train travel and CPAP

Jay Aitchsee wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 21, 2017 5:27 am

My wife and do a lot of long distance Amtrak traveling. For anything but the shortest overnight hauls, we always get a roomette. I get the top bunk. I always use my S9 sans humidifier. At the top bunk there's a hammock like storage net above the bunk against the wall. I put the S9 in that about even with my waist. The power cord passes down between the bunk and the wall and easily reaches one of two available outlets.
I have not used the CPAP in coach, but it would be possible on some trains which have electrical outlets at the seat - not all do, check with Amtrak.
If you're traveling a fair distance, 15 hours or so, I recommend you look into a sleeper, if you haven't done so. The cost for a roomette is approximately that of one more coach ticket, but meals for both occupants are included, so it's almost a wash. Plus, sleeper travelers are considered first class and are given additional amenities, like priority boarding and access to lounges where available.
If your plans are flexible, make sure to check Amtrak's scheduling website online. Like airlines, Amtrak prices vary considerably based on the day of the week, season, and proximity to holidays and, of course, become more expensive the closer the booking date is to the travel date.

rcobourn wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 28, 2018 1:57 pm

Thanks for the detailed post. I'm travelling LA to SEA in a roomette in October, with a ResMed AirMini. Looks like I should be in good shape.

Jay Aitchsee wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:50 am

SewTired wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 29, 2018 7:07 pm

My neighbor was on Amtrack last year and told me to make sure I brought an extension cord. May not need it, but he did on one of the trains. I was reading on the Amtrack site that sometimes you loose power during switches. Don't know if there are power surges when it comes back on.

I don't suppose it would hurt to take an extension cord, but I've never needed one. The cords of my S9 total about 12 feet, 6 ft to the power brick and 6 ft to the wall. I put the brick at the foot of the top bunk, with the blower about waist high which takes about 3 ft of the 6 available and then drop the power cord down to the outlet below which take about 2 ft of that 6 available. The trick is to drop the power cord between the bunk and the wall.

Occaisional power outages can occur and can be long if there is a malfunction or a delay in switching a car from one train to another. The only one I can think of off-hand is on the Empire Builder where the Portland cars are switched in Spokane.

I don't know about power surges. I haven't noticed any apparent signs of any and my S9 has suffered no ill effects. I would guess the power brick would tend to smooth any surges, though.

Jay Aitchsee wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 30, 2018 10:14 am

Doug_Nightmare wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 30, 2018 8:03 am

Thanks. Roomettes have 120 VAC outlets. The cords associated with my ‘brick’ may total eight feet. We once had an hour waiting for the train to be remade in Spokane for the trip to Portland and the car was without power for about an hour. Power interruptions do not seem to be an issue for my ResMed CPAP.
I don’t recall the space available beneath the lower sleeper. I do expect to use the humidifier. I’ll try to remember to tell of my adventures of my birthday trip to Yosemite NP.

Yes, in thinking about it, I believe there is only 1 120 volt outlet and it's on the side which in normally made up as the "foot" of the bed, though it's quite easy to swap the mattress around if desired.

I think a machine with humidifier would fit under the bottom bunk. We usually put our shoes there. Personally, I would rather put the machine on the bunk with me than on the floor. I have used my humidifier on board, but I usually don't, because without it, the blower can be placed in any position, on it's side, upside down, whatever. When using the humidifier, I've just placed it flat on the bunk with out the tank being full - no problem. Typically, though, the blower goes into the cargo net of the top bunk sans humidifier. The bottom bunk does have a step at the head end where a cpap machine could be placed. From that location, an extension cord might be needed.

And speaking of outlets, the one outlet is kind of recessed such that odd shaped plugs may not fit. If more than one thing at a time needs to be plugged in or something with an odd shape, like a charger maybe, then some sort of multi outlet extension could be useful.

Most of my comments pertain to western Superliner (two level) trains. I have used my cpap on the eastern Viewliner trains, the layout is a little different, there is a commode in the cabin on top of which a machine could be place at the lower bunk and I think there's some kind of shelf at the top bunk. I don't remember the power outlet configuration. Whatever, I was able to use my cpap at the upper bunk.

SewTired wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 31, 2018 6:10 pm

LinkC and others. What was your experience with filling your humidifier? Did you fill it to the regular line or lower than that? I was just thinking of how the train moves and potential for splashing.