Showers on Amtrak Sleepers - What are they like?

[Chessie]

How is like using the showers on Amtrak sleepers, either Viewliner or Superliner?

Is there a long line waiting? Because I see up to 30 people sharing one shower.

Cleanliness? I don't expect spotless luxury, as long as it's clean and no molds.

Reliability? Broken often? Hot water enough? Water pressure?

 

[wjh2]

I have used them and have never had to wait in line. I found them very clean overall, but always wore shower shoes anyway. There are no time limits or anything, just take you time. Most importantly, be aware the train moves and you need to have a solid footing.

 

[Seaboard92]

And to quote my boss when we are living in the dorm car. Remember that water is not unlimited and there are other passengers as well who want a shower.

 

[KauaiJohn]

I have always found the showers spotlessly clean with plenty of towels. Don't recall ever running out of hot water. I miss the old days when you could see the tracks through the drain.

 

[DoB]

My first time taking a shower on a Superliner, the water pressure dropped to almost nothing, but I think that's because we were at a service stop and the car was being rewatered. Since then, I've taken six Superliner showers and two Viewliner showers with no issues.

Only once was the shower in use when I wanted to use it, so rather than wait I simply went to the next car, which according to the SCA was mostly empty, so she didn't mind. Remember, bedrooms have showers included, so you're mostly only competing with other roomette occupants.

 

[oregon pioneer]

I think in all my trips, I've had to come back once and use the shower later because someone was already in it. It's always been reasonably clean -- starts the trip very clean, and I've never felt like the person right before me was a pig. It's part of the SCA's job to check it and clean up if necessary. Shower consists of a lockable suite -- small dressing room and medium size shower stall (actually both about the same size). The dressing room has a shelf, mirror, hook for your clothes, and bench. The shelf and bench are often piled high with the clean towel supply. There are often personal-sized soaps in the shower, but I always bring my own because I prefer it. There is a laundry bag for the used towels, and a small trash can. The shower is the type where you have to keep pushing the button, but the length of spray you get from each push varies quite a bit. They only ask that you leave the shower reasonably clean when you are done, so please clean your hair out of the drain, and use your damp towel to wipe the floor before putting it in the laundry bag. :hi:

 

[snvboy]

If you are unsure of foot, shower during a longer station stop when the train isn't moving.

Bring your own shampoo - it's no longer provided.

If there wasn't a person in the shower before you, pop the water button once and let it run while you undress to get the hot water going.

The water supply IS limited, so don't just stand there letting the water run. This is why you have to press the button for water.

Be a good citizen, and clean up after yourself. Toss your used soap and wrapper in the trash. Wipe up any stray puddles with your used towel. If anything needs attention, just let the attendant know.

The only times that I have had a wait has been in the mornings. This IS an advantage of being on the lower level of a Superliner - you can keep an ear out for when the shower is available.

The times I have had a full bedroom I have usually still used the 'public' shower since it's a little roomier.

If the shower is locked at the very beginning of your train, it may be that the attendant hasn't set it up yet. I had this happen on the Capitol Limited once when I REALLY wanted a shower before dinner coming out of D.C. after an afternoon of hiking around in the D.C. humidity.

 

[willem]

"Never" is a long time. I have had to wait for a shower, but rarely, and I believe not since I learned DoB's trick of visiting another sleeper.

I ran out of hot water and pressure once, and it is misleading to say I ran out, since I never had hot water or pressure. This was in the winter on the California Zephyr, and I later learned a line had frozen. (Why it didn't thaw from the trickle that the shower delivered to me is a mystery.) Aside from that, no problems with quantity, pressure, or temperature.

The was shampoo in two showers on the trip to this year's Gathering. One was on the Empire Builder, and the other was the California Zephyr or maybe the Coast Starlight. It does happen, infrequently.

 

[StriderGDM]

I can't recall ever waiting for a shower. And like others, I have found them to be clean and plenty of towels. The only issue I've ever had is sometimes a bit cold if the outside temp is cold. But I just turn up the heat and I'm good when I get out.

It's the highlight of my trip sometimes.

