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I was wondering if anyone here could describe the standard consist of the Empire Builder from front to back so I know where to go to get to each certain place during my upcoming trip. When naming the coaches, please specify of the the coach is one that goes through to Seattle or through to Portland. That of course is for westbound. If the eastbound consist is different than it is westbound specify that for me too. Thanks.
posted
Thanks for that information geoffm. I'm assuming you've rode it out west before, so do you know how long it takes to reorganize the trains in Spokane before they continue on in their seperate directions, and what the consist is like on the Spokane-Portland branch?
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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Yes, I rode it west, Chicago to Seattle. We left Havre 2 hours late but arrived Seattle right on time.
The Spokane shuffle is only timetabled to take 35-45 mins, which probably includes recovery time too. Unfortunately I missed it as I was asleep (and we were still late at that point). The interesting part is probably extracting the lounge car from the middle of the train. I intend to travel on it again and watch it this time!
I believe the Portland section is engine, lounge car, coach/baggage, sleeper. The diner goes with the Seattle section. The coach/baggage is a standard coach car with the lower section converted into a baggage section.
Geoff M.
moxeetwo Member # 3326
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I watched crews pull apart the EB a few years ago in Spokane. The power cables, brake lines, and un-coupling are done between the last Seattle coach and the Lounge car. Once this is done the Seattle bound train is serviced and leaves. 1 engine is added for Portland, the train is serviced and also leaves.
I recently took the EB east to Chicago. This was the consist of the train after Spokane.
2- Engines Seattle-Baggage Transition Sleeper Seattle-Sleepers (2) Dining Car Seattle-Coaches (2) Cafe/Lounge Car Portland-Coaches (2) Portland-Sleeper Portland-Baggage
jp1822 Member # 2596
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That's the consist that I have always seen on my trips aboard the Empire Builder - the one reported by moxeetwo - the difference being the placement of the Seattle Coaches (between the diner and the Lounge).
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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That's interesting, as I've only seen it westbound with the lounge in its "proper" place. Here are some photos confirming this (not mine):
Maybe they don't shuffle the lounge if they're running late?
Geoff M.
EmpireBuilder Member # 2036
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I don't know how you can tell the difference between any of the cars in those pictures. They all look the same to me with the exception of the engines and the baggage car.
Geoff Mayo Member # 153
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The lounge car is the one with the bigger windows. The other cars are a little more difficult but knowing regular consists enables you to deduce what the rest are most likely to be.
Geoff M.
EmpireBuilder Member # 2036
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Well, I as I write this I am in Kennewick, WA having now finished the first half of the Amtrak trip (my return being along the same route). The consist I had was the same one moxeetwo said that he had. The only difference in what he said is that the second coach was a coach/baggage, and at the back end, instead of a Portland baggage car there were two miscellaneous Amtrak freight cars. The split in Spokane consisted solely of removing every thing in front of the lounge car and then adding the single engine. I must say the wait in Spokane was a bit annoying because of no air conditioning on board, and also a lack of using the bathroom (unless you want to use the option of going on top of someone else's which cannot be flushed without power).
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