Roomette upper bunk?

[mcropod]

Is the lower space of a roomette still able to be comfortably occupied by a seated passenger if the upper bunk is down?

I was thinking that if so, it might give a solo traveller (moi) the ability to sit in the lower area and also have a place to go horizontal if the sleepies hit, without troubling the SCA.

Im about 180cms tall (six feet in the old scale) so dont benefit from petitery.

 

[Lonestar648]

On both the SL and VL you can have the upper bunk down and keep the lower in day configuration. I always do this on the VL since the upper also has windows. On the SL , I usually have the bed made on the lower, but with a pillowcase I bring along, I create an extra pillow in addition to Amtrak's two (Upper and Lower) for my back so I can sit up to look out the window, read or work on my laptop. I have found this quite comfortable. The upper on the SL is claustrophobic for me.

 

[mcropod]

On both the SL and VL you can have the upper bunk down and keep the lower in day configuration. I always do this on the VL since the upper also has windows. On the SL , I usually have the bed made on the lower, but with a pillowcase I bring along, I create an extra pillow in addition to Amtrak's two (Upper and Lower) for my back so I can sit up to look out the window, read or work on my laptop. I have found this quite comfortable. The upper on the SL is claustrophobic for me.

Many thanks for that - I realise I should have mentioned that I’ll be in a roomette for the LD trains I reckon will be the double-decker SL type, so that means the upper bed has no window. That’s a bummer and I agree would not be much fun to go temporarily there in case the ZZZZZs hit, but still get a chance to see the landscape until they do.

I reckon then I’ll need to have the bottom one out and do as you do.

Do the SCAs get cranky about that?

 

[Asher]

Its pretty darn cramped on the SL to have the upper down, I wouldn't do it.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

On both the SL and VL you can have the upper bunk down and keep the lower in day configuration. I always do this on the VL since the upper also has windows. On the SL , I usually have the bed made on the lower, but with a pillowcase I bring along, I create an extra pillow in addition to Amtrak's two (Upper and Lower) for my back so I can sit up to look out the window, read or work on my laptop. I have found this quite comfortable. The upper on the SL is claustrophobic for me.

Many thanks for that - I realise I should have mentioned that I’ll be in a roomette for the LD trains I reckon will be the double-decker SL type, so that means the upper bed has no window. That’s a bummer and I agree would not be much fun to go temporarily there in case the ZZZZZs hit, but still get a chance to see the landscape until they do.
I reckon then I’ll need to have the bottom one out and do as you do.

Do the SCAs get cranky about that?

The seats can be “reclined” by moving the seat out a little. You’d want to use the pillows for back support. I’ve done this for naps.

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[Railroad Bill]

The upper bunk can be put in a half position which provides a bit more room on the lower level.

 

[KmH]

I travel on the train by myself too.

When I have a roomette, which so far has always been in a bi-level Superliner car, I sleep in the upper bunk and leave the roomette in the Day configuration.

I've not yet had a desire to take a daytime nap, but if I did I would probably just recline one of the seats and put my feet up on the other seat.

 

[PVD]

The upper bunk on a SL comes out at an angle, it is a VL where you can move it vertically to\from halfway.

 

[StriderGDM]

On the Superliner, there's no real advantage since it just tilts up out of the way.

For the Viewliner, I have definitely given myself a 2 room "apartment" with office, bathroom and upper bedroom by keeping the upper bunk down.

But I will often put it in the 1/2 down position, made up, so I can move it down to take a nap.

 

[Maglev]

Not only is there a low ceiling above the upper bunk, but the berth itself is four inches narrower than the lower berth. I avoid occupying the upper berth. If I am alone in a Roomette and want to snooze in the daytime, it's very easy to recline the lower seats.

For those who use the upper berth while the lower is in daytime position, what do you do with the lower berth mattress?

 

[PVD]

Your height may be a determining factor. If the upper berth in a SL roomette is down in sleeping position, headroom is very limited for any sitting below, if you are not short, it is pretty easy to hit your head.. In a VL you can raise or lower it vertically, with a midpoint, so it is much less of an issue.

 

[Lonestar648]

Whether on the SL or the VL, if using the upper only, they lay out the lower mattress on the upper. Make the upper even more comfortable. I do this on the VL at night. Daytime, I put the upper all the way up. I don't use the upper on the SL.

 

[KmH]

The upper berth in a Superliner roomette is hinged on the outside wall of the room and swings down through an arc to latch in place.

One can put the upper part way up to create some extra head room.

One of the 2 versions of Superliner sleepers have an intermediate stop for the upper for just that purpose.

I too travel solo. I sleep in the upper and leave the lower in the Day configuration my entire trip.

 

[niemi24s]

Whether on the SL or the VL, if using the upper only, they lay out the lower mattress on the upper. Make the upper even more comfortable. I do this on the VL at night. Daytime, I put the upper all the way up. I don't use the upper on the SL.

As there's not a lot of vertical clearance above a Superliner upper berth when it's down, I think many people would find it difficult to get into or out of it if both mattresses remained in the upper berth.

 

[cpotisch]

I’ve only traveled SL roomette once (VL roomette 17 times), but if I want to use the upper bunk and keep the seats up top, I just roll up the mattress and wedge it ‘downstairs’.

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[Woodcut60]

I avoid using the upper berth because it's a lot more work at night to get down for visits to the restrooms.