Checked Baggage

[twgvllsc]

Hello! I am a first time rider from Greenville, SC (actually, I rode Amtrak from NY's Penn Station to Boston way, way back in the late 80's, but for all intensive purposes, am a first time rider) and I will be taking the Crescent up to Penn Station to visit family and friends over Christmas. My question is this: I have a roomette booked and wanted to know about checking my largest suitcase, as it would not fit in my room. Do I have to check my bag at the station (specifically NY's Penn Station on the return trip back to Greenville) or is there an oversized baggage section (my suitcase is the 26" variety) in the sleeper car, in which I can simply take my bag with me when I board? The reason why I ask is that I assume the baggage check line at Penn Station on Dec. 30 at 1:15 in the afternoon is going to be a nightmare and checking my bag will take a long time -- I'm hoping to avoid checking my bag and just taking it with me when I board the train. Any advice, answers or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Todd

 

[AlanB]

Todd,

The rolling suitcase that I normally travel with is 14 inches wide, stands 23 inches tall, and is 7 inches thick. If I had two of those bags, I could just barely fit both of them side by side in the cubbyhole above the hall. So if your bag isn't larger than double that you'll be able to get it into the cubbyhole above the hallway. If it is larger, and you are traveling solo, then you could just lower the upper bunk and keep the suitcase on that bed. The upper bunk has two different height settings, so in the middle position there should still be enough room for your bag, while keeping the bed high enough that you aren't smashing your head into it everytime you stand up.

Alternatively you could just put the suitcase in the other seat, and sleep on the upper bunk.

All of this assumes that you're not hauling more than one large bag.

 

[twgvllsc]

Thanks, Alan! I will have two small carry-ons with me (a backpack and a small tote bag) which I'll keep in the room with me and the 26" suitcase. I didn't think about stowing my suitcase in the upper bunk -- good suggestion! Thanks again for your reply. I'm looking forward to my first overnight Amtrak trip!

Todd

Todd,
The rolling suitcase that I normally travel with is 14 inches wide, stands 23 inches tall, and is 7 inches thick. If I had two of those bags, I could just barely fit both of them side by side in the cubbyhole above the hall. So if your bag isn't larger than double that you'll be able to get it into the cubbyhole above the hallway. If it is larger, and you are traveling solo, then you could just lower the upper bunk and keep the suitcase on that bed. The upper bunk has two different height settings, so in the middle position there should still be enough room for your bag, while keeping the bed high enough that you aren't smashing your head into it everytime you stand up.

Alternatively you could just put the suitcase in the other seat, and sleep on the upper bunk.

All of this assumes that you're not hauling more than one large bag.