicago lounge can be very busy and it sometimes can be hard to get a seat, but you still get the free stuff and priority boarding. For this reason they will make you leave your carry-on bags in the luggage room inside the lounge, you cannot take them to your seat due to the crowded nature of the lounge.
I will also mention that there is a locked luggage area for first class passengers. You can find this room by making the first right after you walk through the first set of sliding glass doors that I mentioned above. Walk down a short hall towards the south waiting area and again make the first right available. This is where I usually leave my bags when I go through Chicago, as opposed to the unlocked side room in the actual lounge. I’ve never heard of any bags being stolen from the unlocked room, but there have been a few cases of people grabbing the wrong bag by accident.
If you choose that latter alternative to store any carryon luggage, when they make the first call for those people who need redcaps, you should go get your bags out of the locked room. Then you can return to the lounge and board with the rest of the passengers, or you can allow the redcap to escort you and carry your bag to the train, although that will make your wallet a little lighter.
Also never leave any valuables in your luggage or your bedroom when you are not there. Take all wallets and purses with you, when you are moving about the train. There are usually no problems, but don't tempt the fates. Also don't leave any important medicines in your luggage while in Chicago, keep it with you.
By the way, find out which train you are taking from LA to Chicago. Amfleet may be right and they are going to put you on the SW Chief, but it's also possible that they could book you on the Texas Eagle.
If you have any more questions, ask away. We'll try and answer them for you. I think that you will enjoy the different contrast of trains and scenery, even if the trip does take you a little longer this way.
