I have made reservations for the California Zephyr on January and was put in car 530. I thought during the winter season it would only be 531 and 532? I want to know if this would be the transition car or the car next to the dining car?
Where is this car located on the California Zephyr?
- Thread starter JermyZP
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I think it's the last car. Transition car would be 540. Plus you would know if it was the transition car because the room # would be higher than 15.
Maglev
Conductor
The 530 sleeper is closest to the diner. Transition cars usually have an xx40 number.
Tennessee Traveler
Conductor
Prior to this COVID, The California Zephyr sleepers started with x31 and up with x31 being closest to the dining car. CZ did not have a x30 car. Sometime in the past year after I last traveled in early March 2020, the Zephyr started using the x30 car and it is now the closest car to the dining car. Room 002 is in middle of the car upstairs across from the sleeper attendant's room 001. Excellent location since its is not over the "trucks" or wheels.
crescent-zephyr
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I much prefer being towards the end of the car- way less hallway noise although with no coffee setup now maybe it’s not too bad.
Tennessee Traveler
Conductor
A couple years ago I was forced to roomette 010 on the Zephyr. My head at night has never been "beaten" as much from the combination of being over the trucks and the rough Nebraska tracks. Plus you also have the door between cars opening and closing constantly with people passing through. NO THANK YOU. Give me the middle of the car anytime.
Me, too.
I always call for reservations because I am picky about roomette location. My preference, top to bottom:
1. Upstairs, middle of the car. I know a lot of people do not like 2, right next to coffee station (assuming it returns). I love 2. Fav is 3 or 4, though.
2. Upstairs 5-8
3. 9/10
4. Downstairs (11-14)
5. Transdorm.
I'd put #4 last & move #5 to #3 and #3 to #4, ( I don't care for Downstairs on Superliners)
Tennessee Traveler
Conductor
I was confirmed and ticketed for Roomette 003 but the SCA said when she made the room ready the upper bed support broke and they decided it was unsafe and the car I was in was fully booked and the next and only other car was full except for Room 010 or downstairs in Room 014 so I chose 010 since no other option was available. All the phone calls to reservations in that situation would have never done anything. BTW I do always make my reservations several months in advance and by phone the Amtrak Guest Rewards phone.
Irelandvegas65
Train Attendant
Amazing knowledge of cars and locations, so as a newbie I will jump in and ask about what/where I have been booked for this October.
Empire builder CHI to SEA bedroom A and B Car 0730
Coast Starlight SEA to Emeryville Bedroom C and D Car 1130
California Zephyr to Glenwood bedroom A and C car 0630
California Zephyr Glenwood to CHI Bedroom C and D car 0630
Thanks for the tips tricks and advice, this site is great!
two travelers , both first timers, learning from this forum has been great
Empire builder CHI to SEA bedroom A and B Car 0730
Coast Starlight SEA to Emeryville Bedroom C and D Car 1130
California Zephyr to Glenwood bedroom A and C car 0630
California Zephyr Glenwood to CHI Bedroom C and D car 0630
Thanks for the tips tricks and advice, this site is great!
two travelers , both first timers, learning from this forum has been great
Nice trip and you'll have lots of space for two people! If your intention is to combine your rooms to form a suite though, those room combinations won't work. Starting from the left is Bedroom A.
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I believe the movable partition to create a 2 room suite is B-C or D-E... there are some great diagrams (like the classic Craig Mashburn set) that show floor plans on line as well as you tube videos that show actual rooms.
Note that the above diagram shows the "upstairs" toilet, and there are additional toilets and a shower downstairs. Since you have bedrooms, they will have a combo toilet shower space in the room. With 2 rooms, some people like to use one for each, so one stays dry...if the space will be used for both, strongly recommend removing the TP or making sure the holder is covered... get a couple of extra towels they will come in handy.
