We just got back from our first train trip in a sleeper car from NYC-Orlando. All in all it was a pretty good experience, but did seem really slow.

The room (deluxe sleeper) was okay, but the shower/bathroom took up way too much space that I would have rather had for the room. We didn't even bother taking showers because it was only one night, and because if you do, then your toilet and bathroom floor are wet for the rest of the trip.

The food was better than standard airline meals, but that's as much good as I can say about it. Compared to normal restaurant food it was relatively poor, and the wait staff was terrible. They must be in a union because any waiter that rude to customers would be fired in a day at any normal restaurant.

We had an exceptional porter on the way down that was like having our own butler. He was always there checking on us, getting us things, and did more than a few favors for us that were above and beyond his duties. But on the way back we had a lazy bad attitude porter that did little more than introduce himself and then vanish for the rest of the trip. I guess its a toss up what you get.

We had only one combined lounge car, but I sat in it for several hours as did others, and nobody was ever asked to leave.

I would say there is no possibility of getting into the engine car; we tried to get my 3 year old trainaholic nephew up there and were told no way since 9/11.

Summary- it was a little too slow, but a good trip in the end, especially for a total cost of 40k miles for 3 of us (and there are no taxes added to free tickets like with airlines)