Does anyone know if on the Coast Starlight if there are power plugs available at seats for phone chargers, laptops, etc.? I've heard yes there are but some say there are few.
Also, since this is a 30 hour trip, is there anything on board for the kids to do? Am hauling kids with me.
To your first question: not likely--if you're in coach. Very few of the Superliner coaches have been renovated (the ones that have do include plugs at each seat pair), and it's not likely you'll get renovated coaches. (Things may be different after the relaunch coming up in May, I believe.) Sleepers, however, do include power plugs.
However, there are two power plugs in every Superliner car, originally intended for the cleaning staff to use to plug vacuums in. I don't know the actual seat numbers--they've been posted elsewhere on this site (try doing a search for "superliner power plugs" or something). If possible, try to claim those seats when boarding...and if you bring along a power strip, you'll be everyone's best friend.
I did the Starlight when I was eight or nine (early '90s), and I don't remember ever being bored, although I've always loved trains and it thrilled me to just stare out the windows of the lounge for hours on end. In those days, they did play movies in the lounge in the evening, but due to high public performance fees from the movie studios, Amtrak had to stop doing that several years ago. I also seem to recall a children's play room in the lower level of one of the coaches, but I would bet that staffing cuts left that door locked several years ago, too.
However, I'm fairly sure there will still be a Trails 'n' Rails presenter in the lounge for the better part of the trip through Oregon (especially the Willamette valley), which I found interesting (I had been a fan of the Oregon Trail computer game, so hearing about those early settlers was fascinating).
Other than that, there won't likely be any official entertainment, so do plan on bringing some of your own. Since power may not be available, cards, board games, and other non-electronic forms of entertainment might be a good choice.