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We were in 10 a few years ago on the Southwest Chief. It wasn't our first choice but it was the last low bucket room available so we took it. I recall being apprehensive that it might be noisy due to its placement at the end of the car but it was fine. We did not notice any extra noise and we slept well. I don't prefer 10 but I wouldn't hesitate to take it again if the price was right.
Irelandvegas65
Train Attendant
Great tips everybody !
WE didn't plan to connect the rooms into one but we might on the leg where its possible. My sister and I just looked this trip early this year, so those connection combinations were already taken. With travel set to make a big comeback this year, I suspect the trains and about everything Weill be very full, so I am just glad we have our rooms set to go! Do the Car numbers I posted indicate what position in the consist they are in my previous post?
WE didn't plan to connect the rooms into one but we might on the leg where its possible. My sister and I just looked this trip early this year, so those connection combinations were already taken. With travel set to make a big comeback this year, I suspect the trains and about everything Weill be very full, so I am just glad we have our rooms set to go! Do the Car numbers I posted indicate what position in the consist they are in my previous post?
Yes they do, you’re cars should be the sleepers closest to the diner in the front
If you decide to combine them, it may be possible to have the rooms changed for you by an agent if the correct combo is available...the key word is "modify" not cancel and rebook, so no additional charge is involved. If the space is available it is something that not all agents seem to know how to do, either call back and get another agent or ask for a supervisor to assist. You do not want to cancel and rebook you want to modify, you should not be charged.....obviously the sooner the better since space sells and flipping into an empty room avoids having to try and move another party, which can open up a can of worms itself.
I have been riding Amtrak since 2015 and just now found this forum. It seems everybody on here is an expert. A lot of thigs I dont know what you are talking about. I will be in car 531, room D in April 2022. Will I be the last car...or...next to the dining room? And, what is a transition car? Thank you. I see I can get a lot of info here.
In normal practice, which the CZ is now apparently following although it didn't follow for it years, 531 is one car away from the diner, with 530 between you and the diner. The sleepers should run forward of the diner in normal Superliner practice, so 531 should be between the transdorm and 530. In other words, the third car back from the engines.
The transition car, or transition/dormitory (often called the "transdorm") is a crew dormitory car that also gives access to the single level dining car, as the forward end door is at the lower level, allowing crew access to the baggage car. It is all roomettes on the upper level. They often open 5 roomettes on the rear end for revenue sale to passengers. They are standard Superliner II roomettes.
The transition car, or transition/dormitory (often called the "transdorm") is a crew dormitory car that also gives access to the single level dining car, as the forward end door is at the lower level, allowing crew access to the baggage car. It is all roomettes on the upper level. They often open 5 roomettes on the rear end for revenue sale to passengers. They are standard Superliner II roomettes.
Are there any recent Zephyr riders in the last week that noted the Sleeper car #'s and positions to the diner?
Zepyhr is still running 2 Sleepers up front daily, and they have traditionally been Diner, 31 and 32.
Many of us have been booked on 30 (mine coming up this weekend) but I've not seen any added cars to date on the GBB cam. I'm still trying to reconcile where/when this 30 is going to show up or if they started to use 30 and 31 regularly rather than 31 and 32.
I suppose if no one knows for sure then I can validate this weekend.
I'm fairly sure there will not be a car full of 30's left behind on the platform as the train drives off.
Zepyhr is still running 2 Sleepers up front daily, and they have traditionally been Diner, 31 and 32.
Many of us have been booked on 30 (mine coming up this weekend) but I've not seen any added cars to date on the GBB cam. I'm still trying to reconcile where/when this 30 is going to show up or if they started to use 30 and 31 regularly rather than 31 and 32.
I suppose if no one knows for sure then I can validate this weekend.
I'm fairly sure there will not be a car full of 30's left behind on the platform as the train drives off.
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I will be boarding 6 on 7/2/21. I am in the 630 car. Rms11-12. One fir me, one for Rosalyn. I will walk the train and give an update on the car numbers and their positions in the consist.
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