2sk21
Train Attendant
- Joined
- May 17, 2016
- Messages
- 36
I just completed an epic transcontinental journey and will post a proper trip report soon. However I did want to make a comment about the state of the cars.
We took the Capitol Limited from Washington to Chicago and then the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle. We had bedrooms for both legs in the sleepers.
The cars on the Capitol Limited were in excellent condition and felt like a compact but elegant hotel room. The condition of the sleeping cars on the Empire builder left a lot to be desired. Not only was the interior shabby but there was a flat spot on one of the wheels which resulted in an annoying noise. I took the following photo when we were leaving Chicago:
Note the "vacuum leak" lamp was lit. I was a bit concerned about this and sure enough the sleeping car attendant told us on the second day that the toilets were out of action. Thankfully, by some heroic patchwork, she was able to keep them operational until we got to Seattle. [Let me offer my praise to Veronica Sobel, our SCA who saved the situation for us]
In any case, the cars on the Empire Builder are in dire need of refurbishment. Their age is really showing. I saw a build date of 1976 on the builders plate on one of the trucks.
We took the Capitol Limited from Washington to Chicago and then the Empire Builder from Chicago to Seattle. We had bedrooms for both legs in the sleepers.
The cars on the Capitol Limited were in excellent condition and felt like a compact but elegant hotel room. The condition of the sleeping cars on the Empire builder left a lot to be desired. Not only was the interior shabby but there was a flat spot on one of the wheels which resulted in an annoying noise. I took the following photo when we were leaving Chicago:
Note the "vacuum leak" lamp was lit. I was a bit concerned about this and sure enough the sleeping car attendant told us on the second day that the toilets were out of action. Thankfully, by some heroic patchwork, she was able to keep them operational until we got to Seattle. [Let me offer my praise to Veronica Sobel, our SCA who saved the situation for us]
In any case, the cars on the Empire Builder are in dire need of refurbishment. Their age is really showing. I saw a build date of 1976 on the builders plate on one of the trucks.
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