I will be going from Washington Union Station to Orlando on board the Silver Star. I managed to get a sleeper both ways. I have done several long distance trains, most of which have been on superliners. I have been on viewliners only once before on the Crescent. Is there anything I ought to know about this trip? I am hoping to take a few photos as well.
Plan on being late as that train travels on CSX tracks. The good part is that you have a sleeper both ways. That train and the Meteor are known for sleepless nights in Coach. Personally, I like the Viewliner Roomette. It has toilet and sink so you never have to leave the room.
Oh, yeah. I had forgotten that CSX on that stretch makes for late trains. I did 2 long distance trips in coach and I do not care for that at all. Sleeper all the way, baybee!
As I am packing for our own Amtrak trip I remembered a very important item that you should bring with you on any Amtrak trip. A roll of duct tape. The trip we took on the Empire Builder a few years ago it came in very handy as our sleeper car was old and in need of attention. Things like rattling closet doors/trim panels and such can be easily remedied with duct tape. A funny irony was when we stopped at a station somewhere in North Dakota and I took a stroll outside the train. I wandered up to our lower Family Bedroom window to wave at my wife and son. It was then that I noticed that several outer doors on our Superliner Sleeper were held closed with (you guessed it) duct tape...
Good suggestion. I seem to recall those curtains needing some help staying in position too as the velcro had worn out.
