Luggage rack question in sleeper

[ScottC4746]

Ok, this may be one of those dumb questions but reading some threads about needing to put luggage on the rack instead of in the room, would it be possible to bike lock it to the rack so it does not have it's wheels put to good use and disappear?

Now really, would one of our wonderful nice sleeping car passangers really pinch a bag that does not belong to them? :unsure:

 

[guest]

There's nothing to lock it to - no loops or anything; but every time the doors are open, there's an attendant or conductor nearby...no need to be paranoid...

 

[printman2000]

Of course, the attendant does not check to make sure you are taking the correct bag. Consider locking them TOGETHER. That would insure someone does not take it by mistake. Assuming, of course, you have more than one bag.

 

[lthanlon]

As others have pointed out, the SCA does monitor the area when the doors are open and there's little risk of theft. When I store my large zippered bag in this area that I secure the zipper pulls with one of those TSA-approved cable-loop locks. It wouldn't stop a determined thief with wire cutters; my goal is mostly to make sure nobody paws through my clean underwear if they open my bag by accident.

Also keep in mind that a select few of your fellow passengers will be constantly rearranging everyone's bags so they can position their own in front and at just the right height so they can retrieve items at all hours of the day or night.

 

[Lazy Z]

Of course, the attendant does not check to make sure you are taking the correct bag. Consider locking them TOGETHER. That would insure someone does not take it by mistake. Assuming, of course, you have more than one bag.

This is what I am planning to do. I going to put ribbons and some bright sort of identifier and then cable them together to hopefully make it difficult to "accidentally" or on purpose take them! It is nice to trust but better safe than sorry!!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Of course, the attendant does not check to make sure you are taking the correct bag. Consider locking them TOGETHER. That would insure someone does not take it by mistake. Assuming, of course, you have more than one bag.

This is what I am planning to do. I going to put ribbons and some bright sort of identifier and then cable them together to hopefully make it difficult to "accidentally" or on purpose take them! It is nice to trust but better safe than sorry!!

I'm doing a small cross-stitch on my big bag but doubt I'll have it finished before my trip. When I get that one done I'll do one on my carry-on bag (which I don't think I'll need for this trip. In addition to the cross-stitch I plan to "decorate" the bags on all sides so I'll rcognize them on the airport baggage carousel.

 

[BeckysBarn]

Of course, the attendant does not check to make sure you are taking the correct bag. Consider locking them TOGETHER. That would insure someone does not take it by mistake. Assuming, of course, you have more than one bag.

This is what I am planning to do. I going to put ribbons and some bright sort of identifier and then cable them together to hopefully make it difficult to "accidentally" or on purpose take them! It is nice to trust but better safe than sorry!!

I'm doing a small cross-stitch on my big bag but doubt I'll have it finished before my trip. When I get that one done I'll do one on my carry-on bag (which I don't think I'll need for this trip. In addition to the cross-stitch I plan to "decorate" the bags on all sides so I'll rcognize them on the airport baggage carousel.

I use duct tape to "decorate" my luggage. Originally, I used bright pink, but now I've seen everything from camo to peace symbols! I just put one or 2 pieces of it on each side of the suitcase.

 

[bobnabq]

........... my goal is mostly to make sure nobody paws through my clean underwear if they open my bag by accident.

Here's a tip I saw on the TV show COPS last night.

A guy they arrested had a clean (?) pair of underwear stuffed in the sleeve of his jacket.

He said he didn't have anywhere else to put it. :giggle:

 

[bobnabq]

I'm doing a small cross-stitch on my big bag but doubt I'll have it finished before my trip. When I get that one done I'll do one on my carry-on bag (which I don't think I'll need for this trip. In addition to the cross-stitch I plan to "decorate" the bags on all sides so I'll rcognize them on the airport baggage carousel.

that might make them more attractive to would be thieves. Just kidding.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I'm doing a small cross-stitch on my big bag but doubt I'll have it finished before my trip. When I get that one done I'll do one on my carry-on bag (which I don't think I'll need for this trip. In addition to the cross-stitch I plan to "decorate" the bags on all sides so I'll rcognize them on the airport baggage carousel.

that might make them more attractive to would be thieves. Just kidding.

I doubt it.

 

[the_traveler]

I have never worried about my bags in the rack. In fact, I usually leave all my bags there - only taking my laptop to my room!

 

[Rail Freak]

I'm more concerned that some one might put something in my luggage. Use me as an unknowing mule to transport whatever!!!

 

[pennyk]

I do almost the opposite of the_traveler. I want everything in my bags with me in my room, so I carry my bag up the stairs, which is difficult sometimes. However, I usually get a bedroom for just me (I do not share well), so there is plenty of room.

