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I am heading to Wyoming this summer from Florida. I will take Silver Meteor #98 to Washington and thought I would take the Cardinal #51 to Chicago. Stay over in Chicago and take CZ westbound the next day..
Could someone give me some input on the Cardinal? I am only thinking of taking it because it would be a new routefor me and I can get a longer ride than Capitol Limited. I will travel in a bedroom so what are my meal options on a dinette? What is a dinette?
Thanks.
Ray
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Ray S: I am heading to Wyoming this summer from Florida. I will take Silver Meteor #98 to Washington and thought I would take the Cardinal #51 to Chicago. Stay over in Chicago and take CZ westbound the next day..
Could someone give me some input on the Cardinal? I am only thinking of taking it because it would be a new routefor me and I can get a longer ride than Capitol Limited. I will travel in a bedroom so what are my meal options on a dinette? What is a dinette?
Thanks.
Ray
The Cardinal is worth your time. The scenery is tremendous from the moment you get into rural Virginia until the sun goes down somewhere in West Virginia. The climb to Afton, VA out of Charlottesville is spectacular.
I don't know the food situation on this train firsthand right now (haven't been on it in three years or so). My understanding is that the 'dinette' closes down during meal hours so that the attendant can serve microwaveable tray meals to the first class passengers. The meals, I understand, are similar to those served to Acela first class passengers......not a full diner by any means but certainly acceptable. I'm hoping to give this train a try later this summer.
David Pressley
SouthernServesTheSouth Member # 2284
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Ray, I will be taking the Cardinal May 22nd, Charlottesville to Chicago and returning May 28th. I will let you know about the “Tray Meals” they serve.
When I took the Cardinal in 1999 it had Superliner I equipment and a real diner and lounge/sightseeing car. Unfortunately, a lot of truck drivers never figured out that a train can’t serve around their trucks at railroad crossings and have caused the Cardinal to loose their Super liner cars to other trainsets that have been damaged or destroyed.
The Cardinal is Amtrak’s red headed stepchild and gets what’s left. I had heard that on several occasions they didn’t have a sleeper and those passengers that had sleep reservations had to ride coach.
I agree with notelvis, the scenery is beautiful. The New River Gorge is spectacular, but not as great as the CZ’s Rocky Mountain route.
Ray S Member # 3175
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Is that for real that sometimes there are no sleepers? I wouldn't ride coach (no offense) if I booked a sleeper and it wasn't there.
Ray
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Ray S: Is that for real that sometimes there are no sleepers? I wouldn't ride coach (no offense) if I booked a sleeper and it wasn't there.
Ray
The Cardinal ran for a time with no sleeper last winter when they were having widespread problems with the Viewliners. They've managed to keep the sleeper (and only one is assigned to the Cardinal) in place this winter.......thanks mostly to a couple of extra sleepers which used to operate on the Three Rivers being available for trains originating in New York.
David Pressley
CHATTER Member # 1185
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I rode the Cardinal last year. The meals, while far from the usual diner car fare, were perfectly acceptable. They match many a quick meal I have at home, if I am too busy to cook.
There is one Viewliner sleeper on the Cardinal, and it is on the back of the train.
SouthernServesTheSouth Member # 2284
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Chatter, Can you give me the car arrangement now being used on the Cardinal?
If the sleeper is the last car on the train it will probably get jerked around a lot unless there are freight cars attached.
In 1999 it was Superliner I cars, baggage, transitional sleeper, sleeper, diner, lounge, coach. It originated in Washington DC then. It now starts in NY and of course they can’t handle the Superliner cars if they were available.
Wayne
CHATTER Member # 1185
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The Cardinal uses only Viewliners now. When I rode, it was transitional sleeper, coach, coach, coach, dinette, sleeper. (No more baggage car, alas.) There were freight cars behind the sleeper from somewhere in Virginia through somewhere in Indiana, otherwise the sleeper car was last. I felt no difference in movement either way. It did stink in Penn Station, walking all the way to the back of the train to board with my luggage, but beyond that it was fine.
Ray S Member # 3175
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Thanks for the information on the Cardinal. I think I will give it a try. I am connecting from Florida with arrival time in Washington at 9:15am. Barring any major problems enroute I would think connection should be ok.
MPALMER Member # 125
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I rode the Cardinal on a short hop in Virginia last weekend (Manassas - Charlottesville).
In each direction the train was 1 Genesis engine, 2 Amfleet coaches, 1 cafe/diner, and 1 Viewliner sleeper. That's it!
I was able to get same-day reservations, but there wasn't much room (I ended up riding in the cafe for the westbound trip. Less comfotable seat but I got a window that way). No one rides the train? Yeah, right.
Unlike the Sunset, this tri-weekly train seems to hold to its schedule rather well. A lot fewer freights on this route, when compared to the UP...
Ray S Member # 3175
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I could not get a bedroom on the Cardinal during my travel window in June. I guess with only one sleeper car it sells out quickly.
I will try to book the Cardinal coming back from Chicago in September.
Are the views similar coming from Chicago as opposed to the Washington to Chicago route?
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by Ray S: I could not get a bedroom on the Cardinal during my travel window in June. I guess with only one sleeper car it sells out quickly.
I will try to book the Cardinal coming back from Chicago in September.
Are the views similar coming from Chicago as opposed to the Washington to Chicago route?
I would say that you would have better scenery eastbound. If on-time the daylight will break as you travel along the Ohio River. Leaving Ashland, KY you will cross the river and begin your all day trip across West Virginia and Virginia. Scenery is great all the way.
chrisg Member # 2488
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I will be taking an eastbound trip to ride and photograph the route in a week leaving from Chicago next Satuday 3/26 and arriving NYC next Sunday 3/27. A story will follow shortly after I get back about April 4th.
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I miss those great old dome cars on the Capitol Limited and similar stuff on the Cardinal--they made the trip worth taking showing great vistas from every angle while the trains raced along at 70mph. Those were the days---real dome cars!
JoeR Member # 2633
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Hey all,
Just rode the Cardinal in February. Consist was basically as described, 3 amfleet II coaches (with the big windows), 1 Horizon full dinette, and Viewliner Autumn View. Autumn View was in poor repair... shower didn't work right, coffee pot didn't work, duct tape was used on some of the moldings, you know the drill typical 21st century Amtrak. Food in the dinette was good.. beef tenderloins at dinner were delicious, Cheeseburger lunch tasted exactly the same as the "cooked" cheeseburgers on the full diners. Note that if you ride eastbound from CHI, there is no dinner the first night.. all you get is a wine and cheese reception so make sure you eat in Chicago before you head out! The windows were dirty and the narrow slots on the horizon cars they call windows are woefully inadequate for viewing, but as said before this route is so pretty it really is worth it. The lesurely pace reminds us all of why we ride the train in the first place. Enjoy!
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Great trip report, as always, Chris. I was especially interested in the Southwest Chief segment since I'll be doing that to Chicago this weekend.
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