LD consist changes

[Acela150]

The SM, SS, and Crescent have had the consist change that have been talked about on AU.

Just for those who are interested and are riding in the next few months.

Steve

 

[Shortline]

The SM, SS, and Crescent have had the consist change that have been talked about on AU.

Just for those who are interested and are riding in the next few months.

Steve

I'm riding the Crescent next week, but frakly haven't been watching-What's the change?

 

[Ryan]

Sleepers and bag on the tail.

 

[Donctor]

Yup, it was updated in the line numbers/consist thread this past weekend.

 

[Shortline]

Yup, it was updated in the line numbers/consist thread this past weekend.

Very good, glad to see that, the farther away from the horn the better!

 

[hhswami]

Something like this>>

 

[chrsjrcj]

Saw 92 in West Palm Beach on Tuesday and Wednesday, both time with 3 sleepers on the rear. Didn't get to count the # of coach cars.

 

[Phoebe Snow]

Yup, it was updated in the line numbers/consist thread this past weekend.

Can you provide a link to this thread?

 

[PRR 60]

Yup, it was updated in the line numbers/consist thread this past weekend.

Can you provide a link to this thread?

The thread is pinned in the Amtrak FAQ forum. The latest update is HERE.

 

[Blackwolf]

Instead of starting up a new thread, I'll tag on with a similar one. I've been noticing that in the last few weeks the Empire Builder has only been operating with one Seattle sleeper. Is this something that normally happens this time of year, due to lower demand?

 

[Donctor]

Instead of starting up a new thread, I'll tag on with a similar one. I've been noticing that in the last few weeks the Empire Builder has only been operating with one Seattle sleeper. Is this something that normally happens this time of year, due to lower demand?

I don't believe it has happened in the past year or two (I could be wrong), but I know that it was a standard seasonal consist change up until a few years ago.

I believe the Starlight has been running with only two sleepers, and that the Southwest Chief has been running only two coaches with some frequency.

 

[johnny.menhennet]

Donctor is correct. I noticed around New Year's in Ventura and last week in LA that the CS only had 2 sleepers, a transdorm, and 3 coaches, rather than 3 normal sleepers and 4 coaches

 

[Blackwolf]

Seems it may be Inventory Management at work, then. I'll be very curious to see if the EB and CS have this reduced consist in two weeks time when traveling on both. The EB portion of our trip is nearly sold out in the Seattle sleeper, and has 5 roomettes and 3 bedrooms left in the Portland sleeper according to AmSnag.

Then again, maybe Amtrak is just getting a number of cars through the FRA inspections right now too? Guesses, guesses!

 

[johnny.menhennet]

I'd hope so!!! Now would be a great time to get all maintenance done. I'd say even more should be done January-February than currently is.

 

[trainviews]

As for the coaches I guess the game is also to have as many as possible available for the Midwest corridor services to relieve the freezing-prone Horizions

 

[printman2000]

Sleepers and bag on the tail.

What is the purpose of putting the baggage on the back end?

 

[Trogdor]

Viewliners have bad ride quality when they're on the rear.

 

[AlanB]

Viewliners have bad ride quality when they're on the rear.

You're also far less likely to have sleeping car passengers wandering into the baggage car than you are coach passengers.

 

[printman2000]

Viewliners have bad ride quality when they're on the rear.

You're also far less likely to have sleeping car passengers wandering into the baggage car than you are coach passengers.

So these are reasons they have the bag on the end? Or just speculations?

They have had sleepers on the rear before, but I do not think they put the bags on the back. Plus you lose your buffer between the passenger cars and the locomotives.

When I was last on the LSL with the bag on the rear, it was locked.

 

[Trogdor]

The ride quality is the reason. Sleepers move to the rear in the winter to make it easier for New York to send the Lake Shore consist down to Miami to thaw out.

In the past, passengers complained about the poor ride quality in the rear Viewliner. Last year, the baggage car was moved to the rear as a trial, and that has become the "new normal" for the winter.

One member laughingly claimed that it was because Amtrak was afraid the cars would break apart due to their old age. That, of course, is completely untrue.

 

[Cho Cho Charlie]

The ride quality is the reason. Sleepers move to the rear in the winter to make it easier for New York to send the Lake Shore consist down to Miami to thaw out.

This winter, it should be just as easy to thaw them out in NY. :giggle: