Superliner Trans-Dorm roomettes

[elaineprescott]

We're in car 0540 on the California Zephyr westbound from Chicago on Dec 28. What can anyone tell me about these cars? How are they different from a regular Superliner Sleeper?

 

[PVD]

There are a couple of different versions downstairs wise, and a wide range of opinions on them. The upper level will be all roomettes, no bedrooms. One end is used for OBS, the other end for revenue. Service may be provided by the adjacent car LSA, sometimes by a coach attendant. That can be good or bad depending on the individual assigned, and your need for attention. It may have less foot traffic, but if sleepers are up front, you will hear more horn. You may or may not need to go to an adjacent car for coffee. I don't recall if they all do, but I recall an upstairs shower on one I was in.

 

[1976steve]

We're in car 0540 on the California Zephyr westbound from Chicago on Dec 28. What can anyone tell me about these cars? How are they different from a regular Superliner Sleeper?

Here's a link that may interest you. It only shows one of the Transition sleepers but as it states the other variations are similar. Amtrak Car Diagrams @ CraigMashburn.com

 

[Bob Dylan]

There are a couple of different versions downstairs wise, and a wide range of opinions on them. The upper level will be all roomettes, no bedrooms. One end is used for OBS, the other end for revenue. Service may be provided by the adjacent car LSA, sometimes by a coach attendant. That can be good or bad depending on the individual assigned, and your need for attention. It may have less foot traffic, but if sleepers are up front, you will hear more horn. You may or may not need to go to an adjacent car for coffee. I don't recall if they all do, but I recall an upstairs shower on one I was in.

There are actually 2 Showers Upstairs on Transdorms, one designated for the Crew and 1 for any Revenue Passengers in the Transdorm.( the one that Passengers use is combined with a Restroom. I've not seen the Crew Shower myself.)

The Shower downstairs is also used by the Crew since downstairs is " Off Limits" to Non-Crew Members.

 

[PVD]

Makes sense, although I do believe that the H room must be sellable for the car to be "legal" as a revenue car. That being said, I've never seen anyone in it.

 

[pennyk]

Makes sense, although I do believe that the H room must be sellable for the car to be "legal" as a revenue car. That being said, I've never seen anyone in it.

I have seen passengers in the Transition H room twice. Once was an Amtrak employee who had mobility issues. I was a member of a group traveling with her and went down to visit her a few times. Another time, an AU member who was booked in another H room was moved to the transition H room (I believe on the Empire Builder) because the other H room was "bad." I was allowed to go visit him. The SCA was excellent and accommodated the passenger as best as he could.

 

[PVD]

That's good to hear. Both from the utilization and the human side.

 

[Acela150]

There are actually 2 Showers Upstairs on Transdorms, one designated for the Crew and 1 for any Revenue Passengers in the Transdorm.( the one that Passengers use is combined with a Restroom. I've not seen the Crew Shower myself.)

The Shower downstairs is also used by the Crew since downstairs is " Off Limits" to Non-Crew Members.

Jim your spitting falsehoods here. Your entire post is false. Sorry bud.

Makes sense, although I do believe that the H room must be sellable for the car to be "legal" as a revenue car. That being said, I've never seen anyone in it.

No it's not. Room H in the dorm car is only used should an H room become bad ordered. So for instance say the H room in the 30 car has an issue, the occupant of that room may be moved to the dorm car.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Jim your spitting falsehoods here. Your entire post is false. Sorry bud.



No it's not. Room H in the dorm car is only used should an H room become bad ordered. So for instance say the H room in the 30 car has an issue, the occupant of that room may be moved to the dorm car.

Please let me know what part of my post you feel isn't correct Steve. I've ridden in Superliner Transdorms perhaps 100 times( all of the Superliner LD Routes except the Coast Starlight), and my Post is based on what I've seen with my own eyes, and been told by Crew Members on the Cars I was on.

