Improvements To NEC Services

[AlanB]

But while I'm at it, here's another. Assuming they have not been scrapped, there are two or three Viewliner prototypes at Bear DE just sitting. Let's gut them, mechanically bring them up to 2008, and turn them into "Atlantic Palour" cars. The car shells should be fine. The double row of windows would make for sort of an observation car feel. Then let's select one of the two Silver Service trains, and make it an east coast version of the Coast Starlight with upgraded food and the Palour for Sleeper passengers. They would need more than two or three, but you got to start somewhere. Right now, the Silvers seem to be a ride and not much more. Compared to Superliner trains, the single level trains are pretty rag-tag. The so-called "lounge" on the single level LD's is something a tad short of a "lounge car". Having an Atlantic Palour (they can use that name for free: my gift to Amtrak) would be a nice perk. This may be just another idea that has no chance, but daydreaming is fun, and free.

AFAIK two of the prototypes are still at Bear, setup as models for a future version of Viewliner cars. The third was last reported in Beech Grove.

As for not having enough cars, if they ran them on the Lake Shore three would be enough. There would be no spares, so any required inspections, failures, or needed maintenance work would mean that at least one RT would have to run without the lounge.

 

[VentureForth]

So this information came out in the July/August issue of Arrive which means Kummant probably was thinking about this improvement initiatives at least a month or two before.

Has anyone who rides BC on the NEC noticed any real improvements since this was announced?

 

[AKA]

I rode the NER two weeks ago. No big deal what so ever. One small improvement would be to nail the laptop seat hogs. Some heated words were heard form a husband who could not sit with his wife because of this situation. Conductor had to settle it. A woman thought it was OK to take up two seats because she had work to do. She was very put out when she had to give up the seat next to her. A man gave his seat to the husband and took the seat next to the woman. Small victories.

 

[the_traveler]

BTW, for those not fortunate enough to be native Virginians...the correct pronunciation of Staunton is STAN-ton...birthplace of President Woodrow Wilson.

Isn't Staunton where the Statler Brothers are from? And who is/was this Woodrow Wilson guy? (Is that some new band or singer?)

 

[Sam Damon]

However, in the context of the single level Cardinal, it does not have a dome car, and if it did it would not fit into New York Penn Station anymore thus negating the whole purpose of running it with single level equipment.

P42s don't operate into Penn Station either, and somehow they manage to run P42s on the Cardinal west of WAS.

P42s can fit into Penn Station IIRC; however, the Amtrak P42s do not have the escape door in the nose that Metro-North's P32AC-DMs have. Perhaps Dutch can straighten out my memory on this one.

While we're on the subject of "no dome cars into Penn Station", we could point out a single level dome car could be switched out at Washington Union Station. The problem is Amtrak doesn't have the inclination to perform switch movements like the railroads did in the old days.

 

[Sam Damon]

But while I'm at it, here's another. Assuming they have not been scrapped, there are two or three Viewliner prototypes at Bear DE just sitting. Let's gut them, mechanically bring them up to 2008, and turn them into "Atlantic Palour" cars. The car shells should be fine. The double row of windows would make for sort of an observation car feel. Then let's select one of the two Silver Service trains, and make it an east coast version of the Coast Starlight with upgraded food and the Palour for Sleeper passengers. They would need more than two or three, but you got to start somewhere. Right now, the Silvers seem to be a ride and not much more. Compared to Superliner trains, the single level trains are pretty rag-tag. The so-called "lounge" on the single level LD's is something a tad short of a "lounge car". Having an Atlantic Palour (they can use that name for free: my gift to Amtrak) would be a nice perk. This may be just another idea that has no chance, but daydreaming is fun, and free.

Excellent idea, assuming the cash could be found for such a thing. <_<

I sometimes wonder just how much imagination Amtrak management has, or it it the lack of "can-do" spirit?

 

[Guest]

Also think we need more trains on and outside NEC.

What about 2 Palmetto's/Carolinan's a day, with one running as a limited express. Also the Palmetto should be extented to @ least Jacksonville.

Later on MIA-BOS electrification and dedicated high speed track. Certainly possible.!

 

[jis]

P42s can fit into Penn Station IIRC; however, the Amtrak P42s do not have the escape door in the nose that Metro-North's P32AC-DMs have. Perhaps Dutch can straighten out my memory on this one.
While we're on the subject of "no dome cars into Penn Station", we could point out a single level dome car could be switched out at Washington Union Station. The problem is Amtrak doesn't have the inclination to perform switch movements like the railroads did in the old days.

Indeed. P42s occasionally do visit Penn Station on the LSL. They are usually towed in dead from the Empire connection by an AEM-7 or a P32ACDM. On the rare occasions when they make it into Penn Station they come as pinch hitters for missing P32ACDMs in Albany, and on the way out they are parked sufficiently near the open area west of Penn Station to be able to start off and proceed on their own power. They are of course towed in from Sunnyside by electric power.

As for dome cars on Cardinal, actually if sufficient transition sleepers can be found a short Superliner section consisting of a transition sleeper and some other additional Superliner can be tacked on to the Cardinal that is taken off at Washington, thus releasing the Viewliner Sleepers for use on other trains. The question is how much sleeper revenue would be lost in the process. The rest of Cardinal could remain single level and proceed all the way to NYC thus preserving the through coach revenue.

 

[Joel N. Weber II]

But while I'm at it, here's another. Assuming they have not been scrapped, there are two or three Viewliner prototypes at Bear DE just sitting. Let's gut them, mechanically bring them up to 2008, and turn them into "Atlantic Palour" cars. The car shells should be fine. The double row of windows would make for sort of an observation car feel. Then let's select one of the two Silver Service trains, and make it an east coast version of the Coast Starlight with upgraded food and the Palour for Sleeper passengers. They would need more than two or three, but you got to start somewhere.

Spending engineering effort on something that you can only get two or three copies of is an inefficient use of engineering effort, unless it turns out that those actually are valuable as prototypes for the thing that will be built in quantity.

But if you're going to put effort into prototypes, fixing the single level diner quantity problem may be a better place to start than building fancy lounge cars. The Viewliner Diner prototype car should be rebuilt with a better layout.