Empire Builder with no Sightseer Lounge

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Amtrak is a transportation company, not a tourist train. They got you from Chicago to Seattle, which is what they supposed to do. Remember, taxpayers help fund Amtrak. I certainly do not want my taxes funding a tourist train.

I suspect the sightseer lounge car was "bad ordered" at the last minute - the car was not road worthy and they did not have another one available.
As others said, you could ask for some compensation, but they will not, and should not be expected to, refund your fare. They will probably offer you a small voucher for future use.
Amtrak advertises its “experience” on its website, specifically stating that “it’s about more than just getting from place to place” and describing on-board amenities.
Amtrak advertises amenities including dining cars and lounges. I’m not sure how a lounge makes a train a tourist train. All the classic long distance trains offered multiple types of lounge cars. They were definitely not tourist trains.
Even the commuter railroad Metro-North had lounges until recently.
 
There you have Amtrak's so-called managment and their inability to manage or even give a damn. Their mindset is running an internet bus company on steel wheels.
This sounds like me complaining to myself when Amtrak isn't giving me what I want. If I happen to glance at a map I notice the dozens & dozens of trains Amtrak is running at that moment with all the crews involved over impossibly huge distances with difficult operational constraints. Then I cut them some slack. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
This sounds like me complaining to myself when Amtrak isn't giving me what I want. If I happen to glance at a map I notice the dozens & dozens of trains Amtrak is running at that moment with all the crews involved over impossibly huge distances with difficult operational constraints. Then I cut them some slack. 🤷🏻‍♂️
Airlines run operations that have a lot more employees, customers, destinations and moving parts and they seem to manage. There is no “impossibly huge distance” in the US; railroads have covered it since 1869.
 
I agree 100% with those who say the Lounge and Decent actual diner is part of any long distance train of merit. You might as well take the bus if you have no where to go but a window seat in your room or chair car. The lounge was a place to relax , perhaps as suggested have a working bar for drinks as in days past. There should be an investigation in to why the long distance services are being reduced to near nothing so far as equipment goes while the east coast gets upgrades, new equipment, and faster services. I know several long time rail patrons who were so upset by their recent experiences on long distance that they refuse to ride any longer.. I have been in the same space since the disaster of a meal we had on the City of New Orleans probably 3 years ago by now. I would like to see the board members severed the same nasty sandwich the gave us, its the first meal I left most of on the table. And the last trip I took on Amtrak.
 
So, I'm kind of curious about the Superliner Coach with a snack bar downstairs. Is than an official thing, or was it like a coach-baggage car with a makeshift snack bar set up?
 
So, I'm kind of curious about the Superliner Coach with a snack bar downstairs. Is than an official thing, or was it like a coach-baggage car with a makeshift snack bar set up?
Sounds like a slight step up from the "snack bar coach" on the Penn Central Clockers, a guy with a cardboard box full of drinks and snacks operating out of a seat at the end of a run down P70 coach. :)
 
So, I'm kind of curious about the Superliner Coach with a snack bar downstairs. Is than an official thing, or was it like a coach-baggage car with a makeshift snack bar set up?
Not sure if it was a superliner or an old “hi-level” but as a kid I remember the lower level cafe cars on the Texas eagle when the train used to split. It was that and the old “hi-level” diner-lounges (which became the pacific Parlour cars).

The Pacific Surfliner trains also operate with a lower level cafe.
 
There are some cars set up like this for state supported service. Runs like the Heartland Flyer use this. There's a clip of one in this video.



Wow--never saw that before. Not as good as a full SSL car, but it kind of makes sense for shorter routes, and definitely beats no food service at all. Thanks for sharing.
 
Back in the day they ran in addition to the staffed SSL on some of the western trains. Also keep in mind that the upper service area on the SSL used to be occasionally staffed as well. Different world now.
Yes I remember the upstairs bar being open when I rode the empire builder as a kid. They had snacks up there too, I remember buying m&m’s!
 
I agree 100% with those who say the Lounge and Decent actual diner is part of any long distance train of merit. You might as well take the bus if you have no where to go but a window seat in your room or chair car. The lounge was a place to relax , perhaps as suggested have a working bar for drinks as in days past. There should be an investigation in to why the long distance services are being reduced to near nothing so far as equipment goes while the east coast gets upgrades, new equipment, and faster services. I know several long time rail patrons who were so upset by their recent experiences on long distance that they refuse to ride any longer.. I have been in the same space since the disaster of a meal we had on the City of New Orleans probably 3 years ago by now. I would like to see the board members severed the same nasty sandwich the gave us, its the first meal I left most of on the table. And the last trip I took on Amtrak.
I was about to say that those who seem to imply that its no big deal and in the fine print that "you get what we give you" as acceptable normal operations as fans of Greyhound as thats essentially what Amtrak becomes with only coach car service. They continue to take away one piece at a time to see what people are willing to put up with and it seems that enough are ok with reduced services for the prices we pay that Amtraks experiment with barebonesing the western LD trains seems successful.

