No Sightseer Lounge on California Zephyr #6 (9)

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crescent-zephyr said:
And you’d be writing up that you knowingly ran a train that had un-authorized repair to the brakes. Better to just say nothing.
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Ouch.

What a way to run a railroad. Some railroads are doing no-fault reporting. NJ is amazed the number of times the crews open the doors on the wrong side of the train.
 
crescent-zephyr said:
And you’d be writing up that you knowingly ran a train that had un-authorized repair to the brakes. Better to just say nothing.
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They had to at least submit a delay report, the whole thing took over an hour. I've always wondered what they actually said on that.

PS, no one in the crew sounded the least bit fazed that the air brake line had been duct taped, or that it had fallen off. It was "oh well, some duct tape came off. Who has more duct tape?"

When the conductor thought some stoner big-holed his train, he sounded like he was ready to spit nails. Duct tape on the brake line? No biggie. Although they clearly didn't want to let CP in on it.
 
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Our next Amtrak trip will be on the California Zephyr. We will be in car 531, room D. Is there anyway to know what side of the train that will be on from Chi to Emy? I hear the right side is the best for sights. If Im not on the right side is there a way to get Amtrak to switch us to that side?
 
crescent-zephyr said:
Storage is not the problem.
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Right on - sort of. Management mental process storage IS the problem.

Someone suggested using the baggage car - a possibility

Someone suggested replenishing enroute. This could be done IF MANAGEMENT wanted to do it. They don't.

Let's say some food went bad or refrigerant storage had a mechanical problem. Management could arrange for food to be delivered.

The problem is that management doesn't view running out of food and losing the chance to make additional money or not being able to provide excellent service as important.
 
Keith1951 said:
Our next Amtrak trip will be on the California Zephyr. We will be in car 531, room D. Is there anyway to know what side of the train that will be on from Chi to Emy? I hear the right side is the best for sights. If Im not on the right side is there a way to get Amtrak to switch us to that side?
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Your in a bedroom so no way of change sides, or knowing which side your window is on. That said leave your door/curtain open will allow you see out the other side quite nicely. Don’t stress yourself.
 
Keith1951 said:
Our next Amtrak trip will be on the California Zephyr. We will be in car 531, room D. Is there anyway to know what side of the train that will be on from Chi to Emy? I hear the right side is the best for sights. If Im not on the right side is there a way to get Amtrak to switch us to that side?
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No way to know in advance until you see the consist. Superliner sleepers can run either end forward and do.

As just-thinking-51 pointed out, bedrooms are all on one side anyway. The only way you could switch sides is if the sleepers were oriented in opposite directions, which does happen with some frequency. Then you see if they would switch you to the other car.

All would have to take place at boarding or onboard. No way to predict in advance.
 
Another quick question on the Zephyr, going westbound, which side of the train provides the best view of the abandoned track 1, with the snowsheds, and fire watch shelter, etc? Thanks!
 
right but i remember the last time i rode almost a decade ago there was a distant view of the snowshed/chinese wall from lower down but couldnt remember which side the volunteer pointed.
 
Wouldn't it have made a bit of sense to beef long distance service up for retired boomers while they waited for the pandemic to be over? I wonder what the cruise lines did.

I am just joining this conversation and am appalled by what I am hearing. No sightseer lounge, no food?
 
junebug said:
I am just joining this conversation and am appalled by what I am hearing. No sightseer lounge, no food?
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This was a one-off where a Cross Country Cafe Car substituted for a Sight-seer Lounge.

Now the poor Capitol and Texas Eagle are operating without a lounge at all and one LSA to serve both coach and sleepers. (City is in the same situation but at least has the physical SSL car - not staffed.)
 
AmtrakBlue said:
There are a lot of Amtrak FB groups (run by fans). I don’t recall which one I read about that incident. Probably the Friends of the California Zephyr one.
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I moved to Denver recently, and love the Zephyr. I was planning on taking it to EMY this summer, but it sure sounds like "fun" would be a roll of the dice.
 
junebug said:
I don't know the Rocky Mountaineer! **All ears**
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It's a luxury passenger train which has operated out of Vancouver, BC for years. This year a new route is opening from Denver to Moab, UT, mostly along the same route as the CZ. The train is designed for tourists rather than transportation, and is more expensive but also nicer than Amtrak. The route out of Denver has an overnight in Glenwood Springs on the way with the hotel included. The meals onboard the train are also included. Some of the vacation packages include an extension of the trip by bus to either Salt Lake City or Las Vegas with other stops along the way. The trip is one-way but can be booked in either direction.
 
junebug said:
Wouldn't it have made a bit of sense to beef long distance service up for retired boomers while they waited for the pandemic to be over? I wonder what the cruise lines did.

I am just joining this conversation and am appalled by what I am hearing. No sightseer lounge, no food?
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I just took the zephyr a month ago and it was great fun. And now it has traditional dining too which makes it even better. (I had traditional dining on my return leg back home on the Chief)
 

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