Empire Builder
- Thread starter trainfan
- Start date
Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:
- Status
i found this on wikipedia wondering much of the same myself lot of historical and current consist info on there plus some interesting facts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Builders.
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
This time of year, subtract the 807 and 1 coach from the portland section. You'll likely only have 2 P42s.
the_traveler
Engineer
When I was on the EB (I know it was ages ago), it carried 3 P32's east of SPK, with 2 going to SEA and 1 going to PDX. There were also 2 coaches, 1 sleeper and the SSL going to PDX.
Green Maned Lion
Engineer
It'll still have 3. You need two to get the Seattle section to Seattle. The third does Portland.
Shawn
Service Attendant
Yup, Portland section (rear of train) = 1 P42, 1 Sightseer Lounge, 1 Coach, 1 Sleeper (2 coaches and sometimes 2 sleepers in the peak season)
Seattle Section = 1 Baggage, 1 Transition Sleeper, 1 Sleeper, 1 Diner, 2-3 Coaches (usually 4 coaches and 2 sleepers in peak season)
Usually continues east with all 3 P42's...At least when I was on it on Dec 30 it did and the videos on youtube after that seem to confirm its a common practice now.
Seattle Section = 1 Baggage, 1 Transition Sleeper, 1 Sleeper, 1 Diner, 2-3 Coaches (usually 4 coaches and 2 sleepers in peak season)
Usually continues east with all 3 P42's...At least when I was on it on Dec 30 it did and the videos on youtube after that seem to confirm its a common practice now.
Seattle usually has two sleepers, not one.
ALC Rail Writer
Engineer
Well I have taken the EB in summer when they had an extra Portland coach and the 807 and we only ran with two P42s.
Whether it be during the winter when the 27 train has one sleeper or in peak periods where it has two, more often than not, I see deluxe bedroom availability challenges (and many times no sleeper space at all); likley because the 27 is the connection to southbound CS 11. I am not lobbying to take one of the two train 7 Seattle sleepers and make it a part of the 27 consist, but 27 could somehow use more sleeper capacity on a large majority of trips.
cpamtfan
OBS Chief
I think the train usually is supposed to carry two P42s all the way from Chicago to Seattle, and one kept in Spokane for the Portland section.
cpamtfan-Peter
cpamtfan-Peter
The reason I asked the question was I did see a Jan 09 u-tube with 3 p-42s but I got a little confused on the
rest of the consist :blink: I did (I think see a superliner 2 sleeper
) which I didnt think the EB wassupposed to have!
Trainfan
the_traveler
Engineer
When I was on, it has 3 P42's all the way from CHI-SPK.
When I lived along the Builder route, most of the time it carried only 2 P42's. Sometimes it has 3 but almost always two.
Then Baggage, Trans, Sleeper, Sleeper, Diner, Coach, Coach, Lounge, Coach, Coach, Sleeper.
Then Baggage, Trans, Sleeper, Sleeper, Diner, Coach, Coach, Lounge, Coach, Coach, Sleeper.
Aloha
This picture from July shows 3, I think we had 2 departing Seattle, from the picture I might be able to figure out what station this is.
Looks like the fragrant delights of Havre?
Here is my triple EB traction shot!
http://50031.fotopic.net/p54870106.html
cpamtfan
OBS Chief
Aloha
This picture from July shows 3, I think we had 2 departing Seattle, from the picture I might be able to figure out what station this is.
That can't be this July, the front two locomotives are in the original Phase 5. No engines have been in that scheme for a few years.
cpamtfan-Peter
Aloha PeterAloha
This picture from July shows 3, I think we had 2 departing Seattle, from the picture I might be able to figure out what station this is.
That can't be this July, the front two locomotives are in the original Phase 5. No engines have been in that scheme for a few years.
cpamtfan-Peter
The time recorded by the camera is July 7, 2001 at 9:06 HST so adding the time zone difference the earlier comment is correct that it is in Haver, Mt. The only reason I said originally July was to set the trip as a summer one that was probably heaver than a winter/off season, trip
I am puzzled about what Phase 5 means, There is so little difference between the two different positions of the strip and color difference below that stripe that it seems funny to consider that a phase change unless that also shows something I am missing.
Ispolkom
Engineer
Ryan
Court Jester
Wow, that's a rough looking train...
Rough looking aren't the words I would choose. And to see a California engine in all that snow gives me the shivers also.
Aloha
Eric
Aloha
Eric
Eric,
I could be wrong, but that looks like a Cascades engine trailing the one Amtrak P42, not a California engine. I'm pretty sure that's a green stripe on that engine, which would be a Cascades' trademark.
Aloha
Alan, I went back and looked at the picture again and I think you are correct. There are some other differences in basic shape if one looks more carefully than I did the first time.
Mahalo
Eric
ALL you would have do to top it off would be replace a couple of superliner coachs with Horizon cars!!!! :lol:
Trainfan
Green Maned Lion
Engineer
YouTube disagrees. Recent runs of the EB has one sleeper on each section and a transition sleeper on the Seattle section.
I suspect that Amtrak losing service of 5 Superliner Sleepers this year has something to do- according to OTOL's revised numbers, over the course of '08 5 Superliner Sleepers (3 SIs and 2 SIIs) have been taken off the active roster.
- Status