 

[basketmaker]

Did room #24 in the Trans/Dorm on the CZ from FMG to EMY. Actually the best roomette I have traveled in. Minimal foot traffic other than shift start/end for crew. And some interesting chats with crew members downstairs.

 

[ms garrison]

So I made a reservation today for Seattle to Chicago on the EB May 15. The agent assigned me to room # 18, which was puzzling because I know the upstairs rooms are 1-10. Questioned him about this and he maybe was new, but all he could tell me was room # 18 was at the end of the train and I would walk "back there" to it. Did a search and I see it's in the crew car. I see pros and cons about it, so hoping someone can give me some info. Some people say the SCA forgets about that room, and that it's a long walk to the dining car. Others say it's nice and quiet and they don't have to share the bathroom with as many others.
Have until Wednesday to pay for the reservation so hoping for some experiences from others. Thanks.

 

[truncated]

Was in the Transdorm last Christmas on #5 — contrary to some of the posts above the two showers upstairs as well as the downstairs shower were all available for pax use. We also had our own SCA instead of having to share it with the adjacent car, but this was a very full train (there were revenue pax in roomettes 1 and 2 as well, which I believe is normally used for crew)

Another thing about the transdorm that might be helpful is you'll know which side of the train your roomette is on ahead of time, vs with an ordinary sleeper where there's no way to tell.

 

[DaveW]

I was in room #18 last month with a BidUp success from MSP to EVR. It was closer to the locomotives, next car back a sleeper and next car back the dining car. I was the only one in the 10 roomettes on top floor before stairs going down. The hall was in the middle of the car and there was a bathroom on top floor across from stairs so I never went down on that car, I was told car was employee lounge and rooms. The only traffic I saw in hall were workers in blue uniforms. The coffee machine was not operating on my car floor but by the stairs on sleeper car directly behind. The sleeper had 4 full sized bedrooms with hall by one side then the stairs then hall in center of 10 roomettes. I went down that stairs when coming and going and smoke/exercise breaks. Roomette 18 was third on right after doors so did not really hear door between cars opening and closing. I liked it.

 

[IndyLions]

I’ve only been on Transdorms a couple of times - but both were a positive experience. I would not hesitate to book one again.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Since there is no accessible room in the bag dorm, I am very surprised they can legally be sold.

I guess. With that being said, I thought I heard that the transition sleepers (superliner equipment) HAS an accessible bedroom but is rarely used/booked? (correct me if I'm wrong..)

 

[jis]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: A number of posts on Viewliner II Bag-Dorm Roomettes has been moved to its own new thread.

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/viewliner-ii-bag-dorm-roomettes.81834/
Please post any further posts on Viewliner II in the new thread.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

 

[UserNameRequired]

Our reservation was just changed to a Superliner transdorm this weekend for a trip in a couple weeks.
I have been searching and reading about the experience here, some info is older and may be out of date. Some questions are answered, but a few remain.
- Is there a luggage area for a large suitcase like on a normal sleeper?
- Do we board on this car, or do we have to board on the nearest sleeper?
- I have read no customers downstairs, then I read other posts about the restrooms and showers and four chair area being downstairs and people boarding downstairs (old post), so will we likely be allowed downstairs?
- If there is a luggage area on the transdorm, and we have have to board on the next sleeper over, does that mean I need to plan to hump heavy gear into one Superliner, up the stairs, down the hall to the next car, and possibly down stairs to the luggage area?
less important, just curious:
-If there is no luggage area downstairs, what is the space used for on the transdorm?
-Is the Conductor/special small window room still used for anything or is it closed and just not used for anything at all?

Thanks!

 

[greatwestern]

In June I was downgraded from a bedroom on the SWC to a transdorm roomette on the CZ (my choice to re-route on the CZ rather than be in coach on the SWC).

I can confirm that I boarded directly into the transdorm sleeper and that there was luggage storage on the lower level as on the normal Superliner sleepers. Part of the area downstairs was a crew rest/seating space (I had some lengthy conversations with both the conductor and an engineer down there whilst we were stopped for 12 hours due to coupling failure on a freight train).

