Yes, Dick. We have ridden the Crescent to NOL a couple of times and each time the SCA told us to go directly to the diner to have supper. I believe they try to feed the New York passengers earlier or later and save some open spots for people boarding in WAS on their dining reservations. Never had to wait for a table and it is a nice ride across the Potomac in the dining car.Boarding in WAS Southbound at 6:30pm, is dinner served in the diner?
I was going to say the same thing. Coming off the Cardinal and boarding the Crescent in CVS, I was told by the SCA to go right to the Dining Car for dinner. So if CVS is a yes, WAS is a certain yes!If the Crescent is on time there are always patrons still in the diner when I see it stop in Charlottesville at about 8:50pm.
The Conductors that work this train are not New Orleans based to my knowledge, and they definitely don't work the entire length of the trip. To my knowledge it's a WAS crew from WAS-CVS, CLT crew CVS-CLT with a switch at CLT for CLT-ATL, MEI crew ATL-MEI with a switch at MEI for MEI-NOL.What is interesting about the Crescent is that it has a NYC based dining car crew and a NOL based Conductor and SCA crew. You cannot argue that NYC is the culinary capitol of the USA, so perhaps that entered into the thinking, but I must say that NOL has a big cooking culture. There are some great chefs in NOL.. Last time we were on the Crescent, the dining car was serving Crawfish Etoufee. We were told that it was a chefs special selection. NYC chef or not, it was very good.
Café car NOL based.The SCAs and CAs are NOL based. The dining car crew, and I believe the LSA in the cafe car, NYP based. The operating crew - conductors and engineers change over the course of the route.
Dinner from ALX, like WAS, is as soon as one boards and drops one's luggage in their room.
Good to know. Thanks! :hi:Café car NOL based.The SCAs and CAs are NOL based. The dining car crew, and I believe the LSA in the cafe car, NYP based. The operating crew - conductors and engineers change over the course of the route.
Dinner from ALX, like WAS, is as soon as one boards and drops one's luggage in their room.
Isn't most of the food pre-cooked and packed anyway so all the on-train chef does it heat it up and arrange it on a plate?What is interesting about the Crescent is that it has a NYC based dining car crew and a NOL based Conductor and SCA crew. You cannot argue that NYC is the culinary capitol of the USA, so perhaps that entered into the thinking, but I must say that NOL has a big cooking culture. There are some great chefs in NOL.. Last time we were on the Crescent, the dining car was serving Crawfish Etoufee. We were told that it was a chefs special selection. NYC chef or not, it was very good.
BAHAHAHA, oh wait, I better go pee before I continue.....BAHAHAHAHAHA. You cannot argue that NYC is the culinary capitol of the USA,
Touche'! :giggle:The best steak I've ever had on an Amtrak train came out of the diner on the westbound Sunset East bouncing through north Florida one evening in 2002.
We were at the table nearest the serving station and during our meal the chef, a very large man, hoisted himself to the top of the stairs. One of my new friends called out to him and in a mock-quarrelsome voice says "Did you cook this steak?" and the chef says "What about my steak?". My table-mate points to me and says "This guy here just said it was the best steak he has ever eaten on an Amtrak train."
With that the chef breaks into a million dollar grin showing a couple of gold teeth and says "Well, I'm from New Orleans, what did you expect?"
At least on my last trip on the Silver Meteor a few weeks back, the Diner was not closed in Washington during engine change. All that they did was let the folks who were waiting for their steaks know that it would be a few minutes late as without power they cannot cook it. They did serve us dessert while power was out and we continued eating through the engine change. And then power came back and folks got their steaks, and we finished our dessert as we pulled out into the First Street tunnel.I think they close the dining car in WAS for the change over from electric to diesel. After it departs, it opens back up again. Same with the cafe car.
Well I booked our trip to NOL in December in a Roomette using AGR points so I am looking forward for my first trip that I will be on a train greater than 24 hours.
Well, I answered my own question - on the southbound Crescent, dinner is not available to those boarding after 8:30 PM... and the Crescent arrives in Charlottesville at about 8:50 PM.Is dinner available for southbound passengers boarding at Charlottesville, or should we eat first? Thx Bryan
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