VL II handicapped bedroom impressions

[joelkfla]

Just left Palatka, traveling on 98 from ORL to NYP, in a VL II handicapped bedroom. When I stepped in, it looked much smaller than in the YouTube videos, but after a couple of hours it seems pretty roomy.

Things I don't like:

The hallway window is small & not aligned with the seat. You can't see out the left side of the train from the seat, and even standing in front of the John (it's over the John), it's too narrow to see much. I recall the VL I window being much larger and better aligned.

No Kleenex dispenser. I don't remember whether the VL I had it or not. I asked the SCA if she could bring me a box; she claimed she hadn't seen any Kleenex in … (didn't finish the sentence). I peeked into an unoccupied VL I bedroom, and there I saw a dispenser with a Kleenex sticking out. I'm afraid I may not have a great SCA.

Things I do like:

There is more room to maneuver a scooter or wheelchair. My scooter is parked in front of the shower, where it does not impinge on my legroom or interfere with movement at all.

It's nice to have a good sized shower without a toilet in the way, although I don't think I'll use it on an overnight trip.

I like the fold-down handrail beside the toilet.

And then there are the general VL II improvements: 2 duplex outlets, one by the sink & one centered above the seat; lots of air outlets, most adjustable; the improved sink &
faucet (although hot water pressure was very low, and it didn't get hot after running about 30 seconds. )

BTW both VL II sleepers had the cranked ice dispensers & coffee urns. I turned the crank and nothing happened. The SCA said they weren't in use due to COVID. I asked whether there would be coffee in the morning; she said, “I'll see, things get pretty crazy in the morning.“ Again, not too sure about her. I have a feeling she'll be getting just $5 tip. Although I think she is working 1 and a half cars.

 

[pennyk]

Just left Palatka, traveling on 98 from ORL to NYP, in a VL II handicapped bedroom. When I stepped in, it looked much smaller than in the YouTube videos, but after a couple of hours it seems pretty roomy.

Things I don't like:

Only one ceiling light switch, and it's by the door. I think I remember there being a switch by the seat in VL I`s, I'm not sure. I know there was in the roomette.

The hallway window is small & not aligned with the seat. You can't see out the left side of the train from the seat, and even standing in front of the John (it's over the John), it's too narrow to see much. I recall the VL I window being much larger and better aligned.

No Kleenex dispenser. I don't remember whether the VL I had it or not. I asked the SCA if she could bring me a box; she claimed she hadn't seen any Kleenex in … (didn't finish the sentence). I peeked into an unoccupied VL I bedroom, and there I saw a dispenser with a Kleenex sticking out. I'm afraid I may not have a great SCA.

Things I do like:

There is more room to maneuver a scooter or wheelchair. My scooter is parked in front of the shower, where it does not impinge on my legroom or interfere with movement at all.

It's nice to have a good sized shower without a toilet in the way, although I don't think I'll use it on an overnight trip.

I like the fold-down handrail beside the toilet.

And then there are the general VL II improvements: 2 duplex outlets, one by the sink & one centered above the seat; lots of air outlets, most adjustable; the improved sink &
faucet (although hot water pressure was very low, and it didn't get hot after running about 30 seconds. )

BTW both VL II sleepers had the cranked ice dispensers & coffee urns. I turned the crank and nothing happened. The SCA said they weren't in use due to COVID. I asked whether there would be coffee in the morning; she said, “I'll see, things get pretty crazy in the morning.“ Again, not too sure about her. I have a feeling she'll be getting just $5 tip. Although I think she is working 1 and a half cars.

Thanks. I was curious about the H room. I recall one of the complaints about the V1 room was that the outlet was across the room from the seat/couch.

Each time I have been on the Meteor (in VL II bedrooms) in the last few months, there were 2 attendants for 3 cars. I was fortunate to have great SCAs each time. With regard to Kleenex, I believe I had a box of Kleenex about half the time.

