posted
Today I went to Downtown St. Louis to catch a glimpse at the Texas Eagle.
When it came in I noticed it only had 1 engine! How long ago did the Eagle start being run by only one engine?
I also noticed that there was only 1 sleeping car and that was on the end of the train, and usually the LA sleeper is on the end. My question is, Did Amtrak stop putting a sleeping car on the Eagle for passengers going from Chicago to San Antonio or are you allowed to get a room in the LA sleeper or Transition Car from lets say STL to San Antonio?
Did you ever notice on a train with one engine that pulls 8 superliner cars that the engine looks really puny? I thought so
[This message has been edited by UncleBuck44 (edited 07-27-2003).]
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
posted
Don't know the answer to the first few questions, but those engines can haul a *lot* of cars on their own, even on grades. Apparently the main reason for doubling-up the engines was in case one broke down. However, now Amtrak are trying to save money, cost is more important than reliability. Go figure. Having said that though, never had an engine fail on any of my travels, some 30000 miles worth.
Geoff M.
rmiller Member # 341
posted
5/28/03 was the effective date of the change.
One sleeper was eleminated. Rooms 17 - 24 in the transition sleeper are open for sale with passengers restricted to the upper level and rear portion of the car. On days when the LAX section does not operate, the sleeper terminates at San Antonio. Train attendant responsible for the transition car sleeper space is also respnsible for the smoking coach behind the lounge although the smoking area is supposed to be the responsibility of the attendant covering the other two coaches.
In another cost cutting change, meals in the diner are not available between Dallas and San Antonio although the diner remains in the consist. Diner crews overnight at Ft Worth.
The Chief Member # 2172
posted Uncle Buck, this summer at Dallas Union Station I've seen the EB Eagle with as many as three, and as few as one, units. Only twice, though, were three pulling. Also, since springtime, there's been a Sightseer Lounge every day each way. rmiller is correct about selling BRs in the Transition Sleeper for revenue.
The Dallas agent told me the Eagle has been very full all summer. Also, one of the station employees at Fort Worth had a heart attack loading baggage in our lovely Texas sunshine. While he is mending, the rest of the station crews are working seven-day weeks.
------------------ _________Thë Çhîeƒ _|_|_|_|_
jp1822 Member # 2596
posted
Well it's good to hear that the Texas Eagle appears to have its Sightseer Lounge back (full-time). Not good to hear about the cutback in the dining car and sleeping car. But, if the Transition Dorm car can help to offset the loss, that's good - and I hope it works out so it could be instituted on other routes. Anyone have any feedback on Amtrak using the Transition car for revenue service?
As for the locomotive reduction - this confuses me - Amtrak is flush with the Genesis units - couldn't they operate one and turn the other one off and just keep it tacked on as a reserve? Course I guess someone would have to be trained in starting the engine??? I was on the Maple Leaf once and our engine stalled and supposedly the engineer couldn't figure out how to start it (had to call the Chicago maintenance facility - took forever). he finally got it going. If an engine dies out on the road for a long distance train - that could be a nightmare. And it has happened!
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
posted
Turning an engine off is not cost effective - you are then hauling (guessing here) 200 tons of non-revenue deadweight. More weight = more fuel = more money. More engines on the move = more miles per engine = more wear and tear = more money.
Having a train with one engine fail with its associated compensation to customers and host railroad, lets say once a month, may well be more cost effective than hauling a spare Genesis on every train. I imagine that's the way Amtrak are looking at it right now.
Geoff M.
jp1822 Member # 2596
posted
ok - that makes sense now. Was not thinking clearly on that one! Thanks geoffm!
mr williams Member # 1928
posted
Sorry,are you saying that there is only one sleeper even on the days when it connects with the Sunset? I could understand this in offpeak/winter season but surely this is a ridiculous proposal in the middle of the summer when most sleepers on the LD west routes are booked solid? Has the sleeper been re-assigned to another train? This sounds like death by a thousand cuts - make the journey so unappealing people stop using it and then use that to justify closure. I can't help thinking that the Eagle may well be the first to go if there are any route cuts. I know that the Senator for Texas is very pro-rail, but there were many pro-rail politicians in Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming and they couldn't save The Pioneer.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
posted
Correction to self - 110 to 120 tons. Strange as I would have thought they'd be heavier, being much larger than UK diesels which are around the 100-120 tons mostly.
Mr W - the Eagle *was* scrapped a few years ago for a while. Luckily the states saved it after a huge outcry but I agree it is being run down again. I went on it a year ago last October and it was virtually empty between San Antonio and Fort Worth - good to hear it has been busier this summer.
Geoff M.
Mike Smith Member # 447
posted
On May 1, the Eagle lost its only sleeper to the Sunset Limited. My wife and I had to rough it in coach all the way to Chicago. I hated it.
There was speculation that we could be in the Transition Sleeper, but that did not happen. Unfortunately, we left Joy Smith's phone number at the house, or I would have been calling her about the situation.
It was not a pleasant start to our vacation.
jp1822 Member # 2596
posted
I rode the Texas Eagle last October and it was pretty empty from San Antonio to Chicag. I was only one of two occupying the Deluxe sleepers. We had a really old and run down Supleriner I as well. The whole consist, for that matter, scraped the bottom of the barrel. But this trains seems to run in waves of being very well patronized to bottoming out. It's potential is underestimated and it has a lot of hometown support, which is good. So how many sleepers does the Sunset consist usually consist of? When I rode the Texas Eagle, we only had one sleeper. Is this train supposed to have two sleepers when it connects with the Sunset (one for San Antonio to Chicago passengers and one for those bound for LA)?
