My mother and I will be traveling from Chicago to San Francisco and have booked a roomette. Is tipping expected? If so, to whom and how much?

Your car attendent should receive a tip. He should pull down your bed in the pm, and up in the am. Some provide you with coffee and such in the morning. They should help with your bags on and off the car. I have tipped $5 per night or more depending on how much above and beyond he has performed his duties.
Also, I have left a cash tip with the dining car staff (since your meals are included with your roomette).

We had a WONDERFUL sleeping-card attendant, and we tipped her especially well. I think we ended up slipping her thirty bucks.

Dining car attendants...oy, if they're good, then tip 20 percent of whatever it would be. If they were absolutely terrible, like they were for most of my trip, then don't tip.

Not trying to scare you -- it's a terrific trip, we loved it -- but don't expect wonderful service in the dining car.

See this thread for details:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...oFatFeet&fid=1

Yes, expected in the restaurant, and by attendant.

I asked other passengers, they tipped $1-3 per meal in the restaurant, and $5 attendant.

My thought would be $20 for the attendant for the distance you're travelling (2 nights) and even though the meals are included in the price of the roomette I tip the dining car server 15-20% based on the listed price; if Red Cap service is used (perhaps only available in Chicago; I don't recollect on the Emeryville end), I'd tip them too.

In Emeryville, if you continue on to San Francisco, and your luggage is checked, they transfer it to the bus on a cart while you're sitting in the bus.

You get your luggage at a bus stop in the city. Nobody ever tips the Amtrak bus driver.

Don't know if they offer individual help with suitcases in Emeryville. Nothing in San Francisco upon arrival.

Thank you so much for your help! I look forward to an interesting trip!