The California Zephyr, as do all western long distance trains, uses Superliner (double-level) equipment.I'm on the California Zephyr in March. Does anybody know if the current CZ consist has the Viewliner I or Viewliner II Sleeper cars? And does anybody have a preference between the two? Thank you.
My apologies for you using the wrong term. Do you know if the Superliner sleeper cars on the CZ are the newer ones (burgundy theme) or the older ones (blue theme)?
Except an Older rehabbed I ( with the Improved Bathrooms)is much nicer than a long in the tooth newer II!Notwithstanding refreshed vs not yet refreshed, there are SL-1 and SL-2 and there are some differences, like closet vs open hanging area, differences in bathrooms, but probably nothing that the average passenger would see as a reason to want one over the other.
I think Pullman Standard did a great job designing the Superliner sleepers. The ceiling height is constrained by railroad specifications, but the Superliners are taller than the Budd-built bi-levels that preceded them.Same torpedo tube upper sleeping berth.
I think Pullman Standard did a great job designing the Superliner sleepers. The ceiling height is constrained by railroad specifications, but the Superliners are taller than the Budd-built bi-levels that preceded them.
It is easy to identify whether a Superliner is a I or II from the outside if the trucks are visible. This might be seen on a video before catching a train so that one could know what kind of sleepers are being used. I think the difference is described as the I's being fabricated while the II's are cast (please correct me on this if I'm wrong).
Here's a Superliner I truck:
View attachment 26941
This is a Superliner II truck:
View attachment 26939
In addition, but not as easily visible, the Superliner I's have a row of rivets on the outside approximately half-way up. In the photo below, the car on the right is a Superliner I. Sleeper 32112 is Superliner II that received a "light" rehabilitation, in that the carpet on the walls was replaced with faux-wood paneling:
View attachment 26940
Interior view of Sleeper 32112:
View attachment 26942
Which works best, I don’t know.
Superliner IIs use more or less standard GSI-G70 trucks, similar to the ones that Horizons and Viewliners run on too.The Superliner II trucks deliver a better ride, and from what I understand they are easier to maintain (I think the design of the Superliner II trucks is common to other cars too).
Superliner IIs use more or less standard GSI-G70 trucks, similar to the ones that Horizons and Viewliners run on too.
Superliner Is run on (German) Waggon Union MD-76 trucks.
The Horizon cars are actually cleared for 125mph, as are the VL-IIs which also use GSI trucks. Yes I know, there is a Wikipedia page that says otherwise and it is wrong.The Bomardier-built, using P-S design Superliner IIs ride on GSI-G70 outboard bearing trucks, also found on the Horizon single-level cars. Both models have a maximum speed of 100 mph.
The Horizon cars are actually cleared for 125mph, as are the VL-IIs which also use GSI trucks. Yes I know, there is a Wikipedia page that says otherwise and it is wrong.
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