Capitol Ltd 30/12 One Loco and no baggage car

[Railroad Bill]

It was reported that the Capitol Ltd 30/12 leaving Chicago this evening had only one locomotive and no baggage car. This was seen as the train passed the cameras at Chesterton, Indiana. Wonder what happened and how they will be handling checked baggage on the train? :unsure:

 

[TylerP42]

It was reported that the Capitol Ltd 30/12 leaving Chicago this evening had only one locomotive and no baggage car. This was seen as the train passed the cameras at Chesterton, Indiana. Wonder what happened and how they will be handling checked baggage on the train? :unsure:

Probably a coach/baggage car.

 

[abcnews]

Last winter at this time it was running with one engine, two Superlinar coaches (Coach / baggage cars), two Sleepers, and a combo lounge & Diner car (CCC). So it had only five Superlinar cars...

I guess if they can temporarily cut the baggage car, Transdorm, and the Sightseer Lounge, they can reduce the weight down to a manageable number that one engine can pull. It's still a great train in it's reduced consist.

 

[swc34]

So is the consist just 5 cars now?

 

[Big Iron]

So is the consist just 5 cars now?

It had a SSL last night. one loco, 2 sleepers, CCC, SSL, 2 coaches.

 

[Thirdrail7]

It should have six cars this year, with the coach/bag/bike combo.

 

[dlagrua]

As for a single engine consist; last summers Cardinal trip (PHL-CHI) in August had four coaches, a baggage car, two sleepers and the cafe car/diner lite . That was eight single level cars with one engine. Apparently one engine can handle a consist this long but I was told that the rate of acceleration is less than with two engines and this extends the travel time. Is it any wonder why the NYP-CHI time is 28 hours on the Cardinal route?

As for the CL, that consist seems to vary considerably. We've traveled on it when there were three sleepers,four coaches a full dining car, baggage car but have seen the short version mentioned here. Amtrak may be trying to match the load to the consist based on historical evidence on ticket sales over time.