Family Bedroom

[ciship]

Many years ago, I booked a trip in the Family Bedroom. I remember the ride was extremely rough. Has this been your experience? Or was it just the particular route we were on? SW Chief.

I want to book that room again, but I'm hesitant.

 

[B&Ofan]

I think the rough ride was more the tracks then the room and it would of been just as rough in the rest of the car. Having splurged on a bedroom before, it is more comfortable in general, however I have to admit I like sleeping in a roomette better as you are lying down in the direction of travel instead of perpendicular to it and I personally find that more comfortable.

 

[Maglev]

The Family Bedroom is a nice room, but I prefer a regular Bedroom. I did not notice any difference in ride quality or track noise.

While I like sleeping parallel to the direction of travel and looking out the window from bed in a Roomette, I find the narrow berth to be restricting. I am able to sleep much better in the wide berth of a Family Bedroom or Bedroom.

 

[zephyr17]

Many years ago, I booked a trip in the Family Bedroom. I remember the ride was extremely rough. Has this been your experience? Or was it just the particular route we were on? SW Chief.

I want to book that room again, but I'm hesitant.

While I haven't been in a Family Bedroom, I have been in a H room, which is in the equivalent space next to the trucks at the other end of the car. I did not find the ride particularly rough.

Roughness of ride is a much more a function of track condition and the condition of the car's suspension than the location of an accommodation within the car. In the case of the Southwest Chief, the tracks in western Kansas and eastern Colorado were a notoriously rough ride for many years. I can testify to this personally having bounced over them several times in a regular upstairs roomette. That stretch is much better now, with track improvements largely funded by Kansas and Colorado on what to BNSF is not much more than a long industrial lead.

Note another famously rough ride is western Nebraska on the CZ, that apparently has not improved.

 

[eb514]

I’ll soon be in a Family Bedroom on the CZ and will let you know what we think.

 

[Palmland]

Yes, we were in the family bedroom on the SWC a few years ago and it was extremely rough. As others have noted that room is over the wheels and you feel every irregularity in the track. While it wasn’t bad for most of the trip it was not good at night when we were crossing Kansas. This was mostly due to the older jointed rail rather than welded joints aka stick rail. Since then I believe a portion of the rough track has been upgraded but not sure how much.

In the past I always enjoyed the rhythmic clickety clack of jointed rail. But that was when it was well maintained!

 

[Widfara]

I was in the Family Bedroom on the CONO, right behind the engine, no buffer car. Not so bad on track noise, but I didn't realize how many grade crossings there were on that route. The horn was sounding incessantly.

 

[PaTrainFan]

For fun I investigated what would take to upgrade to a bedroom from roomette (just me) on a booked Empire Builder trip next spring. To my surprise, a family bedroom was availble for MUCH less than a bedroom. Frankly, I have no interest in that.

 

[drdumont]

Many years ago, I booked a trip in the Family Bedroom. I remember the ride was extremely rough. Has this been your experience? Or was it just the particular route we were on? SW Chief.

I want to book that room again, but I'm hesitant.

My Daughter, Granddaughter and I shoot for the Family BR every time.
Big Windows on both sides
Small upper berth for storage
Room to spread out, have electric cooler bag, coffee maker and pantry at the ready
Quick access for ""Fresh Air Stops"
Quick access to the bag storage area if needed
Easy to clean the windows
Just a short trip to the potties and showers which are almost always tidy, seldom a full house
No traffic in the hallways
As far as the ride, it's never been an issue, nor is the engine horn. Quite frankly, the AMTRAK ride is the main reason for our trips. The trek up the stairs to the mess hall is no biggie,
The bedrooms are fine, no doubt. Convenient and all that. but I have also found the fare in the Family Bedroom to be cheaper most times. But you gotta plan and book wayyy early.

That will be two cents, please!

 

[Maglev]

That will be two cents, please!

I'll add another penny's worth...

The Family Bedroom is the only room on Amtrak with a swinging door, meaning that it actually latches shut from the outside. The sliding doors on all other rooms can't be latched from the outside, and tend to come open while you're gone.

 

[drdumont]

I'll add another penny's worth...

The Family Bedroom is the only room on Amtrak with a swinging door, meaning that it actually latches shut from the outside. The sliding doors on all other rooms can't be latched from the outside, and tend to come open while you're gone.

True. We carry a rubber doorstop. Keeps it quieter at night as well.
I once made up a metal device which could hold a padlock (shamelessly copied from a crewmember's lock), but I don't bother anymore. I haven't ever heard of an issue. However, comma, I don't leave stuff in plain sight.

 

[jazzharris]

Many years ago, I booked a trip in the Family Bedroom. I remember the ride was extremely rough. Has this been your experience? Or was it just the particular route we were on? SW Chief.

I want to book that room again, but I'm hesitant.

I've been in the family bedroom on the Coast Starlight, the Sunset Ltd and SW Chief. The first two were good rides. My experience on the Chief was just like yours. my mom actually ended up on the floor, mattress and all, going thorough Kansas.