They should refund some of the price of tickets on trains where they take equipment away as that equipment being present, operating and staffed is supposedly included in the price of that ticket. Taking the SSL away should net you like $100 refund or some sort of compensation at a minimum. I just got back from a trip of four trains and the three that had the SSL were usually fully utilized.
 
Yes, I would sure try for some compensation. I would be hella disappointed if I rode the EB and it had no SSL. Been on that train a few times and have spent hours in the SSL car, watching America go by; that's definitely a big part of the experience!
I so agree-one of the purpose of taking the EB & CZ is the view and access with an observation car-I know someone will correct me for using the wrong words but this is on my bucket list for next year before I die. I would be devastated and would have expected Amtrak to be notified in advance so I could change my plans.
 
I so agree-one of the purpose of taking the EB & CZ is the view and access with an observation car-I know someone will correct me for using the wrong words but this is on my bucket list for next year before I die. I would be devastated and would have expected Amtrak to be notified in advance so I could change my plans.
Almost by definition, you would not be notified in advance if a Builder departure didn't have Sightseer. Since it is a regular assignment, the lack of a Sightseer would almost certainly be due to a last minute mechanical fault. Amtrak's inventory of operational Sightseers is thin and there generally no protection Sightseers available. If a car is bad ordered, it'll be pulled from that day's consist. If you're lucky they may sub in diner/lounge. If unlucky, as this trip was, just a snack coach.

I agree some compensation should be due to those whose train is missing a widely advertised and expected amenity, but you aren't going to get advance notice of a mechanical failure.
 
I remember the days when the Upstairs Bar in the Empire Builder was staffed during the Busy Summer Travel Season.

East of Whitefish. Attendants didn't like that at all, with little sleep between 7 and next day 8. If very late, they would flip back at Havre or Shelby. Boardman killed that cycle fearing food service deficit and Rep Mica.
 
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Almost by definition, you would not be notified in advance if a Builder departure didn't have Sightseer. Since it is a regular assignment, the lack of a Sightseer would almost certainly be due to a last minute mechanical fault. Amtrak's inventory of operational Sightseers is thin and there generally no protection Sightseers available. If a car is bad ordered, it'll be pulled from that day's consist. If you're lucky they may sub in diner/lounge. If unlucky, as this trip was, just a snack coach.

I agree some compensation should be due to those whose train is missing a widely advertised and expected amenity, but you aren't going to get advance notice of a mechanical failure.
Thanks for offering reasons as to why this may happen. I did not think of that. I would still be disappointed but you helped me to understand what may have happened.
 
Sounds like a slight step up from the "snack bar coach" on the Penn Central Clockers, a guy with a cardboard box full of drinks and snacks operating out of a seat at the end of a run down P70 coach. :)
I recall those too, but in fairness, the Penn Central did have a number of former "Congo Cars" with permanent set-ups at one end of the snack bar coaches offering "Hot-Cold Food and Beverages", on most of its "corridor trains".
 
I recall those too, but in fairness, the Penn Central did have a number of former "Congo Cars" with permanent set-ups at one end of the snack bar coaches offering "Hot-Cold Food and Beverages", on most of its "corridor trains".
Makes sense as a corridor train rated higher than a clocker which was only 1 step up from a commuter local.
 
I always love how Amtrak touts the amenities of its long distance trains and what a superior experience they provide but when things fall down, they revert to being just another transportation service. "We got you there didn't we?"
In fairness I have never gotten that response or anything close to it when complaining about an incident to Amtrak CR - I have never once not gotten a full refund or future travel voucher including for minor stuff I decided to complain about. Amtrak is far from perfect and has its fair share of problems but they actually usually are pretty good after the fact when it comes to compensation.
 
In fairness I have never gotten that response or anything close to it when complaining about an incident to Amtrak CR - I have never once not gotten a full refund or future travel voucher including for minor stuff I decided to complain about. Amtrak is far from perfect and has its fair share of problems but they actually usually are pretty good after the fact when it comes to compensation.
That may be your experience but it has not been mine.
 
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