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I probably should have posted this on the Railraod Games forum but it seems to be rather dead.
Anyway, I'm building a consist for the Southwest Chief for Microsoft's Train Simulator. I think I know what I need but since I haven't seen the Chief in person for quite some time I'd like to know what it's usual consist is.
Here's what I think I need; 4 Genesis locos all in phase V paint. A heritage baggage car in either phase III or IV. A Superliner II Transition Dorm. A Superliner I Sleeper. A Superliner II Sleeper. A Superliner II Diner. A Superliner II Lounge. A Superliner I Coach Smoking. 2 Superliner I Coaches. And numerous Express cars and roadrailers.
I belive the the Sleepers are exclusively up front now. Is this correct? Also How many and what type of express cars are usually used. Are the roadrailers always at the end? And finally does anyone have a recent actual consist for the Chief.
Thanks
Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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You've got the consist down pretty good. The sleepers(2-3) are normaly after transition dorm but sometimes theres one on rear (after 3-4 coaches) 2/b cut off in Chi town & added to an EB. The box cars can be any color & you could even put in a reefer. And yes the roadrailers ALWAYS go on the rear.
Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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The Chief last ran as a three month summer test of twice daily density in the 1972 season.
4-5 F units (with two A's running elephant style)
Baggage
3 Hi-Level Coaches ... first one was not a ste-down car.
Standard lounge-dorm Standard diner
Slumbercoach
10-6
I rode it.
Now, if you are talking about the California Limited (trains 3&4 on the ATSF card, which equates well to trains 3&4 on the Amtrak card), then the list above is about right.
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Sorry PullmanCo, I put "Chief" to simplify. I'm interested in the modern day "Chief" trains 3 and 4. Of course any Amtrak "Chief" will never reach Santa Fe Chief levels. Even when compared to Santa Fe's last leaner years of passenger service. It's interesting that as old as much of the Santa Fe's fleet was at the end of thier (Santa Fe) passenger service, they were in better condition then the not that old Superliner II's of today. Many a trip you'll find that lights, toilets, doors, and countless other things go wrong on Superliners. Santa Fe certainly took pride in thier passenger cars, maybe that's why most of Amtrak's original fleet was previouly Santa Fe's. It's a shame how many Santa Fe cars ended thier life.
Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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I've noticed that the "express" part of the train seems to be getting longer and longer of late. Normal now seems to be 5-7 box cars followed by 10-15 roadrailers. No wonder its almost always late. They wouldn't need that many engines if they'd cut down on all that freight.
Posts: 246 | From: Anaheim, CA | Registered: Apr 2002
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I rode the Southwest Chief last February, I don't care if you eliminated the freight on the back of that train, you still need the 4 engines to get it up some of the hills in Southeastern Colorado and through Raton Pass in New Mexico! Maybe, without the freight, you might be able to operate it with 3 engines but I'm not sure. I do know that you cover a lot of high elevations on that route when your in New Mexico so there is good reason for having all that extra power.
Posts: 113 | From: Buffalo, NY | Registered: Sep 2002
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With 20+ frieght cars & 10-12 passenger cars, 4 engines ARE needed. Don't forget Cajon & the grades on the Needles Sub not to mention those in AZ. Unerdstand 1 loco is cutoff/added at La Junta CO. If the LDs don't get cut off, total car count has been approved for up to 45 cars.
Posts: 249 | From: Downey CA USA | Registered: Jul 2000
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The Southwest Chief used to be able to make it with just two F40's, right? Back when there was no express or frieght, just 8 cars(baggage, Hi-Level dorm, 2 Coaches, Lounge, Diner, and 2 Sleepers. Quite a difference today eh? Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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Cajon, I know, I know. But unfortunately there are no roadrailer "Gifs" that I've found online. If any one knows where there are some please tell me where to find them.
Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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So let's change its name either to the Grand Canyon or the California Limited (which as GBN pointed out elsewhere, by the 1950s WAS a mail and express run), route it through Wellington and Belen (the bill for using Raton is a huge difference in grade compared to the Texas and OK panhandles), send a courtesy note to the late Lucius Beebe (for the sake of Mixed Train Daily) and be done with it.
