posted
The recent messages on Via Rail's Canadian and the sometimes crowded dome cars lead me to ask the question: Is there any etiquette, official or unofficial, that governs use of the seats in the dome cars?
For instance, what does one do if the only open seats in a dome car are covered with the coats and paraphernalia of a couple that has gone to the dining car and apparently are "saving" their seats?
Is there a "time limit" for the use of dome car seats?
Or is the rule the devil take the hindmost, as it is in the CZ lounge car during a summer pull out of Denver up the Front Range?
I'm asking because my wife and I are taking the Canadian in October.
Posts: 2236 | From: Evanston, Ill. and Ontonagon, Mich. | Registered: Feb 2007
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Hard to say-- on my 1999 trip on the Canadian, we had a "funny" dome car/service attendant named "Lonnie," who threatened to embarass anyone who was caught sleeping in the dome car. During the trip, one lady did fall asleep in the dome, and Lonnie woke her up quite loudly and embarassingly (? - is that a word?) in front of everyone else in the dome car! She was not asked to leave, however......
Other than that, I got no feel for any "official" policy on domes on that train.....
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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Interestingly, when the sole Amtrak dome operated on the Surfliners in years past, there were no rules. It was all unreserved seating, and you could sit there as long as you want.
This past summer, they had laminated signs posted saying you could only sit in the dome for 1 hour "so others may enjoy this car". I don't think anyone enforced that rule.
Posts: 286 | From: Knee deep in the retention tank | Registered: Jan 2006
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The Baltimore & Ohio had a posted "half hour limit" if train crowded. Mormon influenced Union Pacific "shut 'em down' at midnight. MILW Super Dome was "just more seats". Northern Pacific had enough seats in their four cars, but Great Northern had more than needed for the same "if you've seen one wheatfield, you've seen 'em all' terrain still visible today.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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As a kid on the short domes, I would always want to get that first seat where there was an unobstructed view forward. I also learned "You leave it - you lose it."
Unless you are with someone who will save your seat, I always figured once I left I might not get it back. Leaving belongings there to save a seat for anything longer than a few minutes seems unfair to me.
Posts: 1572 | From: St. Paul, MN | Registered: Dec 2002
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quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: Hard to say-- on my 1999 trip on the Canadian, we had a "funny" dome car/service attendant named "Lonnie," who threatened to embarass anyone who was caught sleeping in the dome car. During the trip, one lady did fall asleep in the dome, and Lonnie woke her up quite loudly and embarassingly (? - is that a word?) in front of everyone else in the dome car! She was not asked to leave, however......
Other than that, I got no feel for any "official" policy on domes on that train.....
I'm pretty sure the attendant referred to above is "Lawrie." He has been written about in other forums and even newspaper articles. I have travelled several times with Lawrie as my sleeping car attendant (his usual position.)
There are now some discreet notices in VIA's dome cars. I won't try to quote them, but the notice requests passengers share the dome experience with others. The notices are quite small and not in the same place in each dome. I have seen them on the stairway, at the top of the stairway and at the front of the dome.
This thread reminds me of some unpleasantness on the Canadian westbound ex-Jasper a few years ago. Aparently, the tour leader of a US-based tour (Tauck Tours) had told her group that there was a strict half-hour limit in the dome. Of course this is not the case and members of a Japanese tour group had been up in the dome for more than a half hour whilst members of the US tour were sitting in the lounge below counting the minutes. Some of the Tauck Tour people got quite angry with the Japanese passengers (who didn't appear to understand English) and after references to Pearl Harbour (I guess I should spell it "Harbor") were made, I fled to the safety of my bedroom in fear that World War III would break out. I was told later that the Service Manager restored peace.
Posts: 216 | From: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2000
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David - yes you are right!! It was "Lawrie," not Lonnie (or is is "Lorrie?")
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
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While I don't know how many Domes there are in the Canadian's consist today, I do know that circa 1965, when I rode Vancouver to Winnipeg on the CP train, there were only two (Park Obs and Skyline Cafe).
I don't think you WANT to know how scarce Dome seats were back in those days.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Next question is how are the Skylines configured; when I rode they were Coach long end, Kitchen under Dome, Cafe short end. However, with three Diner's in consist, and the Skylines buried deep in the Sleeper lineup, they must now be configured as Lounges.
Lastly,I realize some here think I am anti-VIA. Really, I am not; I simply have no reason to visit Canada (can't think of any reason I would be denied entry) and as such no reason to ride VIA.
But since so many here have stated how superior VIA equipment maintenance and on board service is to that of Amtrak, I am prepared to accept such "prima facie'.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman: Lastly,I realize some here think I am anti-VIA. Really, I am not; I simply have no reason to visit Canada (can't think of any reason I would be denied entry) and as such no reason to ride VIA.
Think of VIA as a reason to visit Canada then you won't have to accept other's comments "prima facie"
I regularly visit the US and one of the reasons is to ride Amtrak.
I know it's not as easy now as when the International was running but Chicago to Detroit/Windsor is only 275 miles and then you have all of VIA to explore. So come on up! (or down if you are crossing at Detroit/Windsor)
Posts: 239 | Registered: Feb 2004
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