UncleBuck44 Member # 2049
posted
For as long as I remember its had two sleepers, one behind the Transition sleeper for Chicago to San Antonio passengers, and then there was one on the back(along with a coach)for the passengers wishing to connect with the sunset in San Antonio.
But from what I saw the other day, it had only the sleeper on the back for the passengers going to LA
royaltrain Member # 622
posted
rmiller stated that passengers were put in the transition sleeper, in the upper level rooms 17-24. Does anyone know if these are standard or deluxe rooms? In the regular sleeper the deluxe's are lettered A-E. Surely if you purchased a deluxe room Amtrax wouldn't be placing you in a standard room? Or course knowing Amtrax I guess I shouldn't be surprised if they tried that.
Mike Smith Member # 447
posted The transition sleeper is all standard rooms. It was built for crew members, not revenue.
vincen47 Member # 2201
posted
Interesting that Amtrak is using a single locomotive.
I have heard they are doing this on other routes, the Cardinal being one.
As far as the sleeper goes, I was able to select a standard room online for a trip this fall, but nothing booked yet.
I'm planning on just riding coach, but asking for an upgrade to a sleeper while on the train, if avalible.
If the transition sleeper is the only thing running, I wonder if the conductor would be less likely to try to fill the space.
Mr Williams is right by saying that this is a train killing technique. Just remember the recent KC cut.
Glad to hear that the lounge is back.
Eaglefan Member # 2681
posted
On my northbound trip in May, there were two sleepers and mine was busy. Several of the rear sleeper passengers were complaining that they had to walk the length of the train to go eat. Many were elderly retirees and such from California and Arizona. I'm sure that Amtrak regularly got some complaints from these people that the first class should be at the front of the train (even though that would complicate the switching requirements in San Antonio where the trains come together and separate).
On my southbound trip (after 5/28), my sleeping car was sold out and I heard from another passenger that the coach seats were oversold (one coach was lost from the consist in CHI) and Amtrak was asking/bumping passengers from CHI-STL to take the late night train instead of the Eagle which left in mid-afternoon from CHI. They said that those who would accept were asked to sit in the lounge car until they reached their station. Note that this is an all-reserved train!
The meals from FTW-San Antonio were a cold, box lunch for supper southbound and was OK but not thrilling. The southbound train served us from the expensive but filling dinner menu at Lunchtime (just before Dallas) and was consequently not busy since the prices and portions were too much for a daytime meal (as voiced by several patrons).
Northbound the only breakfast was a microwaved or cold meal from the lounge car and was generally unappetizing for the sleeping car passengers. The coach passengers complained that they had to wait to get any breakfast until the line was gone from the sleeping car. Everything was a bit confused and people didn't listen to the announcements.
Northbound the lunch was a microwaved or deli sandich from the lounge car which was only available for sleeping car passengers. After all sleepers got their choice, coach passengers were allowed to buy their choice.
The new "no diner" rule from San Antonio to Fort Worth made the sleeping car a less desirable alternative, especially northbound since it is a daytime trip with two microwaved or cold meals.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by UncleBuck44: [B]For as long as I remember its had two sleepers, one behind the Transition sleeper for Chicago to San Antonio passengers, and then there was one on the back(along with a coach)for the passengers wishing to connect with the sunset in San Antonio.
Italiancanuck89 Member # 1873
posted
I also believe that the City of New Orleans has been running with a single unit. Any subtraction of cars though?
[This message has been edited by Italiancanuck89 (edited 08-02-2003).]
Mr. Toy Member # 311
posted
quote:Originally posted by mikesmith: The transition sleeper is all standard rooms. It was built for crew members, not revenue.
Actually, there were built for BOTH crew space and revenue space, but until recently on the Eagle, they haven't been used that way. There's more info on this page. http://www.narprail.org/h0306.htm Look under June 6th and scroll down a little to the third news item on the page.
------------------ Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth. -Mr. Toy
posted I don't know how true this is, but on my May 2003 trip (with no sleeper car), I specifically asked for a room in the transition sleeper. I was told by the car attendant that would be a violation of their union contract with Amtrak. He said "Passengers are not allowed in the crew quarters."
And at NARP, the article states that "some" transition sleepers were built for a combination of revenue and crew quarters. There is a door that sections off the crew compartment in those cars.
I wonder if that was the Amtrak employee's rationalization about his union contract?
Room Service Member # 2405
posted
What's the current consist?
LAX - CHI
and
CHI - LAX
The Chief Member # 2172
posted
One has to answer with consists for two trains: Eagle, and Sunset Ltd:
posted
A review of the website suggests that there will be a CHI-SAS Sleeper line Daily effective mid-June.
Room Service Member # 2405
posted
Thanks Chief
Is LAX - CHI just the exact opposite?
The Chief Member # 2172
posted
YW Room Service. Eastbound (LA-Cgo) is the right column numbers: | 22xx | 02xx Capisce?
mr williams Member # 1928
posted
Apologies if this has been discussed/answered before, but sometimes it's hard to keep up from 5,000 miles away.
What happened to the proposal for a daily LAX-CHI Eagle with the stub train SAS-NOL? I remember there was a large consultation proposal document aiming for a 2011 start!
Room Service Member # 2405
posted
I know the TRT-909 is doing a little work on the Eagle route right now. This thing is interesting to watch!
posted