The Grand Canyon might be too good of a train T he Grand Canyon(Fast Mail too) were usually pulled by Alco PA's(Perhaps the most beautiful warbonnet ever!) The current Amtrak Genesis is no way even close to the Santa Fe's PA's.
So maybe we need to think of another name The California Limited might be that name.
Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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The photos I've seen of the PAs are nice, but I think the "Wave" Genesis look great, too!!!
Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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PullmanCo, Last I've heard on the PA's is that one was going to the Smithsonian and one would be refurbished to opperating condition. I beleive the fellow who did the Daylight SP 4449 is doing the rebuilding. Only the Smithsonian's will wear the warbonnet though, The other is to wear an eastern lines scheme, sorry I can't remember the line (Virginia something?)
Eric, You're so right about the latest phase V scheme!(Wave) I think it's the snazzyest looking scheme to grace the Genesis. When all the locos are a matched set of phase V it's one classy looking train. At least up front
Kairho, Thanks for the consist. It's nice to see the SWC has a Superliner II sleeper. But Georgia? I've always wondered why the state sleepers (Superliner II's) were never assigned to the trains that actually travel through these states. Here are the named sleeper's I've been on (all on the SWC) they were the Maryland, Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, Pennsylvannia, and New Jersey. I know that some trains (Auto Train, Coast Starlight) are exclusively Superliner II sleepers. But I think the Starlight should only have the California, Oregon, and Washington. The rest of the Starlights trainsets would use Superliner I sleepers. The SWC should have the New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. The Arizona should go to the Sunset. Texas to the Texas Eagle. I'm rambling now so I think I'll quit. But does anyone else think this way? State sleepers should travel through their namesake states. And on the occasion when the state isn't served by rail or Superliners, then they would be used on any train. But I think Amtrak has enough troubles to worry about now then whether which car is on which train
Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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Hey SW Chief! It's nice to find another person who agrees with me on the new paint scheme! There are others out there who like it, but many people just talk about bread trucks, whales (Shamu), "spilled paint cans", etc. And a lot of them just don't like the Genesis or the new logo. But like you said- when you have a matched consist (especially elephant style), it's really nice! About the rest of the train... They seem to keep the exteriors of the Superliners clean, and a lot of the trains look very sleek. There is a variety of mail/express, and I think Amtrak should have applied Phase IV to all of the RoadRailers, instead of having a mix of white (which turns brown) and gray. Does Amtrak control what colors the RoadRailers are in, or does someone else decide on that? Maybe it's a money issue, as most things seem to be these days. But it's still a nice train to look at! Posts: 553 | From: Flagstaff, AZ USA | Registered: Apr 2001
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The Phase V scheme looks sleek on the Genesis Locos, especially when there are two paired together(since I have only seen them on long distance trains out west). But it doesnt look good when two or more engines are facing forward. The logo does look kind of cool if you view it at the right angle(isnt it supposed to signify a track through rolling hills?). I just dont like the logo that is applied on the Acela Expresses though(looks like a rip-off of the St. Louis Blues or Detroit Red Wings logos!). Oh well, just my opinon.
Posts: 55 | From: Chelsea, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2002
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My little brother and I have Train Sim and we want to know how you're building other consists, especially Amtrak ones, for the game?
Posts: 115 | From: Buffalo, NY | Registered: Aug 2002
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Italiancanuck89, Check out the website, http://www.train-sim.com here you will find many downloadable (free) Amtrak equipment. It is pretty simple to make an Amtrak consist in the activity editor of Train Sim once you've downloaded the cool Amtrak equipment thats avaliable. So far I've downloaded P42's, baggage cars, Superliners, express boxcars, and roadrailers.
I don't have a 3D program yet so I haven't built any of my own Amtrak equipment yet. I plan on making realistic Superliners, but I haven't found the time with school and all.
I'll be on the Southwest Chief soon(November 22) and I'll post about it if anything interesting happens.
Posts: 579 | From: San Bernardino Subdivison | Registered: Dec 2001
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Train-Sim is a great site....but most of the time you will see "All nodes are currently busy. Please try again later." But if you can get into this site's download area there is "A LOT" of stuff to download. Try www.AlabamaRailfan.com it has some Train Simulators add-ons (mostly CSX related). Also try www.railserve.com/Computers/MSTS/ they have a lot of stuff too.
Posts: 17 | Registered: Sep 2002
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