Silver Star Update

[jis]

The "test" only goes to December.

Upto January 31st actually. Diner is supposed to be restored Feb 1 AFAICT.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

With a new diner?

 

[Ryan]

Doubtful.

 

[jis]

OTOH, if no new Diners are in service by then, the date might get pushed back, if they have still been avoiding doing major overhaul on the old Diners as they come due, in the fond hope of having the new Diners online. Only time will tell.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I guess that blows my theory that this 'experiment' was done because some of the heritage diners are in such bad shape to no longer be road worthy.

 

[The Davy Crockett]

I posted just after you jis!

 

[cirdan]

OTOH, if no new Diners are in service by then, the date might get pushed back, if they have still been avoiding doing major overhaul on the old Diners as they come due, in the fond hope of having the new Diners online. Only time will tell.

I don't think they can just push out a new diner just like that.

The staff will need to familiarized and trained on the new car etc. All this takes time.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

Very doubtful time line, but yes that the plan. The hole experiment is PR for a management call not to invest large funds for major work in the heritage cars. Or just a after thought.

Now will the Sliver Star or another train get the new cars first, is another whole another issue, but come 1 Feb (+/-) 2016 someone at Amtrak is hoping to have enough new dinners on the road to provide normal meal services.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Concur, the time line is just too short @ the rate the bag cars have been entering full service.

Maybe 8400 and a couple of the Heritage Diners that are still in good mechanical shape ( some are better than others) can be dedicated to the Star until the new ones start entering Service?

 

[The Davy Crockett]

Or maybe the 'experiment' will be deemed a 'success,' and extended, though it doesn't seem that way with what City of Miami found. OTOH, if Amtrak were to extend the experiment with short notice, it would hardly be the first time they pulled a stunt like knowing well in advance they can't deliver what they have sold.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Or maybe the 'experiment' will be deemed a 'success,' and extended, though it doesn't seem that way with what City of Miami found. OTOH, if Amtrak were to extend the experiment with short notice, it would hardly be the first time they pulled a stunt like knowing well in advance they can't deliver what they have sold.

Isn't that how this whole thing started in the first place? "Hello Mr. & Mrs Passenger, your sleeper fare no longer comes with any meals, welcome aboard the Silver Budget Express."

 

[jis]

OTOH, if no new Diners are in service by then, the date might get pushed back, if they have still been avoiding doing major overhaul on the old Diners as they come due, in the fond hope of having the new Diners online. Only time will tell.

I don't think they can just push out a new diner just like that.

The staff will need to familiarized and trained on the new car etc. All this takes time.

Well, they have already used the VL I Diner Indianapolis several times on the Silvers. Since they were able to do that I have problem understanding why it would be so difficult to use VL II Diners, which are more or less identical to the VL I prototype as far as the Dines OBS equipment is concerned. Maybe I am missing something?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Spotted on 91 in WIL today. No, not a diner. This was between the engine & the bag.

 

[keelhauled]

The window ahead of the forward door makes me think a cab car deadheading somewhere.

 

[Bob Dylan]

The window ahead of the forward door makes me think a cab car deadheading somewhere.

That or maybe an Inspection or Executive Car?

 

[Ryan]

It's a DoT car.

PDF with more info than you could ever want.

https://www.fra.dot.gov/Elib/Document/2158

 

[Thirdrail7]

The cafe car menu on the Silver Star has been altered to offer more choices. I think it is closer to the NEC menu.

 

[rrdude]

Better late than never

 

[Train2104]

The cafe car menu on the Silver Star has been altered to offer more choices. I think it is closer to the NEC menu.

This was the menu on the Pennsylvanian last week. I thought something was different from the last time I rode it....

 

[Palmetto]

They also raised the price of a cocktail to $8.00. Right in line with the airlines.

 

[neroden]

OTOH, if no new Diners are in service by then, the date might get pushed back, if they have still been avoiding doing major overhaul on the old Diners as they come due, in the fond hope of having the new Diners online. Only time will tell.

I don't think they can just push out a new diner just like that.

The staff will need to familiarized and trained on the new car etc. All this takes time.

Well, they have already used the VL I Diner Indianapolis several times on the Silvers. Since they were able to do that I have problem understanding why it would be so difficult to use VL II Diners, which are more or less identical to the VL I prototype as far as the Dines OBS equipment is concerned. Maybe I am missing something?

Well, the underfloor equipment will be different from the V I, but the same as the baggage car... training really should go quick...