 

[Bob Dylan]

Our reservation was just changed to a Superliner transdorm this weekend for a trip in a couple weeks.
I have been searching and reading about the experience here, some info is older and may be out of date. Some questions are answered, but a few remain.
- Is there a luggage area for a large suitcase like on a normal sleeper?
- Do we board on this car, or do we have to board on the nearest sleeper?
- I have read no customers downstairs, then I read other posts about the restrooms and showers and four chair area being downstairs and people boarding downstairs (old post), so will we likely be allowed downstairs?
- If there is a luggage area on the transdorm, and we have have to board on the next sleeper over, does that mean I need to plan to hump heavy gear into one Superliner, up the stairs, down the hall to the next car, and possibly down stairs to the luggage area?
less important, just curious:
-If there is no luggage area downstairs, what is the space used for on the transdorm?
-Is the Conductor/special small window room still used for anything or is it closed and just not used for anything at all?

Thanks!

All I can tell you, like all things Amtrak, is "It Depends!"( a Lawyers phrase)

Since there are several different configurations of Transdorms, you won't know till you board what type you'll be in, and it will depend on the Crew also.

Sometimes you have your own Atttendant, sometimes the SCA from the next door Sleeper will tale care of your car, and once on the CZ I had a Coach Attendat from the rear of the Train as my SCA.

On a couple of the trips I was on, the Conductors Room you ask about was used as a Coffee/Juice/Water Station.

If your Big Bag(s)are heavy, and there is Checked Luggage from your departure and Arrival Station, consider taking just what you'll need on the trip as carry on, and Check your Big bag(s)!

 

[UserNameRequired]

All I can tell you, like all things Amtrak, is "It Depends!"( a Lawyers phrase)

Since there are several different configurations of Transdorms, you won't know till you board what type you'll be in, and it will depend on the Crew also.

Sometimes you have your own Atttendant, sometimes the SCA from the next door Sleeper will tale care of your car, and once on the CZ I had a Coach Attendat from the rear of the Train as my SCA.

On a couple of the trips I was on, the Conductors Room you ask about was used as a Coffee/Juice/Water Station.

If your Big Bag(s)are heavy, and there is Checked Luggage from your departure and Arrival Station, consider taking just what you'll need on the trip as carry on, and Check your Big bag(s)!

Our home station has no checked bags so I just want to be prepared to carry (like request the wife have her things packed efficiently as I carry her heavy bags too). I am sure it will all work out ok, I just want to look like I know what I am doing and not be clueless.

I don’t mind reduced SCA service because they are trying to handle multiple cars as long as the meal orders get through 🍽

 

[Cal]

In June I was downgraded from a bedroom on the SWC to a transdorm roomette on the CZ (my choice to re-route on the CZ rather than be in coach on the SWC).

I can confirm that I boarded directly into the transdorm sleeper and that there was luggage storage on the lower level as on the normal Superliner sleepers. Part of the area downstairs was a crew rest/seating space (I had some lengthy conversations with both the conductor and an engineer down there whilst we were stopped for 12 hours due to coupling failure on a freight train).

Why was an engineer in the passenger part of the train?

 

[TinCan782]

Why was an engineer in the passenger part of the train?

Perhaps dead heading to/from somewhere.

 

[greatwestern]

Why was an engineer in the passenger part of the train?

The engineer did explain - I had quipped with him that he needed to be in the locomotive in case we got the ROW - but for the life of me I can't remember his response.

Might have been that he had been relieved by another engineer (the loco was still manned) due to his time being out.

Technically of course he was not in the passenger part of the train, he was in the designated crew area of the Transdorm Sleeper.

 

[PVD]

If he timed out on his way back to where he was supposed to get off, and his replacements were brought in from the other direction, "riding through" would seem to make sense.