My last journey on this USA Rail Pass was on the Cardinal from Charlottesville back to Chicago. A friend was doing the same trip, so a roomette was more affordable. Amtrak charges for a roomette whether one or two passengers are travelling in it, so although it is more private than the usual coach seat I travel in, it is just not worth it when travelling alone. There are two seats opposite each other, which slide together to create a lower bunk. The upper bunk is fixed vertically against the carriage until the steward sets the roomette up for sleeping.
As was often the case, we travelled along hills and a river as well as a couple of interesting (to me…) rail yards. At one stop a fellow passenger was being seen off by their whole family, eager not to loose sight of them as the train pulled out.
As the sun went down, we left Virginia’s beautiful country side for a restful sleep taking us back to Illinois.
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