When I purchased a folder 3 years ago, I made a practice of carrying this document with me. But after traveling all over the country via Amtrak with the folder, I haven't found it to be necessary.

However, in view of the recent change in checked baggage policy, I did double check the folder policy at http://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard. It hasn't changed.

One comment about the policy I linked to. It states: "Folding bicycles may be brought aboard certain passenger cars as carry-on baggage", adding the phrase "aboard certain passenger cars", with out being specific. Viewliner (single level) sleeping cars can be a problem. They don't have community luggage racks; and folders won't fit in the room. But I've always been able to sneak my bike into the community rack in an adjacent coach.

This is pretty close to the rule Amtrak veterans state: if you can schlep it on board without causing a problem, you are OK. But if there is nowhere to put the luggage, it can be a problem.

Last winter my wife and I were boarding the California Zephyr in Chicago for the last leg of a trip home from Florida. We each had an "airline legal" suitcase containing, unbeknownst to anyone else, folding bikes. Even though we had boarded first due to our senior citizen status, the coach luggage rack was already full. Someone had taken advantage of red cap service to board early with 3 large tupperware containers, taking up all the space. The conductor started to kick us off but relented. Ironically, the 62 total inches was less than Amtrak's total inches, but one dimension was 2 inches bigger than one of Amtrak's dimensions. So I guess the conductor was technically correct.