On our westbound trip we had a 6-hour layover in Chicago, which gave us a chance to take a sightseeing tour. On the eastbound, we lost an engine on the east slope of the Rockies and missed out connection to the Capitol Limited. Amtrak put us up in a hotel and Mrs. RJR and I had a great day in Chicago.
I would avoid lower level bedrooms. View is very limited and to move to another car, you have to climb stairs. I recommend the observation car in the middle of the train as a place to watch the world go by.