The Air Force has been flying B-52 bombers that were last built in the '60s - more than 50 years ago. Why? They maintain them. Amtrak's maintenance is not acceptable. I think part of it is that they don't have (or don't use) a good reporting system for issues. Conductors should have a web-connected computer on every train for all maintenance issues. SCAs should be able to use that computer to report problems in their car. Then when the car arrives at its end point, maintenance has a list of issues. I see obvious car problems that have likely existed for months or years and just probably never got fixed (or even reported).
I had a very similar bathroom door problem on the Coast Starlight (on my way to the gathering last year). I did not get locked in, but the attendants needed a crow bar to open the door. There were no other bedrooms available, so I stayed in my room and did not close my bathroom door for the remainder of the trip. I used duct tape to prevent the door from slamming into the wall between the adjoining bedroom (which made Alan and Grace happy). I received a $500 voucher, which I thought was generous.
Just goes to show how important a good attendant is. Last summer, we were on the shabbiest sleeper I've ever seen. There were stains on the floor, threadbare seats, and a shower with peeling walls and a plugged drain.
a paperback book is also great. after you've read it you can jam it between the connecting bedroom door and the wall so that the door doesn't rattle!
"Mini Macquyvers"? I love it! This needs to be a whole new new thread. "What Macguyver-type solution have you used on Amtrak?"a paperback book is also great. after you've read it you can jam it between the connecting bedroom door and the wall so that the door doesn't rattle!
it occurs to me that we're all pretty awesome (you know i'm right!) that we happily travel like mini macguyver's, because we love amtrak and we love the routes. i cannot imagine people being willing to duct tape their airline seat or pack windex to clean the windows!
I don't know... Duct tape, used correctly, might help fix our political system. :unsure:
Amtrak has downgraded some of what can be done in New Orleans in terms of maintenance, so it is possible that's not a repair that they can make there anymore. Or it could be a result of another problem that plagues a few shops, that is pretend to fix it or give it the quick fix and then hope that it breaks again enroute meaning that it hits someone else's budget and not mine.
Not only would it cost too much, I suspect that type of repair could require two people and a partial disassembly of the door. That would not be something that you could, or even would, want to do while the car is full passengers, much less the actual room occupied.
B52s don't get used by hundreds of people per years as Amtrak passenger cars do. I spent 4 years in the Air Force and B52s are maintained by professional and Air Force members are the one flying the B52s. If Amtrak had the funding that the Air Force has to maintain B52s, they might be able to maintain cars better. Amtrak does maintain cars. A good example is the heritage Dining Cars, the newest of which is 55 years old in 2012. These cars have been used longer than cars that the private railroads maintained. The private railroads would have likely converted the heritage diner to Maintenance of Way Cars 10 years ago or more.
I assume you missed the comment I had written above. I highlighted it for you. Of course, money is the problem. But my point was that planes and trains can fly or run for long periods if they are well maintained. If not, you have to buy new ones because they get worn out. As a government funded corporation, Amtrak gets little enough for maintenance This is not a point of contention between us. We agree on the point. Maintenance is money well spent but you have to get the money in the first place. And that of course includes funding for spare planes (or cars) so you can pull them out of service to do the maintenance right.
I have found a dime makes a handy screwdriver. On the Lake Shore Limited, I came into a Viewliner and one of the overhead panels had just dropped loose and was hanging by the safety chains, blocking the aisle. After satisfying my curiosity as to what was up there, I put it back in place and used a dime to turn and secure the latch bolts. Problem quickly solved."Mini Macquyvers"? I love it! This needs to be a whole new new thread. "What Macguyver-type solution have you used on Amtrak?"a paperback book is also great. after you've read it you can jam it between the connecting bedroom door and the wall so that the door doesn't rattle!
it occurs to me that we're all pretty awesome (you know i'm right!) that we happily travel like mini macguyver's, because we love amtrak and we love the routes. i cannot imagine people being willing to duct tape their airline seat or pack windex to clean the windows!
Regarding the Superliners, Amtrak doesn't necessarily need new cars. What they need is to routinely refurbish the interiors of their current cars. Last night I was in an early Superliner I refurb (32016, refurbished in August 2004), and it was quite gross. This car doesn't need a refurb with its next overhaul in 20 years; what it needs is a refurbishment now, and in ten years, etc.
This is precisely why the "travel voucher" system is necessary. Otherwise, maintenance only costs, it doesn't pay.
