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DesertRat

Lead Service Attendant
Joined
Jan 22, 2008
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266
Location
Barstow, CA
I have #2 on from LA Union Station to Tacoma and #4 on the way back. Looking at the layout, they're right in the middle of the upper level. Not bad.

Do they really have windowns in the upper berth?
 
What made you think that? The Superliners don't have windows in the upper berth. The single-level Viewliners do, they only operate in the East on the Cardinal, Lake Shore Limited, Crescent, Silver Meteor, and Silver Star. The Viewliners were designed by a joint venture of Amtrak and Budd in around 1987 as a much needed replacement for the ancient and decrepit Budd-built Heritage Sleepers. Budd had stopped building cars by the time they were put into production, and they ended up being built by Morrison-Knudsen in 1995-96, just before that company more or less went bankrupt and was bought out by Washington Group International. They have a twin line of windows because they were tall enough to accommodate them.

The Capitol Limited, Auto Train, City Of New Orleans, Sunset Limited, Texas Eagle, Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, and Empire Builder all operate Superliners. The Superliner was based off of Santa Fe's Hi-Level cars from a few of their premium all-chair trains. The first batch was built by Pullman-Standard (the last cars built by them) in 1978-81. In 1993-94, a second batch dubbed Superliner IIs (the original thus being labeled Superliner Is) were built by Bombardier transportation. They have bi-level construction and don't have room for windows for the upper berth. Infact the curve of the ceiling notable intrudes on upper-level rooms upper berths.
 
When is your trip? The CS is not operating to TAC until at least mid February (although that may be extended)! Even though they are accepting reservations beyond that date, unless they reopen the line, the CS only will operate LAX-SAC with an all coach consist!
 
My trip is in May, traveler. Edited to add: Since they gave me roomettes, I'm going to assume they will provide them. I really don't see Amtrak not restoring full service to what I'm constantly being told is one of the most popular trains. Even the agent I spoke to doesn't think there's a problem - she's taking a lengthy trip around the nation starting in May.

GML, I read comments - not a lot, but some anyway - about seeing through the windows from the upper berth. They must be talking about other than the Superliner or I misunderstood them. That's all.
 
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My trip is in May, traveler.
GML, I read comments - not a lot, but some anyway - about seeing through the windows from the upper berth. They must be talking about other than the Superliner or I misunderstood them. That's all.
I hope it's clear by then. (It should be!) I hope to be right behind you (3 times!) in June or July!

That's one thing I miss with the Superliner rooms (no upper level windows)! The Viewliner have them, but the Superliners don't. (But then again, the Heritage car did not either.) But I'll still take the Superliner Lounge over the Amfleet Lounge any day!
 
Infact the curve of the ceiling notable intrudes on upper-level rooms upper berths.
Ooh, I hadn't heard that bit. My wife and I will be in a roomette this summer, and neither of us is looking forward to that upper bunk. I like the better view from the upper level, but I've been wondering if I'd be better off on the lower level because of the car sway (I'm prone to motion sickness). The curve of the roof may be the deciding factor - is sleeping in the upper bunk really much different on the upper level vs. the lower level?
 
Infact the curve of the ceiling notable intrudes on upper-level rooms upper berths.
Ooh, I hadn't heard that bit. My wife and I will be in a roomette this summer, and neither of us is looking forward to that upper bunk. I like the better view from the upper level, but I've been wondering if I'd be better off on the lower level because of the car sway (I'm prone to motion sickness). The curve of the roof may be the deciding factor - is sleeping in the upper bunk really much different on the upper level vs. the lower level?
Considerably. The upper bunk is much narrower (4 inches) and has very little space between the bed and the roof. Back when I was 315 lbs, I simply didn't fit on my side.
 
Infact the curve of the ceiling notable intrudes on upper-level rooms upper berths.
Ooh, I hadn't heard that bit. My wife and I will be in a roomette this summer, and neither of us is looking forward to that upper bunk. I like the better view from the upper level, but I've been wondering if I'd be better off on the lower level because of the car sway (I'm prone to motion sickness). The curve of the roof may be the deciding factor - is sleeping in the upper bunk really much different on the upper level vs. the lower level?
Considerably. The upper bunk is much narrower (4 inches) and has very little space between the bed and the roof. Back when I was 315 lbs, I simply didn't fit on my side.
He wasn't asking for a comparison between the upper bunk and the lower bunk, he was asking for a space comparison between the upper bunk in a roomette on the Upper level vs. the upper bunk in a roomette on the Lower level.

I'm not sure, as I've never actually measured things so this could just be my perception, but I do think that I had a bit more room in a lower level room on the upper bunk. If there is a difference, it's not much more than an inch or two, but then that can be a world of difference when the space your talking about is rather tight.
 
I think the curve of the ceiling in a Superliner roomette intrudes a bit more than that of a Viewliner roomette, just from personal experience/recollection.
 
I think the curve of the ceiling in a Superliner roomette intrudes a bit more than that of a Viewliner roomette, just from personal experience/recollection.
There is no curve inside the Viewliner roomette, which is why the upper bed is pushed straight up, unlike the Superliner bed that drops on a hinge.

