Same with how old United DC-8s were much more comfortable than today's United A320s. Those planes had just as much pitch as Amtrak's Amfleet Is, even in Coach! Though the seats were narrower.I disagree. Any SCA who claims that a CCC is "better" than a 1950's era PPC is not the smartest of the bunch. It's like saying a Greyhound bus is better for going cross country than your private car because it carries more people!
I agree. We had a SSL substituting for the PPC on our trip on #14 a couple of months ago. While we were disappointed, we were happy to have the SSL instead of a CCC. The crew still referred to it as "Parlour Car" and while meals were available, they were brought in from the regular diner. It is still quite nice to have a SSL serving as a de facto first class lounge, in our experience. Maybe the next Super order would include some type of upgraded lounge car for this type use.
That's a fond memory. I loved travelling on DC-8s, and watching them, particularly the "stretched" version. They weren't much fun to work in down below, though, with that l-o-n-g fuselage making loading a challenge.Same with how old United DC-8s were much more comfortable than today's United A320s. Those planes had just as much pitch as Amtrak's Amfleet Is, even in Coach! Though the seats were narrower.I disagree. Any SCA who claims that a CCC is "better" than a 1950's era PPC is not the smartest of the bunch. It's like saying a Greyhound bus is better for going cross country than your private car because it carries more people!
Wow that purple chair really looks like something to get all worked over for! :wacko:
I'll be on the CS next month too, and I couldn't agree more with you. While I would like to actually see a PPC, it won't make or break my trip.
Yes, as long as we know what we're searching for...
Thanks for pointing it out!h34r: I didn't. People were so shocked to see it, I guess.There is a reason for that. The Santa Fe Hi-Levels, of which the lounge cars which they made into the PPCs are the last remaining on the Amtrak roster, were the inspiration for the Superliners. The Superliners were designed so they could interoperate with Hi-Levels and through the 80s and early 90s there were many Hi-Level coaches in service on Superliner trains. Before the Superliner II order when Amtrak bought the trans-dorms, the only transition cars there were were Hi-Levels. The Hi-Level diners were rebuilt into diner-lounges that ran on the Desert Wind.
The latest fleet strategy includes 12 parlor cars, which suggests replacement for the Coast Starlight plus one more train. Smart money was on the Empire Builder.
The Auto Train is the only train that still shows movies in the lounge car. And most of the lounge cars on the Auto Train are NOT Sightseer Lounges. There are 1, maybe 2, Sightseer Lounges that were assigned to the Auto Train pool about 7 or 8 years ago, which were specially modified for use on the AT including the smoker's room downstairs. But those SSL's are the backup cars to the normal AT lounge cars, which are converted dining cars.
It's Friday the 13th! I'd say that your luck dictates a lack of a PPC!
You mean the Super 60s? One of my favourite planes!That's a fond memory. I loved travelling on DC-8s, and watching them, particularly the "stretched" version. They weren't much fun to work in down below, though, with that l-o-n-g fuselage making loading a challenge.Same with how old United DC-8s were much more comfortable than today's United A320s. Those planes had just as much pitch as Amtrak's Amfleet Is, even in Coach! Though the seats were narrower.I disagree. Any SCA who claims that a CCC is "better" than a 1950's era PPC is not the smartest of the bunch. It's like saying a Greyhound bus is better for going cross country than your private car because it carries more people!
Swadian, are you like British or something? That's fine and cool and all, but your spelling of favorite makes me wonder?You mean the Super 60s? One of my favourite planes!That's a fond memory. I loved travelling on DC-8s, and watching them, particularly the "stretched" version. They weren't much fun to work in down below, though, with that l-o-n-g fuselage making loading a challenge.Same with how old United DC-8s were much more comfortable than today's United A320s. Those planes had just as much pitch as Amtrak's Amfleet Is, even in Coach! Though the seats were narrower.I disagree. Any SCA who claims that a CCC is "better" than a 1950's era PPC is not the smartest of the bunch. It's like saying a Greyhound bus is better for going cross country than your private car because it carries more people!
That is not a really new policy. As long ago as about 2004, we made a trip on 11 from Seattle to LA without a PPC, just a Dining Car. We were also about 5 hours late. Customer Service only gave us some compensation for the lateness and nothing for the lack of a PPC. They said very explicitly that the PPC was not guaranteed and could not be compensated.
:lol: They did that on two trips I made in 2011 (I think it was 2011, might have been 2010); two PPCs were bad-ordered at the time and the luck of the draw meant that I was on the train without the PPC both ways. But they substituted Sightseer Lounges both times.
Amtrak is short on Sightseer Lounges but very long on CCC; every time I come and go from Chicago there is always a long string of CCCs in the yard outside Union Station.
Or in the unlocked closet in the downstairs bathroom.
Are they making life tolerable in the CCC?
