Roomette:2 adults and a 3 year old?

[Big Iron]

I can't think of many things that would be more fun than taking the train with my family, snuggling with my 3 year old being rocked to sleep by the rythmn of the rails. That is what family memories are made of.

My love for trains began as a young child taking the train from Richmond, VA to Princeton, IL to visit my grandparents. The Christmas trips were extra special with the layovers in DC and Chicago.

A family of five, three sons, travelled in every accommodation the B & O and Amtrak threw at us. A few times the 3 brothers sharing one double slumbercoach while my folks were across the hall. The best trips being in the ensuite bedrooms. Of course, most rail accommodations travel in even numbers so my twin brother and I generally shared.

I hope that they can get the three of them in the roomette, create fond family memories and better yet, create a new railfan.

Thank you..thank you!!!!!

Family and memories...that's what we are doing. My grandson LOVES trains, I think it's because we took him on Amtrak when he was 10 months old (Little Rock to San Antonio)

He has a little Amtrak overalls that he wore for his third (train theme) birthday. We have taken him on most of the local excursion trains in our area. We think he will love the long distance trip. If there is a family bedroom available that is reasonable, I will get that. We will be ok in a roomette if not.

He is going to have the time of his life. Sounds like there is a future "foamer" in your life, and I say that with all due respect. When I started riding trains passenger service was in full decline prior to Amtrak taking over. I don't remember the equipment failures, late trains, ragged equipment.....just the great times with family going to visit family.

Given its faults, Amtrak is still a great way to travel.

 

[kaki]

Update:

I have our trip reserved

The first time I called I was told the we WOULD be able to put mom, dad, and their 3 year-old in the roomette together. When I called back and the agent actually tried to enter it, the system would not let her do it. Oh well. We were able to get a reasonably priced family bedroom for the outbound trip and a much higher priced family bedroom for the return trip (chi-sea/sea-chi).

 

My husband and I were able to get reasonably priced roomettes for the whole trip. My son-in-law will sleep in coach for the mem-chi/chi-mem trip since that whole trip is about 10 hours, at night.

 

 

[ALC Rail Writer]

You will enjoy the family bedroom a lot more.

 

[AlanB]

You will enjoy the family bedroom a lot more.

I agree!

You'll have a lot more room for the 3-year-old during the day with the family room, as compared to the roomette. And even at night, you'll be far less cramped with the extra bed for the little one.

 

[alanh]

Officially they will allow up to 2 adults and 2 infants (under 2, one per adult) in a roomette. Even with infants, I think you'd be pretty cramped with two. The same applies for the accessible room.

Bedrooms will allow 3 adults and/or children (2-15), but you have to call so they make sure you know the size. Family rooms allow 2 adults and 2 children.

In all cases, if you haven't ridden in one before, be aware the beds are really, really narrow. The lower roomette bunk is just 28 inches wide, and the upper is 24 inches. The lower bedroom bunk is 40 inches wide, and is the only one you could plausibly use for two adult-sized people. This is about the size of a twin bed, so the two in it should be really friendly.

 

[Kaki]

Officially they will allow up to 2 adults and 2 infants (under 2, one per adult) in a roomette. Even with infants, I think you'd be pretty cramped with two. The same applies for the accessible room.

Bedrooms will allow 3 adults and/or children (2-15), but you have to call so they make sure you know the size. Family rooms allow 2 adults and 2 children.

In all cases, if you haven't ridden in one before, be aware the beds are really, really narrow. The lower roomette bunk is just 28 inches wide, and the upper is 24 inches. The lower bedroom bunk is 40 inches wide, and is the only one you could plausibly use for two adult-sized people. This is about the size of a twin bed, so the two in it should be really friendly.

They took a trip together in a roomette when the baby was 10 months old with no problem.

My daughter and her 3 year old are booked in a roomette...Mom and son will be sleeping on the bottom bunk and the top bunk will be empty.....with son-in-law in coach. I tried to explain this to the reservation agent and she tried to reserve it with all 3 in the roomette, the system would not let her do it.

Soooo....I am hoping the after we board we can talk to the porter and he will understand the situation and let my son-in-law sleep on the top bunk. That portion of the trip is an overnight and is from 10:30 at night until 7 in the morning

I was able to get them a family bedroom for both ways on the Empire Builder, one way was VERY reasonable and the other way was NOT reasonable....oh well, it will be a great trip anyway!!!

Also, on one portion of the EB our roomette will be in a different car than their family bedroom and that will be ok too! We are all really excited!