 

[user 683]

I've only used the common bag storage area once on the SWC (Superliner - boarding in Chicago) and did not experienced any problems. As others have pointed out, the SCA does monitor the area. Of course, having a unique bag makes it easier for you and the SCA to identify the your bags. Like so many others, I use common baggage zipper locks to avoid "accidental" zipper pulls. On this particular trip, I used a luggage strap to tie my two standard sized duffel bags together to inhibit folks from wanting to move my bags off the rack and onto the floor. The SCA was totally cool with that. As it turned out, there were a lot of bags on this trip. So many, that there were times when you could not make your way from the stairs to the lower level toilet and showers without having to push a bag out of the way. The SCA apologized for the inconvenience and indicated the rack was completely full and that he was trying his best to arrange bags close to the door for those getting off the train. Obviously, he was trying to keep things in reasonable order for passengers to make their way around. This is another good reason to have your name tag on your bag.

 

[Lazy Z]

I've only used the common bag storage area once on the SWC (Superliner - boarding in Chicago) and did not experienced any problems. As others have pointed out, the SCA does monitor the area. Of course, having a unique bag makes it easier for you and the SCA to identify the your bags. Like so many others, I use common baggage zipper locks to avoid "accidental" zipper pulls. On this particular trip, I used a luggage strap to tie my two standard sized duffel bags together to inhibit folks from wanting to move my bags off the rack and onto the floor. The SCA was totally cool with that. As it turned out, there were a lot of bags on this trip. So many, that there were times when you could not make your way from the stairs to the lower level toilet and showers without having to push a bag out of the way. The SCA apologized for the inconvenience and indicated the rack was completely full and that he was trying his best to arrange bags close to the door for those getting off the train. Obviously, he was trying to keep things in reasonable order for passengers to make their way around. This is another good reason to have your name tag on your bag.

So I think I will bind our bags together, and plan to not need them until we get to our destination. If we are going SWC from Fullerton to Chicago, then Cap Ltd Chicago to WAS and finally Silver Meteor from WAS to Orlando, will I need to move those bags at all myself, or will they be tagged and moved forward for us?

I really do not want to bring too much, but 2 girls 3 weeks, it is going to be a challenge!!

 

[printman2000]

So I think I will bind our bags together, and plan to not need them until we get to our destination. If we are going SWC from Fullerton to Chicago, then Cap Ltd Chicago to WAS and finally Silver Meteor from WAS to Orlando, will I need to move those bags at all myself, or will they be tagged and moved forward for us?

I really do not want to bring too much, but 2 girls 3 weeks, it is going to be a challenge!!

If I understand correctly, you are going from Fullerton to Orlando. I would recommend your check your bog bags for the full trip and carry on smaller travel bags. Then Amtrak will take them all the way. However, do NOT bind them together if you are checking them.

If you check them, the the luggage racks are not even an issue.

 

[the_traveler]

Maybe it was answered but you did not quite understand the answer. (I'm not saying you did or not.)

If you check your luggage all the way thru, Amtrak will transfer them between trains in Chicago and Washington for you!

Otherwise, you must carry them on and off the train - and either carry them with you or watch them yourself during the layovers!

And unlike airlines do sometimes, it is very unlikely to be put on the wrong train! (And be sent to Moscow, Madrid or Tokyo!

)

I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but every time I've checked my bags on Amtrak, they have always arrived - either with me or ahead of me (due my long routings)!

 

[user 683]

I should have mentioned that my destination station did not (still does not) have baggage service. So, I needed to stow my larger bags on the sleeper car baggage rack. The better solution is to check bags thru to your destination when possible - as others have suggested.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

As others have pointed out, the SCA does monitor the area when the doors are open and there's little risk of theft.

&

As others have pointed out, the SCA does monitor the area.

Yeah, lots of people have pointed this out but I'm not aware of anyone pointing to an example of an SCA actually stopping someone from trying to take your bag.

I'm more concerned that some one might put something in my luggage. Use me as an unknowing mule to transport whatever!!!

I worry about this too. Mainly because our legal system does not provide any honest solution for a problem like this. You'd simply go to jail, lose your job, and be screwed for life. It would take extraordinary circumstances for you to beat a charge like that with simple ignorance. Circumstances that would generally require legal services none of us are likely to be able to afford.

 

[RRUserious]

I know people will find this useless, but on my recent trip, I got a sleeping compartment with two beds. I used the upper one for luggage and the lower for sleeping. That was after keeping the bags on the floor next to the lower bed. I was leaving the lower bed in sleeping mode, and I sort of had to climb over the luggage or move it out as I climbed in. Got tired of that and did the upper bunk solution.

Is there no way to get checked luggage to a destination with no luggage service? I mean, surely they pull it out of storage on the platform, right? Seems like in the no-station stops on my trip that that is what happened.

 

[the_traveler]

Is there no way to get checked luggage to a destination with no luggage service? I mean, surely they pull it out of storage on the platform, right? Seems like in the no-station stops on my trip that that is what happened.

Checked baggage is kept in the baggage car. At stops with no baggage service. there is (of course) no employee to retrieve the bags!

At my local station (Kingston, RI), the only trains that come thru with a baggage car are #66 and #67. However at 6:20 AM (about) and 10:45 PM (about), there is only one employee on duty. That is the ticket agent. (S)he can not be selling tickets and also waiting for the train to arrive on the track opposite the station (over the bridge) at the same time. So baggage service is not offered at KIN - even though the train has a baggage car!