Originally Posted by
indyfabz
An unboxed bike that travels in a true baggage car (as opposed to a dedicated space inside a passenger coach) involves a member of the train crew for loading and unloading. For example, on the Pennsylvanian, pictured above, the passenger lifts the bike up to a crew member (assuming a low plat) who then hangs/stows it. Amtrak calls it “train side checked” service. As far as I know, passengers are not permitted in baggage cars, if only for safety reasons.
“Roll-on” service is where the passenger brings the bike inside a coach and stores it in the designated area.
I agree. The point I was trying to make was independent of bike storage availability in baggage car; If the train has, it's there with you at a small stop. But from a labor standpoint, I think you may be able to get a conductor to pull your luggage and/or bike into the passenger car to get off at a small station, but there may not be service into the baggage car getting on at a small station. This may also be one of the many inconsistencies of Amtrak.
On the train I was on, no bike hooks in the passenger car, and I never looked in the baggage car. My folder just went on the luggage shelves in the passenger car.