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Last week I rode on Amtrak's train 427 The Illinois Zephyr. I was very impressed by the spaciousness of the cars but i had one question. The car had leg and foot rests and SUPER spacious seating, is this common on this train or was it really a long distance car? If it was i noticed that the exterior walls on this car were flat, the long distance cars are usually rounded.
reggierail Member # 26
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If the sides were flat it most likely was Horizon equipment. The amfleet cars are shaped like an airplane fuselage. The Horizon cars did not impress me as being much more spacious & had a higher than average amount of mechanical problems, at least while they were in service in California. Then again, maybe they were Heritage coaches as the Amfleet coaches may have been pulled for the Cardinal. Reggie
[This message has been edited by reggierail (edited 04-27-2002).]
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Illinois Zephyr: #347 vice #427
K.O.Pectate Member # 1604
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Most likely you were in one the Horizon cars that were re-equpiied with the "long distance configuration, i.e. 60 deats with leg seats vs. 72 seats. They are nice cars and show what Beech Grove can do when they have the resources and desire.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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So long as we are addressing the quality of Beech Grove's rebuild work, allow me to concur.
Worthy of note are the rebuilt Heritage diners. At least one of those cars is a former-NYC Budd Diner-Grill (#450-467; last NYC use was the coach-diner on the Century) that was placed in service during 1948.
Amtrak management was indeed wise to allow a plaque visible to passengers showing the logo's of the various shop craft unions holding contracts at BG. The plaque forther states "One Team, One Amtrak".
President-Designate Gunn, I think you have a dedicated crew "out there" willing to roll up their sleeves and get some cars back on the rails where they can start putting "some copper in the hopper" for you.
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