Lake Shore Limited discussion

[rs9]

Whenever I view the webcam at Elkhart, there is just one coach and one sleeper designated 448 or 449. Plus a cafe car. That's it between Boston and Albany. Is there that low of a ridership demand? Seems a waste of resources, and adds time to the overall trip due to the time spent in Albany switching.

Would not a coach-only service (with one of the coaches being a hybrid coach/cafe) be sufficient and also a better idea. Boston sleeper pax could switch to or from a sleeper west of Albany.

448/449 is one coach during the winter, but for the rest of the year it is 2 coaches. Right now, the coaches seem to be pretty full on a regular basis between Boston and Albany, from some Amtrak website sample bookings.

For the sleeper, I would keep in mind that the 448/449 sleeper is also capacity for those traveling between Chicago and Albany and vice versa, which may mean an empty sleeper making the ALB-NYP run.

Keep in mind as well that the LSL is more of a corridor train pretending to be a long distance train. When I ride CHI-ROC, I'm always in the 448 cars. Those cars pick up a good deal of Boston bound passengers as the train heads eastbound through NY state.

 

[jis]

Would not a coach-only service (with one of the coaches being a hybrid coach/cafe) be sufficient and also a better idea. Boston sleeper pax could switch to or from a sleeper west of Albany.

It boggles my mind that given half a chance, otherwise well meaning rail aficionados try to figure out how to reduce or downgrade service for someone somewhere apparently just because change is good

 

[fdaley]

I don't recall ever seeing a single-coach version of 448/449 before the winter of 2019-20, but that does now seem to be the standard winter consist. The coach ridership on both legs seems to really have suffered thanks to the vastly downgraded food service plus the effects of the pandemic. The Boston leg used to run year-round with three coaches until the mid-1990s, and in the years after that the two remaining coaches were regularly packed in my experience on every trip, at least on the portion between Albany and Springfield.

When I saw 449 at East Chatham NY on Tuesday, it had two coaches, so it appears this winter's paring down of the consist has ended.

 

[joelkfla]

I don't recall ever seeing a single-coach version of 448/449 before the winter of 2019-20, but that does now seem to be the standard winter consist. The coach ridership on both legs seems to really have suffered thanks to the vastly downgraded food service plus the effects of the pandemic. The Boston leg used to run year-round with three coaches until the mid-1990s, and in the years after that the two remaining coaches were regularly packed in my experience on every trip, at least on the portion between Albany and Springfield.

When I saw 449 at East Chatham NY on Tuesday, it had two coaches, so it appears this winter's paring down of the consist has ended.

Confirmed on Westfield MA railcam for both 448 & 449 today.

 

[printman2000]

Anyone had eyes on 49 lately and know if the second sleeper (4912) has been a new Viewliner?

 

[zephyr17]

Well, the 12 was a V II in November 2021 and November 2022 when I rode it.

 

[IAlam]

As of late no, but I’ve never been on that train without seeing the second sleeper be a Viewliner II 4912/4812. From my experience most trains that use Viewliner II’s will have the Viewliner II at the back of the train.

Anyone had eyes on 49 lately and know if the second sleeper (4912) has been a new Viewliner?

 

[joelkfla]

Anyone had eyes on 49 lately and know if the second sleeper (4912) has been a new Viewliner?

It normally is.

 

[NYP2NFL01]

Anyone had eyes on 49 lately and know if the second sleeper (4912) has been a new Viewliner?

4912 was a Viewliner II last August when I was onboard the Lake Shore LTD. Thanks!

 

[jis]

Normally the 12 car is Viewliner II on the LSL.

 

[Bostontoallpoints]

I still preferred the heritage sleepers on the Lake Shore limited. I know they couldn't last forever but I thought the Viewliner was a downgrade in comfort and amenities. The ViewlinerII is a step-up but still not close to the level of the Pullman.

 

[Bonser]

Normally the 12 car is Viewliner II on the LSL.

Is the 4811 car usually a Viewliner 1?

 

[joelkfla]

Is the 4811 car usually a Viewliner 1?

Yes.

4811 - VL 1
4812 - VL 2
4820 - VL 1

... and same for train 49.

 

[zephyr17]

Yes.

4811 - VL 1
4812 - VL 2
4820 - VL 1

... and same for train 49.

Although I lucked out and got a VL 2 on 4911 on my last trip on 11/12/22.

 

[B&Ofan]

I can also confirm that 4812 was a VL2 early January 2023

 

[NYP2NFL01]

Amtrak train consists vary from time to time based upon equipment availability. In September 2021 I took the Silver Star, where normally 9110 is a Viewliner 1 and 9111 is a Viewliner 2. However, on my trip BOTH sleepers were Viewliner 1.

 

[jis]

Amtrak train consists vary from time to time based upon equipment availability. In September 2021 I took the Silver Star, where normally 9110 is a Viewliner 1 and 9111 is a Viewliner 2. However, on my trip BOTH sleepers were Viewliner 1.

There is a normal consist for each train. Then there are exceptions due to short substitution due to bad ordered equipment. You happened to be on a train with a substitution.

 

[NYP2NFL01]

Yep, It was definitely a variation from the normal consist.

 

[Manny T]

Anyone had eyes on 49 lately and know if the second sleeper (4912) has been a new Viewliner?

I was riding in Bedroom B of 4912 last week and it was a Viewliner II. I had an extremely bad experience both with the SCA and sound infiltrating into the bedroom from the HVAC and would not accept that room again.

 

[printman2000]

On 49 now. The 12 sleeper is a VL1.
Probably my only chance for riding a VL2 anytime in the near future. Oh well.

 

[joelkfla]

On 49 now. The 12 sleeper is a VL1.
Probably my only chance for riding a VL2 anytime in the near future. Oh well.

Looks like they're running the VL2 to Boston now!

Yesterday's #49 had 2 Boston sleepers, the first a VL1, and the 2nd a VL2. And yesterday's #48 had just 1 Boston sleeper; it was also a VL2. Both trains had 2 VL1's on the NYP section.

 

[printman2000]

Boston sleeper is a VL2! Of course.

 

[B&Ofan]

I was on 449 yesterday/ this morning and can confirm a VLII on the Boston section, 2 NY coaches. The SCA says the VLII will be standard on the Boston section.


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[mgkeihl]

I didn't ask anyone but was also on a viewliner 2 Chicago to Rochester on April 22. On the 11th of April it was not. I thought it was much nicer. I had also gone round trip to Seattle and the 2 was much, much nicer!!! Shout out to Ray on the way home!

 

[jis]

48/49 will have two V1s and 448/449 will have one V2 through sometime in September except for possible occasional bad order related temporary changes