Viewliner II Bag-Dorm roomettes

[trimetbusfan]

But not normally in the mode of dropping the regular sleeper to sub the BD. TD have been around for years as occasional revenue cars. These cars were never intended to be revenue cars. Anytime I rode one it was the adjacent car SCA who covered, and and SCA in a SL sleeper has more rooms to begin with. But CBAs often have long forgotten "gotchas" that pop up, so I figure it was worth asking. Definitely agree on the legality. Would be shocked if a disability advocacy group doesn't file quickly when this is made "official".

yeah we’ll see what happens :0

 

[jis]

But not normally in the mode of dropping the regular sleeper to sub the BD.

No regular Sleeper has been dropped. The single VL-I is still operating as always. Any second Sleeper on the Card has been occasional and one could almost say extraordinary.

 

[bratkinson]

I decided to take a trip on the Cardinal after a couple year hiatus. So, after checking a number of dates that work for me, I found a 'low' (for 2022, I'd guess) price of $422 in July (WAS-CHI). (The same trip in March 2019 was $272) So I booked it online. Car 5109. So they ARE now putting passengers into the new bag-sleeper cars.

Hopefully, they'll keep the bag-sleeper at the rear of the train and not 'reverse' the train to put the sleepers in the front like they did 1975-201x? I don't remember when then moved the sleepers to the rear, but it's been in the last 10 years give or take.

I wonder if they'll start booking the bag-sleeper on the other LD trains they're used on?

 

[jis]

I wonder if they'll start booking the bag-sleeper on the other LD trains they're used on?

The only other LD train where they are used is the Crescent. There aren't enough of them to use on any other train beyond those two.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Only 10 bag-sleepers available. Original order was 25, drop to 10, with some additional straight baggage cars order.

 

[jis]

Only 10 bag-sleepers available. Original order was 25, drop to 10, with some additional straight baggage cars order.

Yes, they converted the order for 15 bag-dorms to 15 bags leaving only 10 bag-dorms, and increasing the bag order from 60 to 75 AFAIR.

This happened during Boardman's regime.

 

[Palmland]

Yes, they converted the order for 15 bag-dorms to 15 bags leaving only 10 bag-dorms, and increasing the bag order from 60 to 75 AFAIR.

I never understood that decision. Why give up revenue space (frees up rooms in adjoining sleepers) for hauling air and a few bags.

I have never seen a baggage car even close to full and even some of the western trains are operating with just a coach-baggage.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

I think there was a attempt to cancel the baggage dormitory cars completely, but 10 shells were complete.

Baggage cars have been effected by the downsizing of station staff, the ending of Amtrak Express Shipment and the eliminations of store mail. Of course with these ultra short trains, the lack of passenger also equal poor utility of the baggage cars.

 

[west point]

So not why but Amtrak has posted openings for baggage person in BOS , New haven, PROVIDENCE, TRENTON, WASG. That wouldseem to mean that moretrains with Baggabe cars. However, there is nothing that we can expect Amtrak to actually do.

 

[Cal]

I have never seen a baggage car even close to full and even some of the western trains are operating with just a coach-baggage.

I have. Don't remember if it was in person or via video, but I have.

 

[IndyLions]

I never understood that decision. Why give up revenue space (frees up rooms in adjoining sleepers) for hauling air and a few bags.

I have never seen a baggage car even close to full and even some of the western trains are operating with just a coach-baggage.

On a train like the Cardinal, a Bag Dorm is a completely practical solution.

The bag dorm increases sleeper capacity while maintaining baggage service. With the half baggage car, they now can accommodate large items like bicycles (which I use) and restricted items like firearms (which hunters use). Heck, they even support bicycles at flag stops that don’t have regular baggage service and it works like a charm.

If/when they ever take the Cardinal daily, they’ll (relatively) easily be able to support 1 ½ sleepers per train and maintain baggage service.

Would I rather have two VLII sleepers, a VLII Baggage car and a VLII Diner on a Daily Cardinal? You bet - but for now I’ll take what I can get.

 

[IndyLions]

I have three different itineraries on the cardinal over the next few months. I wasn’t able to be moved over to that car on any of them. I’ll try again later, I guess.

 

[cocojacoby]

If there was no door, then the baggage area would need to be climate controlled, no? As far as I know the baggage area is not climate controlled so there probably is a door.

 

[trimetbusfan]

I have three different itineraries on the cardinal over the next few months. I wasn’t able to be moved over to that car on any of them. I’ll try again later, I guess.

sometimes you have to try a few times.

the first agent I called said I have to talk to a conductor on the train to change my room and decided to hang on me.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Do bag-dorms have a bike rack like the full baggage cars? And are checked firearms kept in a locked safe? If the answer to both (from anyone who knows) is yes, then an open baggage area is a good thing because it would allow passengers to use the bike rack when boarding or alighting at stations without baggage service.

