Great Dome on Downeaster August 13 - September 18

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I just booked a round trip for this weekend. Going up on the morning run BON-POR, and back in business class, since my return won't have the dome. But business class on the Downeaster is the best business class in the Amtrak system for only a $9 upgrade.
 
saxman said:
I just booked a round trip for this weekend. Going up on the morning run BON-POR, and back in business class, since my return won't have the dome. But business class on the Downeaster is the best business class in the Amtrak system for only a $9 upgrade.
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We're envious Chris! And truer words have not been spoken about Amtrak!
 
Is there any posted schedule, as to the Amtrak lines that get the Great Dome? Granted this isn't so much an issue on the Superliner overnight trains that have the Sightseer Lounge, but it'd be nice if once in a while that the Midwest regional trains got use of this dome. Seems like I missed a recent opportunity to ride it while this dome car was running on the Pere Marquette, sigh.

I guess this is based on info that's posted on the Amtrak site, as to how someone was figuring out which Amtrak lines(and prob mostly the regional trains) got use of the Great Dome?
 
I believe dome cars were used where there was interesting scenery to behold, most in the West, but there were a few in the east as well. The problem with the midwest scenery is corn; LOTS of corn! :)
 
Dome cars were really used to attract riders to the rails more of a marketing tool. Notable dome car trains in the Midwest the Wabash Blue Bird had I want to say four domes(Chicago-St Louis) the Denver Zephyr (Chicago-Denver), and the Morning and Afternoon Zephyr (Chicago-St Paul). Along with the Milwaukee Road which ran domes on the morning and afternoon Hiawatha (Chicago-St Paul)
 
dogbert617 said:
Is there any posted schedule, as to the Amtrak lines that get the Great Dome? Granted this isn't so much an issue on the Superliner overnight trains that have the Sightseer Lounge, but it'd be nice if once in a while that the Midwest regional trains got use of this dome. Seems like I missed a recent opportunity to ride it while this dome car was running on the Pere Marquette, sigh.

I guess this is based on info that's posted on the Amtrak site, as to how someone was figuring out which Amtrak lines(and prob mostly the regional trains) got use of the Great Dome?
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I don't believe there is a set schedule, or at least not one available publicly, other than often being operated on the Adirondack in the autumn. But in years past it has operated on routes in the Midwest, including the Hiawatha and Lincoln.
 
My first ride as a kid in a Dome Car was on the Mopac Texas Eagle between Austin and St. Louis.

Even though I had a Roomette, I spent most of my time in the Dome Car before and after Dinner, even though it became dark shortly after Taylor on the way through East Texas.

I finally went to sleep after Midnight somewhere in Arkansas ( it was a Full Moon Night).The Attendant woke me up for a great Breakfast in the Diner, and afterwards I enjoyed the View of the Mississippi River with the Sun coming up as we rolled up the East Bank headed for Union Station which was still a Very Busy Major Station!
 
I actually forgot two other dome car operators. The Illinois Central during the 60s added leased dome sleepers from the Northern Pacific to the consist of the Panama Limited during the winter season only. And the Missouri Pacific operated domes on some of their trains.
 
The surplus of Western dome cars during the winter season was of benefit to some Florida trains as well...

I believe some of them were used on the City of Miami and the South Wind from Chicago.

In addition the seasonal SCL Florida Special used a dome sleeper between Richmond and Miami.

The B&O ran domes from Chicago to Washington. And in its final years of operation, the N&W, as part of an agreement with the ICC allowing them to discontinue some other trains, "upgraded" the Pocahontas with domes it got from its purchase of the Wabash...

The Southern also was a latecomer to running domes, but they ran a dome parlor between Atlanta and New Orleans, as well as a dome coach between Salisbury and Asheville.
 
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Going to be riding the Dome this weekend, but Amtrak will be bustituting the BON-HHL segment because of MBTA trackwork. Bummed that the Dome won't be running the full route, but Amtrak confirmed the dome will still be running on the regularly scheduled trains despite the bustituting.
 
We booked a trip for next Saturday (9/17), that should be running on it's regular schedule.

That said, there are a number of weekends through the Fall where MBTA work on the Merrimack River Bridge will no doubt impact the Downeaster.

The work is not scheduled for the weekend of 9/17, and 9/18, due in part to a request from the group that funds the Downeaster service as there are a number of large events

taking place in Portland that weekend (just try finding a hotel in downtown Portland for 9/17).

http://mbta.com/about_the_mbta/news_events/?id=6442456734&month=&year=

Ken
 
Any news when it will start on the adirondack?

