Family Bedroom
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B&Ofan
Service Attendant
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2009
- Messages
- 116
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
Conductor
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.
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.
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.
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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!
In the past I always enjoyed the rhythmic clickety clack of jointed rail. But that was when it was well maintained!
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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.
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.
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
Conductor
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.
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2023
- Messages
- 35
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.
Thank you everyone for your responses. I'll report back after our trip. We recently were on the EB in a bedroom and it was miserable because the sink/toilet unit was nearly coming away from the wall and rattled incessantly. My husband spent most of the trip trying to fix it so that we could sleep. If the staff could have supplied him with a tool kit, he would have done all their work for them. I let Amtrak know this and they said they will look in to providing equipped tool boxes for all their trains. Our crew on the EB couldn't even find a screwdriver!
I was on the Crescent Northbound a few years back. The toilet system in a sleeper was inop and pax were told there would be a repairman in Atlanta. Yup. A repairman (?) with no tools. He said he couldn't do anything "without pliers or something". I am one of those geeks who fixed things for a living, and always have my flashlight, Swiss Army knife and Leatherman on me. Loaned same to him, he was able to isolate the offending unit, and the system came back. He handed me back my tools (wet, btw), without a word or a nod and left. Conductor had me comped for drinks the west of the way to NYC.
I remember the day when we had Heritage coaches and an Onboard Maintenance Guy. Had to, with all those old VAPOR AC units.
Same here. We had BN electrician’s riding from Denver to Lincoln, where another would relieve them. Those guys were pretty good… they worked on electrical, plumbing, mechanical, often performing “miracles” on the ancient equipment.
He was probably disappointed that you had lent them, as it meant he had to do some actual work.
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2010
- Messages
- 4,894
I agree. My wife and I often take a family room because they can be significantly cheaper than the regular BR. We are not tall so we ask the SCA to make up the bottom two bunks and she sleeps in the kid's bed with her feet extending to the adult bed where my feet barely reach since with both sleep curled up.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!
I love the extra room space.
The only downsides are the single outlet in an inconvenient location - fixable by having an multi-outlet extension cord, and the fact that when one has to use the restroom at night, one has to open the door and the hallway lights are bright enough that they shine directly into the room and can wake the other sleeper. Next time, we're going to try to remember to bring a spring-action hanger pole to stretch between the two walls such that one can hang a blanket over it to block the light and maintain privacy by moving it aside, letting it fall back into place, then opening the door.
Take a couple of the removable stick on hooks from 3M. They are cheap, you can remove and reuse them. You can then suspend a collapsible curtain rod or just a string to hang a shade. We hang the cord for our power outlet/USB source since the one power outlet is on the wall to the left as you enter. The Keurig sits quite handily on the shelf and the electric cooler bag sits between the couch and the wall.
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