The baggage area of the bag-drom appears to be separated by a closing door. You can get a brief view of this from this video on Youtube.

 

[JP1822]

They can close the door and put a lock on to keep "regular passengers" out of the baggage portion of the Bagg-Dorm car. Not that complicated folks! There's eight roomettes in the Bagg-Dorm, many of which are not being used on the Cardinal due to a small OBS staff. They need capacity - so open it up!

 

[IndyLions]

It would be interesting to hear from folks who have been booked in that car, as to which dates they are traveling.

Certainly, on my two recent trips on the Cardinal there were no passengers assigned to that car - so I wonder if anyone has heard of a specific start date. I also have an October trip planned. When I called the Amtrak Select hotline, the agent stated that only 5100 was listed for my dates of travel (at that time).

 

[trimetbusfan]

It would be interesting to hear from folks who have been booked in that car, as to which dates they are traveling.

Certainly, on my two recent trips on the Cardinal there were no passengers assigned to that car - so I wonder if anyone has heard of a specific start date. I also have an October trip planned. When I called the Amtrak Select hotline, the agent stated that only 5100 was listed for my dates of travel (at that time).

My trip is scheduled for mid July. I would assume they are doing it for the summer. (But yes, seems weird to not have it available in October as well).

 

[trimetbusfan]

I was finally able to travel on the Bag Dorm car a few weeks ago on the Cardinal!

The Bag Dorm cars have 9 rooms (3 were occupied by crew - one for the car attendant, one for the coach attendant, and one for the cafe attendant). One room was stuffed with linens. This means of the 9 rooms, at most 5 rooms in the car could actually be available for revenue sale, maybe 6 if they could put the linens somewhere else. It looked like there is a linen closet by the door to the baggage area, although I'm not sure.

Just like the regular VL2 cars, it has 2 communal bathrooms and 1 shower for the whole car. The baggage area was hidden with a towel covering the window for most of the way, although for some stretches it was removed - allowing for a nice view out the back.

The service from the attendant was quite good as well. I was allowed to sit on the crew side of the cafe car for a good part of the trip.

Also wanted to mention the VL2 Cars seemed to handle the rough Buckingham Branch RR stretch quite well! While the ride in the Cafe car was quite rough through this section, it seemed much smoother when I returned to the room. Other than a slight delay and Flexible dining, I was quite satisfied with my ride on the Cardinal!

 

[Steve4031]

I forgot about this thread. I was booked into the 5109 car for a trip on Columbus day weekend. I have been tracking this for some time. It was sold out for a few days, and today when I looked and a roomette was available. IIRC I paid 643.

 

[E381SXL]

I was finally able to travel on the Bag Dorm car a few weeks ago on the Cardinal!

The Bag Dorm cars have 9 rooms (3 were occupied by crew - one for the car attendant, one for the coach attendant, and one for the cafe attendant). One room was stuffed with linens. This means of the 9 rooms, at most 5 rooms in the car could actually be available for revenue sale, maybe 6 if they could put the linens somewhere else. It looked like there is a linen closet by the door to the baggage area, although I'm not sure.

Just like the regular VL2 cars, it has 2 communal bathrooms and 1 shower for the whole car. The baggage area was hidden with a towel covering the window for most of the way, although for some stretches it was removed - allowing for a nice view out the back.

The service from the attendant was quite good as well. I was allowed to sit on the crew side of the cafe car for a good part of the trip.

Also wanted to mention the VL2 Cars seemed to handle the rough Buckingham Branch RR stretch quite well! While the ride in the Cafe car was quite rough through this section, it seemed much smoother when I returned to the room. Other than a slight delay and Flexible dining, I was quite satisfied with my ride on the Cardinal!

From what I can gather we’ll be on this car. Have never traveled long distance rail. Based on past comments I’m a bit concerned about the Cardinal. Booked a Roomette. Really want to make the most of the trip. What should I not do?

 

[E381SXL]

I forgot about this thread. I was booked into the 5109 car for a trip on Columbus day weekend. I have been tracking this for some time. It was sold out for a few days, and today when I looked and a roomette was available. IIRC I paid 643.

Did you travel on 5109?

 

[Steve4031]

Did you travel on 5109?

Not yet. On October 9th. I’ll do a trip report.

 

[Chellerz]

I'm booked on 5009 in Roomette 4 in March. Would appreciate some help figuring out what side of the car that's on. Thanks in advance!

 

[trimetbusfan]

I'm booked on 5009 in Roomette 4 in March. Would appreciate some help figuring out what side of the car that's on. Thanks in advance!

Room 4 is on the left side of the train. The seat facing forward is slightly smaller than the seat facing backwards.