I am riding north next thurs sept 22 and was hoping to catch it before disembarking at Saratoga.
 
Just asked the conductor and he said they are moving the Great Dome to the Adirondack Sept 29- Nov 1
 
We rode up and back yesterday (September 17). I think there were three open seats at one point going north. Very crowded and several obnoxious railfans aboard. Good narration and talk from Fred Smith the car host. Smaller crowds going south and a lot nicer.

Hoping for 10031 to come back to the Hiawatha for TG. Also hoping rumors it will be on the Cardinal again are true. Probably a long shot.
 
Likewise we were on the 9:25 am, out of North Station on Saturday (9/17) for one of our regular day trips to Portland.

This is a very popular train year round, and as usual it was sold out.

The Dome was opened just after the Anderson stop, and there was a mad dash for it, the Lead Conductor announced ground rules in advance, but as the prior posted mentioned

there was a contingent of obnoxious, and I'll ad socially deficient, rail fans that refused to leave the dome to allow others to enjoy it.

We did ride it from before the Wells station, and into Portland, and that is a beautiful stretch from the ocean views at Old Orchard Beach and the Salt Marshes just before Portland.

The car itself is a treat to ride, and I'll add if you have a chance to experience it do so, the reality is the car is old, and you don't know how long it will last before it has to

be withdrawn from service.
 
Nice shots, thanks for posting them!

Curious about "the rules"...

Is there a time limit for occupancy? If they have, why not enforced?
 
railiner said:
Nice shots, thanks for posting them!

Curious about "the rules"...

Is there a time limit for occupancy? If they have, why not enforced?
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When I ride there was no time limit but it was announced that the dome was for temporary seating and to leave your luggage and seat check in the coaches.
The dome was never more than half full on a sold out train during my trip so I gladly sat up there the entire time. If it has been full and people were looking for seats I would have moved.
 
railiner said:
Nice shots, thanks for posting them!

Curious about "the rules"...

Is there a time limit for occupancy? If they have, why not enforced?
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On the Saturday trip we sadly had a group of rail fans that were just plain rude.

The "rules" are that the dome is not your regular seat, and everyone is invited to use it, and then allow other passengers time to enjoy it.

There was a group of about 8 people from our coach who simply refused to leave the dome and it made the conductor look bad.

My favorite was the guy with a book no less, who claimed he was keeping his seat to show Amtrak there was a high demand for the dome, needless to say

what a jerk.

A solution for next year if we are lucky enough to get it back for the summer, is for the Northern New England Rail Authority (the organization that funds, and sets

the schedule for the Downeaster) to take charge of the dome, and sell specific premium class seats for it.

Ken
 
Railfans especially young railfans are a really rough demographic to deal with. And I hate to say this, especially on a train forum. I've worked over fifteen thousand miles on steam excursions, and other rare millage trips. And they are some of the rudest passengers we have. There are several that are good as well but the bad ones ruin their reputation.

I've had one person with a video camera come from coach into a first class car to interview passengers for his YouTube video. And my job was to remove him from first class. And he gave me so much static. Then he tried to interview me and I decline all interviews without permission of my boss being granted. And he said "what this isn't special to you. Would you rather be home playing call of duty".

And as everyone knows on NS excursions all Dutch doors are to be closed. I've had them open the top half. And then say they are allowed at other railroads. And they proceed to argue for five minutes and go sit down. And usually they reopen it as soon as I walk away. They also tell me how to do my job even though they don't actually know what my job is.

Some railfans in that age group are fantastic. And will talk to me and not at me. And they ask respectful questions. And the bad ones make the good ones look bad and I really hate to generalize. But I hate when I see the young railfans when they board.

The older ones are more likely to be nicer, and more mature. But there are some. Then there are the total foamers who wear go pros on hard hats while on board.

And I'm generally a really nice OBS chief and if I see a family that is in coach and wants to see the dome. I'll escort them to the dome to see it. And if I see a nice young railfan I'll do the same thing. I feel the best way to sell first class is to see what it looks like. So I'm more then happy if I have the time to lead tours to coach passengers especially families with young children.
 
peconicstation said:
sell specific premium class seats for it
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Agree. It would generate more revenue and those 1st to purchase would be 1st to guarante a seat. Can't fault people for wanting to ride the length of their trip in the dome. Who wants to travel a few hundred miles to Maine or New York for the sole purpose of getting to ride the dome only to find it at capacity or only getting to do so for part of the trip.
 
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