Berth-ing

A quick word about the sleeper berths. I've had “Roomettes” throughout this trip. The “value add” of the roomette is not so much the place to sleep, though that is nice. It is the “perks” associated with the upgraded status. Some examples

• All of my meals have been free on every train. It could have been possible to spend nothing on food for the first two days of the trip.

• Free Coffee, juice and water for sleeping car passengers. The coffee is Railroad Coffee – the murk that ran America throughout the machine age. Fortunately, I've had experience with my grandmother's coffee.

• Even the roomette gives a panoramic window to the scenery going by. On the trains West of Chicago the view is even more spectacular from the second floor of the double-decker trains.

• The full berths are HUGH. Maybe next time.

• The roomette doubles nicely as an office. I'm making a note of this for future travel. Air travel is a hassle but it is much faster. But the ability to conduct business with little or no downtime can, in a case by case basis, make up for the travel time differential (particularly for Chicago trips).

• The showers are small but surprisingly effective. No drizzles or cold water (on the way out anyway...)