Consist update for 21/22

[Steve4031]

I am riding 21 now from Chicago to stl. Interesting consist.

Engine

Baggage

Sleeper 2132

Coach

Coach

Lounge

Diner

Coach

Coach chi-lax

Sleeper 2130 chi-lax

Coach chi-ftw

Coach chi-stl

This is per the brakeman who I asked.

I don't recall a Chicago-fort worth coach.

 

[TinCan782]

I am riding 21 now from Chicago to stl. Interesting consist.

Engine

Baggage

Sleeper 2132

Coach

Coach

Lounge

Diner

Coach

Coach chi-lax

Sleeper 2130 chi-lax

Coach chi-ftw

Coach chi-stl

This is per the brakeman who I asked.

I don't recall a Chicago-fort worth coach.

Yea, I seen the STL coach on 22, haven't encountered a FTW coach.

 

[KnightRail]

I don't recall a Chicago-fort worth coach.

It's for a swap with a coach on the Heartland Flyer. A coach on the Flyer set needs to go to Chicago and that is its replacement.

 

[Steve4031]

Oh that makes sense. Then they can service the flyer cars.

 

[Lonestar648]

This is the consist Amtrak ran for while last summer with the LA Coach and Sleeper on the rear, and the SSL and DC reversed.

 

[chakk]

One engine pulling 11 Cars?

 

[2sk21]

One engine pulling 11 Cars?

I have wondered about this too - I guess there are no sever grades on this route?

 

[Trailrider1951]

One engine pulling 11 Cars?

I have wondered about this too - I guess there are no sever grades on this route?

No real grades at all, the Texas Eagle route between Chicago and San Antonio is pretty flat, with any hills seen in the distance.

 

[Bob Dylan]

While the terrain may be mostly flat without any serious grades between CHI and SAS, the Eagles travel through some desolate country between Temple and Ft Worth and in Arkansas and Missouri, and expierences extreme heat in the Summer with a not very impressive P-42 failure rate.

This train should ALWAYS travel with 2 Engines in the opinions of most people that ride it often as well as the Onboard Crews.

 

[Steve4031]

It struggled to accelerate imho. I'm no expert but it sure felt sluggish. It took longer than usual to get up to speed. I kept thinking about chargers and how they would do with 11 cars.

 

[Lonestar648]

Increasing maintenance issues, Amtrak management decisions and planning, and Congressional kick the bucket policy, leave the crew with running a train with no margin for degradation of engine performance. Amtrak Management and Congress just assume nothing bad will happen.