ScottC4746
OBS Chief
We will be on CZ5 from CHI - EMY on 6 June. Any chance this occasionally seen dome car might make an apperance on that route?
Don't they need the transdorm to get access to the baggage car?Why do they lock it up?
Seems like a cheap opportunity to impress passengers.
Swing the transdorm over to the tail end of the train and bingo.
But, if they used the transdorm car with it they could have access to the superliner equipment.But as others have said, it doesn't work with Superliner equipment. There would be no way to get to the dining car or cafe car, so there would be no food. There would be no way for conductors or other employees to get in or out of the car.Why do they lock it up?
Seems like a cheap opportunity to impress passengers.
Swing the transdorm over to the tail end of the train and bingo.
You're right, I misread the post & have since edited mine. AFAIK, the transdorm is needed where it is - transitioning between the Superliner equipment and the baggage car. So, if you moved the transdorm to the back to provide access to the dome car, you lose access to the baggage car. The transdorm serves a particular purpose where it is.But, if they used the transdorm car with it they could have access to the superliner equipment.But as others have said, it doesn't work with Superliner equipment. There would be no way to get to the dining car or cafe car, so there would be no food. There would be no way for conductors or other employees to get in or out of the car.Why do they lock it up?
Seems like a cheap opportunity to impress passengers.
Swing the transdorm over to the tail end of the train and bingo.
I've been on an ex-Milwaukee Road Super Dome car on the back of the Empire Builder a couple of times, and I didn't find the view forward from the Super Dome that great, even with a couple of single-level cars between us and the first Superliner car. The great advantage of the Super Dome on those trips for me was not the view forward, but that there were a lot fewer passengers in the Super Dome than there usually are in the Sightseer Lounge car.Although the "forward view" on a dome is somewhat limited by Superliner cars, the overall ambiance and stunning view from the dome should not be missed, in-line with Superliner or not. Going 'round curves, you'll still see more, AHEAD, than you would with a regular SSL.
Alas, Amtrak's single dome is rarely used outside of SoCal, and leaf-peeper tours on the Adirondack and Cardinal.
The Milwuakee Road Super Dome is a "poorly" designed Full Length Dome as the seats are too low compared to the lower edge of the windows, limiting the panoramic view. While I have seen pictures and interior diagrams of the 3 main Full Length Domes (MW, ATSF. GN), I have never been in one to compare seating; so I'm just going by what other folks report.I've been on an ex-Milwaukee Road Super Dome car on the back of the Empire Builder a couple of times, and I didn't find the view forward from the Super Dome that great, even with a couple of single-level cars between us and the first Superliner car. The great advantage of the Super Dome on those trips for me was not the view forward, but that there were a lot fewer passengers in the Super Dome than there usually are in the Sightseer Lounge car.Although the "forward view" on a dome is somewhat limited by Superliner cars, the overall ambiance and stunning view from the dome should not be missed, in-line with Superliner or not. Going 'round curves, you'll still see more, AHEAD, than you would with a regular SSL.
Alas, Amtrak's single dome is rarely used outside of SoCal, and leaf-peeper tours on the Adirondack and Cardinal.
I'll admit, though, that my lack of interest in the Super Dome might have had something to do with the presence of the Skytop observation car Cedar Rapids.
I can't say that I noticed much of a difference upstairs between the Super Dome and the ex-Great Northern Great Dome Amtrak still has, but I've only been on the latter car on one Chicago-Washington trip, so probably I'm wrong. I'll grant you that the windows are way too high downstairs on the Super Dome.The Milwuakee Road Super Dome is a "poorly" designed Full Length Dome as the seats are too low compared to the lower edge of the windows, limiting the panoramic view. While I have seen pictures and interior diagrams of the 3 main Full Length Domes (MW, ATSF. GN), I have never been in one to compare seating; so I'm just going by what other folks report.
The problem with the short domes (which are definitely better for viewing) is the limited seating. I found it very hard to get a seat in a dome on the Canadian at any time except dawn.While the forward view is better on the Budd full-length domes (AT&SF "Big Domes", GN "Great Domes") than on the Milwaukee's Super Dome, it still isn't as good as that in a Budd short dome.
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