It was last November My wife and I had just 2 weeks to see America! Amtrak and our feet took us everywhere. I must have been lucky as regards accommodation aboard trains. We travelled coach New York to Washington DC (daytime). DC to Chicago we used a roomette (one night) Chicago to Emeryville (two nights) we used a bedroom. The availability of the Sleeper’s lounge at Washington and Chicago was a real suprise to us. Seems these facilities are not at all well known even by local railfans. Did we get to enjoy the only two in the country? Our final days in USA when we trained it Emeryville towards LosAngeles, changing to a bus for a few hours then returning to SanFrancisco by aerocattle car convinced us that our use of Amtrak’s trains was really the best way to see the country.
The only time I’ve taken coach on Amtrak is from St. Louis to Chicago or Kansas City, short trips.
My parents and I always traveled by coach on Dad’s pass, but I was a lot younger then and people were more polite. Dad always took the solo seat, letting Mom and I sit together, that way he could put up with an obnoxious passenger if necessary. It never happened, but the coaches were noisy at night with people always roaming around, especially the men heading back to the smokers’ lounge in the toilet area. The conductor would come through calling stops which would wake us up if we did fall asleep. Being on a pass, we were always on trains that made lots of stops. We could never comfortably stretch out, except on Union Pacific City of St. Louis which had pull out drawers from under the seat that hooked onto the footrest and made the seat more like a bed.
On my long-distance trips on Empire Builder, Coast Starlight and Southwest Chief, I took the bedroom with private toilet facilities. But that has become more expensive and I don’t have as much money to spend these days, so I’m sure I’ll try a roomette on my next overnight trip. I’d rather share toilet facilities with only a few people on the sleeper coach than a larger group in the regular coach. In the old days, the toilets never stopped up, because the waste went right out on the tracks. And by traveling first class, you can use the waiting rooms and get free meals too. It would all depend on the length of the trip. If I would be doing another trip that involved two nights on the train, I’d want a bedroom again with my own facilities.
In late February, I took Amtrak from Winter Park, FL to Columbia, SC, getting off before 5:00 a.m. The coach travel proved wonderful. My seat mate was an older woman with relatives across the aisle. She was nice but I wanted to work on my computer so I did spend part of the evening at a cafe car table. Our coach was full but quiet, the lights low at night, and I slept solidly and comfortably with the reclining seat and leg & foot rests. The conductor came to my seat and quietly awoke me as we approached Columbia. It all went much better than I thought it might. I’d definitely do it again. As to St. Louis to Chicago or Kansas City, we always take business class because it is so comfortable and you get a free newespaper and beverage.
over the past 3 decades I have taken a couple dozen long distance Amtrak trips and I always go coach. pros of going coach: the seats are far more comfortable than the seats in a roomette. you can see the scenery out both sides of the car. I usually meet interesting people next to me or across the aisle. cons of going coach: screaming kids. a recent phenomenom is cell phones conversations at all hours. (if I have to make a call, I wait til a ‘smoke’ stop, turn on my phone, and go out on the platform to talk). a disagreeable person in the seat next to you. snorers! I just don’t like the prospect of being isolated in a small uncomfortable box (roomette). you can spend only so much time in the sightseer lounge car and the dining car, and if you do you might as well save the money and go coach. but I guarantee that if you sit next to me I am a quiet traveller with lots of interesting stories to hold your interest!
I really enjoy riding Amtrak because I love the experience of meeting other travelers and seeing the country like you cannot from 35000 feet in the air. True, trying to sleep on a coach is not very comfortable, especially if the car has not been refurbished recently. If my overnight trip is only for one night and I am going home, or know I have a nice bed waiting for me, I will take the coach. If the trip is two or more nights, a sleeper is definitely the way to go. It could double the cost of the trip but arriving more or less rested is very much worth it. I am currently planning a trip from Denver to Washington DC on the California Zephyr and Capitol Limited and have booked a sleeper for the two nights both ways. It is worth the money to have someplace to go when you want to go to sleep. Three or four years ago I took a two week trip around the western U.S. and spent five nights on the train. I spent at least 24 hours on the ground at each connection city so I had a hotel to sleep in when not on the train. It was the best trip I have ever taken–except for the fact I left Montana in 80 degree temps and came back to snow and rain. It was then I realized I had forgotten to take a coat!
My wife and I ALWAYS get a bedroom and enjoy it a great deal. We ride the Starlight and just love the parlor car. We also ride the Eagle and feel it’s worth the money. My wife prefers the fact that she has a bathroom to use in the room. I find the best thing is being able to close the door and you control your own environment. Having walked through coach I know I have made the right decision!
Excellent, “Avianwatcher” (and wife). The Coast Starlight Parlour Car is certainly a sleeping car amenity: 1) different, albeit limited, menu than that in the Dining Car for variety, and 2) rather table-side personal service by car attendant, who is usually quite personable. As I am sure you know, in addition to the meal service thereon, there is the lounge area of that same car, which is a tad more comforable, private, and “exclusive” than what is found in the general observation and cafe cars.