I'm 5' 11" and I can sit upright in the Viewliner upper bunk to read. The best that I can hope for in the upper bunk on a Superliner is about a 40 to 45 degree angle.
 
Aloha

My recollection is the downstairs bedrooms sway less than the upstairs ones but not enough difference that ever bothered me, but it also doesn't bother me but the track noise downstairs is considerably louder. I think I never opened the upper bunk the time I was downstairs.
 
Well I guess I won't have much of a view then. :p No matter. We'll be too busy most of the day anyway looking out at the scenery. I have not gone north for some years and even then I only went to Oregon on business for a couple of days. Looking forward to seeing Tacoma again.

My birthday present to myself.
 
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There is no curve inside the Viewliner roomette, which is why the upper bed is pushed straight up, unlike the Superliner bed that drops on a hinge.
I'm 5' 11" and I can sit upright in the Viewliner upper bunk to read. The best that I can hope for in the upper bunk on a Superliner is about a 40 to 45 degree angle.
40 - 45 degrees? That's more than I expected what with all the comments I'm seeing about the upper berth being hard to get into.
I may just try to sneak a look into a sleeper if they'll let me when I go on a quick trip in a couple of months.
 
Hm. On a different topic...option for transport from the depot to hotel just got more limited. Rental places won't be open at 711 pm of course, but there will be taxis. Does anyone know about buses as well? I'd think taxis would be better because of our luggage.

We had to get a hotal in Federal Way...rooms in downtown Tacoma were either nonexistant for our price range or undergoing reconstruction. Federal Way is about 5 miles from the depot.
 
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Or can I arrange for a rental to be left at the depot for us?
I've not heard of a rental agency that will do that. We decided to detrain in PDX vs. Tacoma, & the rental car problem was one of the main factors. Although I found several rental car companies within just a few minutes of the Tacoma station, none had hours when the CS went through. I know several places will pick you up at the station, but not at that hour. It wouldn't hurt to call - I know Enterprise was near the station, and Hertz may be too.
 
Well, the time is near (16th of May!) ^_^ . I've got everything done (hotel, rental, etc). I have managed to make contact with the church I used to attend Sunday School at, and was thrilled to pieces when the church official remembered my SS teacher (who also was my school teacher).

I also will visit my old school and I will have to call them probably this week sometime. These days I'm sure they'd like to know who's coming to see them. I did talk to the district webmaster some time ago.

My friend and I will visit some places I remember from my childhood as well as things I've never heard of, such as the Seattle Underground. Really cool!
 
There are quite a few cities like that, aren't there?
One of my brothers told me of one other, but I can't recall the city right now. In NYC, some of the older parts are still open underground or so I've been told. Seattle is the first I'll be seeing.
 
NY doesn't have that much of that kind of underground city. There's a lot of underground passages and shopping areas, more in the vane of Montreal's, but nowhere near as extensive. There is also abandoned underground infrastructure, such as dead subway lines, which are rumoured to contain some nonsense called the Mole People. I think thats a load of hogwash, but I am also pretty sure that there are homeless living there.
 
There is also abandoned underground infrastructure, such as dead subway lines, which are rumoured to contain some nonsense called the Mole People. I think thats a load of hogwash, but I am also pretty sure that there are homeless living there.
:blink: It is the "mole people" that will eventually turn into the Morlocks and will come and feast upon the Elois who live on the surface as has been predicted in HG Wells' "The Time Machine" :rolleyes: :unsure:
 
NY doesn't have that much of that kind of underground city. There's a lot of underground passages and shopping areas, more in the vane of Montreal's, but nowhere near as extensive. There is also abandoned underground infrastructure, such as dead subway lines, which are rumoured to contain some nonsense called the Mole People. I think thats a load of hogwash, but I am also pretty sure that there are homeless living there.
Yeah... about as likely as the for miles around underground structures that are supposed to be here in the SLC area. From what I've read on what appear to be very reliable web sites, the US government, several Alien factions and the Mormon church have all colluded to hide the existence of these aliens in these underground caverns. Apparently there was even something of a war at one time between different alien races and the humans. It's amazing that such things can occur right under my feet. It does, however, explain the Apple Beer's (non-alcoholic) that keep missing from my refrigerator at home. I just thought it was one of my kids, now I know it's aliens!

Mulder and Scully would be proud!
 
NY doesn't have that much of that kind of underground city. There's a lot of underground passages and shopping areas, more in the vane of Montreal's, but nowhere near as extensive. There is also abandoned underground infrastructure, such as dead subway lines, which are rumoured to contain some nonsense called the Mole People. I think thats a load of hogwash, but I am also pretty sure that there are homeless living there.
Yeah... about as likely as the for miles around underground structures that are supposed to be here in the SLC area. From what I've read on what appear to be very reliable web sites, the US government, several Alien factions and the Mormon church have all colluded to hide the existence of these aliens in these underground caverns. Apparently there was even something of a war at one time between different alien races and the humans. It's amazing that such things can occur right under my feet. It does, however, explain the Apple Beer's (non-alcoholic) that keep missing from my refrigerator at home. I just thought it was one of my kids, now I know it's aliens!

Mulder and Scully would be proud!
If they haven't been Assimilated. :lol:
 
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