I hope you have a great trip and sorry your SCA is not one of the great ones. I hope your LSA is good. I have been lucky that every LSA on the Silvers I encountered in the past few months has been great.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

I was on 49 & 48 a few weeks ago. Both in VLII and VLI. I was disappointed that there was not a kleenix box in either roomette. Maybe they no longer supply them??

 

[joelkfla]

Correction: there is a ceiling light switch. It's between the seats next to the outlet. Doh! Didn't think to look there. So there's 3 switch banks above the seats: one on each end for the individual reading & area lights, and a center one for the ceiling and nightlight.

 

[joelkfla]

I was on 49 & 48 a few weeks ago. Both in VLII and VLI. I was disappointed that there was not a kleenix box in either roomette. Maybe they no longer supply them??

Well, whether or not they're in roomettes & VL I handicapped rooms, I saw them in a VL I bedroom, so a good SCA would have supplied a box on request. Unless there's some weird safety rule about loose boxes of Kleenex flying about.

I was about to remark that the VL II was a smoother ride than the VL I, but -- we've crossed into Georgia, and that was the end of that!

 

[joelkfla]

I learned something important about the VL II handicapped bedrooms tonight. It might apply to all VL II bedrooms.

The SCA made up my bed with the head on the corridor end. I noticed that my head would be right next to the sink, and I was afraid that if there was a sudden stop, my head would bash against the sink. So I rotated the pad around the other way.

When I got into bed, the whole thing was tilted forward. I felt like I was going to roll off. I got up and saw that the back of the bed wasn't fully down. I thought, "Stupid SCA doesn't know how to fold the seat." So I started banging on the back of the bed, trying to make it stay all the way down. That didn't work, so I thought "Stupid seat must be broken; I'm calling Customer Service tomorrow."

After messing with it some more, I finally figured out the truth. The mattress pad is not flat! It's tapered from front to back to compensate for the back of the bed being higher. When I rotated it, I inadvertently created a 6 inch slant.

So the solution was to rotate it back to the way it was and just rearrange the top sheet.

Now, hopefully I can get some sleep.

 

[HenryK]

Amtrak marketing wants us to call it the "Accessible Bedroom." The word "handicapped" is passe in a woke society. Now if people would start calling them "Fresh Air Stops" rather than "Smoke Stops" . . . .

 

[pennyk]

The SCA made up my bed with the head on the corridor end. I noticed that my head would be right next to the sink, and I was afraid that if there was a sudden stop, my head would bash against the sink. So I rotated the pad around the other way.

I always request my head on the corridor end when in a bedroom. Every time I have been in a VII bedroom, the bed was already premade in that fashion. However, in superliners, I have notice the beds are usually premade with the head at the window end. The VII mattress is thicker than the VI mattress and it is thicker on one side. I find it more comfortable, however, the SCAs have informed me they find it much more difficult to make up the beds.

I hope you had a good night's sleep.

 

[joelkfla]

I always request my head on the corridor end when in a bedroom. Every time I have been in a VII bedroom, the bed was already premade in that fashion. However, in superliners, I have notice the beds are usually premade with the head at the window end. The VII mattress is thicker than the VI mattress and it is thicker on one side. I find it more comfortable, however, the SCAs have informed me they find it much more difficult to make up the beds.

I hope you had a good night's sleep.

Thanks. Not so much sleep. I keep forgetting how rough the ride is. Oh well, just part of the experience.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

It’s extra rough because your sitting on the wheels (trucks). This why I am not a fan of the Viewliner bedrooms. Strange I like bedroom A on a Superliner but of late with nose bleed prices, been staying in low level Roomettes. So maybe just forget how the ride is in bedroom A on a Superliner.

 

[NYP2NFL01]

I had the top bunk in a Viewliner 1 bedroom. The bed was made with the head at the corridor end. I remade the bed with the head at the window end, so I could look out at the stations as we arrived.

 

[jpakala]

As I recall, my upper berth had the head on the window end and the lower on the aisle end of our Viewliner bedroom. The Viewliner bedroom upper berth had more headroom than Superliner and did not squeak.