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Saw on another website/email site Parlours are gone 10/30/06. Anyone confirm this? I know it has to happen eventually but for someone whos taken that train as much as I have, the news %^&*!
No, it doesn't run on those trains. The Parlour car is a 50+ year-old railcar that Amtrak spruced up to run on the Coast Starlight several years ago. It runs as a special lounge car available only to sleeping car passengers and serves snacks, drinks, and other neat things during the journey.What is the Parlor Car??? Is it on the SW Chief or the Lakeshore Limited?
39970: Was in service until arrival in SEA on 9 August. Then shopped for wheel work, and moved back to LAX 19 August. 90 day inspection completed, freon leaks repaired, and shoe holder pin replaced. Reported with b/o air conditioning on 10 September. Car still parked at LAX.
39972: Currently in service with Los Angeles arrival on 8 October.
39973: Last service in January, 2006. Removed from train at KFS for broken pipe. Debris damage repaired at KFS and car returned to LAX on 5 January. Deadhead to BEE on 13 Jan. Currently shown as stored with no work being done.
39974: Last trip terminated at Portland on 24 June. Pending investigation re suspension on 26 June. Moved deadhead to SEA, and back to LAX on July. Reported with b/o air conditioning. Still out of service in Los Angeles.
39975: In service until LAX arrival on 2 October. Currently in LAX for preventive maintenance.
Well that rumor certainly parallels the reality of the Heritage crew dorms, as well as those Amfleets that got mothballed this year. So it may well be more than rumor, sadly.The rumor is, as they're due for any significant maintenance, they're being parked.
Well the real headache is Amtrak's failure to dedicate enough resources and money to keep them running. Amtrak has made things even worse of late, since in the past they used to substitute an extra Sightseer Lounge when a Parlour car was blanked. Now they are basically doing nothing, since setting up the lounge attendant in the A room of a sleeper with a few snacks and drinks hardly compares to having the actual Parlour car.Shame to see them go, but I think I can honestly imagine the headache they may have been to maintain as of late.
The one problem with that plan is that it would be difficult to predict which consist would have it, or whether it will even make it to the end of the month.Allright then, so how many of us are going to fly west after arriving on the last "Metroliner" and ride on the last Parlor Car voyage? j/k!
Silly question time: What is a "kiddie car"?No more parlour cars or kiddie cars as of the new sched change. This is backed up by their omission in the new system timetable.
One Parlour Car is still running at least for now. I'm going to try to ride it this week if I can narrow it down, looks like it leaves LA tomorrow for the 4 day RT to Seattle, I'm shooting for Wed from the bay area down to LA. Let you know what happens..
Thanks Battalion & Alan:A few years back the managers for the Coast Starlight converted 5 Superliner II Coaches to what have been dubbed Kiddie Cars. Basically they removed the seats from the downstairs seating area and turned it into a small play area for kids. I believe the room had board games, room to color, and other such ammenities. Anyone who's traveled with a child (as you full well know Rick) knows that having room for them to be able to move around and just be kids is vital, especially on long train rides. The other added bonus is that this is an environment that has a door so the kids can do as they wish and parents don't have to worry about disturbing fellow passengers.
Technically there is no premium fare for sitting downstairs on a Superliner coach. Because of how Arrow works, sometimes a lower level seat will cost more than an upper level seat, but that doesn't happen often to my knowledge.I was wondering if the conductor would let us sit downstairs on the SW Chief even though we did not pay the fare for the priviledge of sitting down there. There appears to be more room for a kid to be a kid, and fewer passengers to annoy. I'll let y'all know what the conductors say.
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