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I have recently noticed at Kansas City Union Station that there have been superliner cars sitting outside the station late at night in what I assume is the Ann Rutledge waiting for its morning run to St. Louis. I seem to remember reading somewhere that the viewliner cars are switched to superliners in the Winter for the Missouri Routes. Does anyone know anything about this or have more info. Just curious as I am planning a trip to St. Louis in the next couple of weeks and would much rather ride on a superliner. Thanks.
Capltd29 Member # 3292
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It's possible that they could've been used in place of the normal cars. However, I am not familiar with the equipment used on that train, if it is normally horizon cars, it could be due to the School Boy special, which sucks up a lot of the Horizon Coaches. Also, Viewliners are only used as sleepers, so they wouldnt be used on the Ann Rutledge, but which ever other type of single level equipment is used on this train may be plagued by the same problems in the winter as the Viewliner Fleet.
gregbkc Member # 3726
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I errored in my choice of terminology. When I said 'viewliner', I was referring to a single level coach car. Thanks for correcting me. Whats the School Boy Special?
MDRR Member # 2992
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It is a charter train that operates 3 consecutive weekends every winter/spring that brings safety patrollers from west palm beach to Wash DC. Approximately 800- 1000 each weekend. This has operated on and off every year for at least the last 25 years.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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I assumed the Ann Rutlesge was an Amfleet train, but the current timetable doesn't say much except "coaches" and a "cafe car." Is it Amfleet or Horizon?
BTW, is "Horizon" equipment the same as "heritage" equipment?
jgart56 Member # 3968
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It's usually amfleet, but I have seen horizon cars mixed in at times!
The Horizon coaches, if I remember correctly were purchased and built in the late 80's and do not look like amfleet at all. They are squarish and smooth sided. I like them better than the amfleet...seats are more comfortable and windows are bigger.
PullmanCo Member # 1138
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Since I live in Kansas City,
3/4 operate daily with Superliners.
Ann Rutledge and the Mule typically operate with 3 Horizon and 1 Amfleet car.
I'll swing down there sometime next week and see what spots at night.
PullmanCo Member # 1138
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BTW, Horizon IS NOT Heritage.
Horizon is 1980s short haul new construction.
UncleBuck44 Member # 2049
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Every year(since about 1998 or 99) in late December to February, the KCY-STL-CHI trains operate with a superliner consist. Not sure if every train does, but for the last few years, a lot of the Ann Rutledge and KC Mule trains have run with the double level cars.
I remember hearing a while ago from the station agent at Kirkwood(back when they had station agents at Kirkwood) that it had something to do with the colder weather in Missouri and Illinois and that the single level cars don't hold up as well in it.
Usually the consist is an engine, one coach, one coach baggage and either a lounge car or another coach with the bottom made out to be the cafe car.
I've ridden on the Ann Rutledge a few times when it had a superliner consist.
quote:Originally posted by jgart56: It's usually amfleet, but I have seen horizon cars mixed in at times!
The Horizon coaches, if I remember correctly were purchased and built in the late 80's and do not look like amfleet at all. They are squarish and smooth sided. I like them better than the amfleet...seats are more comfortable and windows are bigger.
I concur that the seats in the Horizon coaches may be more comfortable but the windows, at best, are no larger than those on the Amfleet I coaches. The newer Amfleet II coaches for long-distance service have larger windows than the Horizon coaches.
Of course my opinion may be tainted. My last ride in a Horizon coach was aboard the short-lived 'Kentucky Cardinal' in July 2002. I had been booked in the Viewliner sleeper for my Chicago-Louisville trip but the sleeper was pulled off and reassigned about three or four weeks before I went.
gregbkc Member # 3726
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Thanks for the info all and UncleBuck44
UncleBuck44 Member # 2049
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FWIW, I was at Kirkwood station yesterday and saw the Ann Rutledge come in. It had 3 coach superliner cars on it. The middle coach had a cafe in the bottom level.
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