 

[Asher]

They are great. I've never had to wait. Just make sure that their are fresh towels in the shower room before showering. Some times they are outside

 

[caravanman]

I agree that there are no "waiting" issues for the showers, 99% of the time. They are a "prefabricated" pod and pretty clean too. A real asset to train travel, but for the sleeper passengers only.

Ed.

 

[KmH]

Face/wash cloths are in the sleeper berth.

 

[Chey]

I've had to wait a couple of times, not for long. Sometimes it takes a while for the water to warm up. I've taken several showers where I thought the whole thing would be in cold water, only to have the water warm up during the rinse. But for me, even a cold shower is better than no shower.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I have always found the showers spotlessly clean with plenty of towels. Don't recall ever running out of hot water. I miss the old days when you could see the tracks through the drain.

Always? Spotless? Ever? I've seen enough moldy curtain edges, rough/sticky floors, broken shower fixtures, and empty towel packs to know this is not a realistic representation of actual Amtrak travel.

 

[KauaiJohn]

Sorry you have had such awful experience. I guess I just manage to get lucky moat of the time.

 

[the_traveler]

The longest "line" I've had was 1 person. Most of the time (99.7%) the line is -0-. And I usually shower in the morning.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

I, too, have never had to wait to take a shower on the Silvers (Viewliners). However, I am a morning person, and take my shower even before the dining car (remember those?) opened for breakfast. Honestly, I try to time my shower with a stop at a station because I find it easier with the car not bouncing and swaying.

A couple of times, I had to move stuff out of the shower, when the SA was using the space for storage (probably because they rarely see anyone using it).

In the "dressing" area, there is a stack of clean bath towels, and a laundry bag for used towels.

 

[alang]

Always clean, I never have to wait, and had all the hot water I wanted. I am tall and must admit that the shower area is a bit cramped but for an averaged sized person there would be plenty of room. Always pleased with the amount of towels available. Enjoy!

 

[willem]

I, too, have never had to wait to take a shower on the Silvers (Viewliners).

I have had to wait for the car attendant to relocate the luggage that he had stored in the shower area before I could shower on a Viewliner.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Always clean, I never have to wait, and had all the hot water I wanted. Always pleased with the amount of towels available. Enjoy!

Always? Never? Do you realize that's really no different than claiming the showers are always dirty, there's always a wait, and they never have any hot water or clean towels? I've been from one side of this planet to the other and if there is one lesson I've learned it's that there is no such thing as "always" or "never" when it comes to travel.

 

[Asher]

It "never" fails, someone "always" finds fault.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

I, too, have never had to wait to take a shower on the Silvers (Viewliners).

I have had to wait for the car attendant to relocate the luggage that he had stored in the shower area before I could shower on a Viewliner.

If you were going to quote only one of my sentences, this one might have been the more appropriate one:

A couple of times, I had to move stuff out of the shower, when the SA was using the space for storage (probably because they rarely see anyone using it).

 

[JayPea]

I can't say I've always found the showers to be clean but they have been a very high percentage of the time. The main reason for this, probably, is because I tend to take my shower early...like 3am early. I've worked the graveyard shift for nearly 20 years and am used to being awake at those hours. My first experience taking a shower I had a thin trickle of lukewarm at best water and assumed wrongly that all Amshowers were that way. Turns out that was the only one I've had so far to be like that.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

I can't say I've always found the showers to be clean but they have been a very high percentage of the time. The main reason for this, probably, is because I tend to take my shower early...like 3am early. I've worked the graveyard shift for nearly 20 years and am used to being awake at those hours. My first experience taking a shower I had a thin trickle of lukewarm at best water and assumed wrongly that all Amshowers were that way. Turns out that was the only one I've had so far to be like that.

 

[willem]

If you were going to quote only one of my sentences, this one might have been the more appropriate one:

A couple of times, I had to move stuff out of the shower, when the SA was using the space for storage (probably because they rarely see anyone using it).

You are correct that that would have been a better quote, and I apologize for the lack of context. I have developed trouble maintaining concentration, and probably did not read your original post as far as I should.

I'm not sure I'd have the nerve to move stuff out of the shower on my own. Where did you put it? Did either the owners or the attendant question your action?