Train sleeper car

Just received an email with questions such as: How full is the train? How's the food?  Did you sleep well?

I hear that the train is full but I haven't mingled with anyone from coach to

confirm.  The sleeper car is isolated from coach as both ends of the car dead end on the lower level that I share with 5 other rooms.  The 2 big rooms on the end have their own bath and the 4 smaller rooms share 3 bathrooms and one shower room (Never had to wait to use one yet).  Just  upstairs and one car over is the dining car.  For breakfast just show up anytime b/w 6-9am sign a form (and leave a tip) as all meals are included in the sleeper upgrade.  For lunch and dinner someone comes to your room and schedules reservations (and delivers the morning paper).  They seat sleeper car passengers together and coach passengers are in another dining car.  When we boarded yesterday the sleeper car passengers were escorted from the 1st class lounge directly to our private car without the need to wait in line so I didn't get a chance to see the coach area.  I did ride coach from Rochester to Chicago and it was much more comfortable than airline coach even when it's full.

The food is typical of what you would get in a decent diner.  More than acceptable with good portion sizes and good service.  I've met some nice people from California, Florida and Chicago during dinner last night and breakfast this morning.  Everyone I met so far during meals has a flying anxiety issue although there are many other reasons to take the train.

I went to bed at 8pm (9pm eastern) as I was tired from limited sleep Friday night in coach.  Used ear plugs and didn't wake up til 2:30am when the conductor knocked on my neighbors door and helped them disembark.  The stops are so gradual the change in speed doesn't wake me up.  After a staggering walk back and forth to the bathroom I fell back to sleep by 3am and didn't wake until the announcement for 2nd call for Breakfast at 7am.  Combine limited sleep in coach Friday, comfortable traveler's ear plugs and my known sleeping skills the result was 11 hours of quality sleep.  I don't think those results are typical for most passengers based on the reports from my breakfast companions.

This morning it took about 5 minutes to convert the bunk bed setup backing into the daytime lounge setting.  A sleeperette room is as comfy as my couch at home.  Sharing it with another person would make it tight especially when the beds are setup.  I could see getting the bigger room if someone was with me.  Today i feel refreshed, full and relaxed.  Enjoying the quiet private cabin watching the flat eastern Colorado scenery roll past as the snow capped mountains grow on the horizon.  Soon after we started the long slow climb (going about 15-20mph) up the Raton pass that took us from Colorado into New Mexico.  The Raton train station has a unique style (see pic)

Jeff