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Hello all new here. I came across this site while planning my first trip on the coaststarlight. The info here has been very helpful.
I booked for June 1st. This was before I read about the relaunch on the 10th. Oh well.
Well last night I was walking near king street station here in seattle (I live near by) and I saw the CS sitting at the station. There was this odd looking car. So I took a picture of it. I guess it is one of the new parlor cars. I didn't think they were in service yet. Did I read that wrong? I am now wondering if maybe my trip will have one.
Sorry for the low quality photo (it was taken with my phone
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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No question whatever, Mr. Monkey, Amtrak is moving forth with enhancements to the Coast Starlight. Of interest, I note that this Parlour has been named "Santa Lucia Highlands".
I also respect that your photo was of the "grab bag" varietal (a "desperation" was another term I heard back when I took rail photos thirty years ago); you did the best you could with what you had to work with.
Regarding your upcoming journey aboard #11(1) - that's official Amtrak protocol for Train #11, SB Starlight, originating June 1 - it appears that assignment of a Parlour will be a "hit or miss". Apparently they have been "phasing them in" ever since full service was resumed over the route on May 13. This enables proper re-training of the On Board Service crews that will be assigned to the cars, with hopefully the intent that everything is ready to go on "re-launch' (love how that maritime term finds its way into Amtrakese) set for June 10.
CorporateMonkey Member # 8365
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Well I hope mine has this car. This car looked out of place from the others, as it was definitely in better condition.
Next time I am by King Steet I will have to bring a better camera. What time do they normally arrive here?
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Amtrak began running the Parlour Cars on the 19th (with the Santa Lucia Highlands in your photo). The next day, the "Napa Valley" car (39972) was on #14 out of Los Angeles. Today, there should be one as well.
I'm not sure if the car is staffed and offering all of the upgraded amenities yet. Maybe someone out there has the answer for us?
I'll be on-board #14 on June 10th for the re-launch---I hope all goes well and they've got the alternate menu up and running in the Parlour Cars by then.
sbalax Member # 2801
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I've noticed that Amtrak hasn't decided which spelling to go with: Parlour or Parlor. In the description of the CS they use "OR" but on the cars themselves it seems to be "OUR".
I'm glad that they have decided to give each car a name, too. Is there any hope that we might see names return to the sleepers?
When Ms. Vicki and Mr. Art came through SBA on Sunday they didn't have a Parlour/Parlor Car and also had a diner that was low on food. We spoke with the lead as he was shutting the door and he said his A/C in the galley had also gone out.
I noticed that several of the cars clearly had not been "redone". Do they really have enough "new" cars for the relaunch?
Frank in Sunny SBA
Mr. Monkey--Thanks for the pic!
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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quote:Originally posted by sbalax: I'm glad that they have decided to give each car a name, too. Is there any hope that we might see names return to the sleepers?
It would never hurt, Mr. Frank.
Somehow, it appears that the current regime is looking for (virtually) cost free ways to enhance the LD product. Indicative of such was the assignment of the one "Great Dome' on the roster to the Adirondack during the "leaf peep" season.
FWIW, the S-I sleepers had names assigned, but other than Edward Ullman and George M Pullman, were never applied:
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This "Launch" and "Relaunch" stuff is a Britishism. As an island nation, a lot of things tend to be expressed in nautical terms. When we do it in the US it merely strikes me as pretentious. Same for use of British spellings such as the "ou" instead of just "o" or "re" endings where the normal American spelling ends with "er" Not that I can't do it when I need to. I worked a couple years in Hong Kong, and with a combination of a long term likeing of English mystery novels and a computer spell checker set on "English UK" managed to be able to write decent British style English after a few months.
CorporateMonkey Member # 8365
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quote:Originally posted by smitty195: I'm not sure if the car is staffed and offering all of the upgraded amenities yet. Maybe someone out there has the answer for us?
I do not know anything about that, but when I took the photo their were people (employees?) in the parlour car. It didn't come out in the photo.
I also noticed the tables had table clothes, is this indicative of an operational car? As not traveling long distance before this is all new.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Even when the Parlour Cars were running but unstaffed, they still had the tablecloths and flowers. The sleeping car attendants took over the duties of setting the car up and keeping it clean.
I hope it's staffed, because someone should be in the car to make sure nobody damages all of the new stuff they put in upstairs (such as the $9K espresso maker) and the plasma TV/surround sound theater downstairs.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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I just checked with a friend who works at Amtrak, and yup, the Parlour Cars are staffed now.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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It is difficult to tell from Mr. Monkey's photo whether the car he has photographed is a Pacific Parlour Car or a regular Standard Superliner Sightseer Lounge. (I can't make out any interior details from the photo) Don't the Parlour cars have the words "Pacific Parlour Car" in large lettering on their sides? Or maybe they have done away with that? Anyone know?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Mr. Rich, in the consist of this "special" train that was operated LA-Indio as part of a public event ostensibly called a "concert' (be assured such hardly fits my definition of such), the second car is a Parlour - note that its profile is lower than that of the Superliners visible in the linked photo:
quote:Originally posted by RRRICH: It is difficult to tell from Mr. Monkey's photo whether the car he has photographed is a Pacific Parlour Car or a regular Standard Superliner Sightseer Lounge. (I can't make out any interior details from the photo) Don't the Parlour cars have the words "Pacific Parlour Car" in large lettering on their sides? Or maybe they have done away with that? Anyone know?
The Parlour Cars used to say, "Pacific Parlour Car" on the side, however, they just went through a major refurbishment. As part of that refurbishment, the lettering and paint scheme that you are familiar with was removed, and replaced with the new stripe. You can't see it very well in the photo, but on the right side of the car (on the stripe) it says, "Santa Lucia Highlands". This is car number 39973, and is finally back in service after being gone for about two years. This is the car that was badly vandalized on the interior when it was set-out in Klamath Falls, Oregon due to a mechanical issue. The car was not locked up, and vandals entered the car and completely trashed it. It was then sent back to Beech Grove, Indiana where it was completely stripped down (exterior and interior) because the predecessor of the current CEO at Amtrak had made the decision to eliminate the PPC's. But the current CEO reversed that decision, and had them all refurbished.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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From the Amtrak website:
Exclusive Amenities - Coming Soon
Beginning in mid-2008, rediscover the Coast Starlight. This legendary train will feature enhanced Coaches and Sleeping Cars, along with exclusive new amenities. The Dining Car will offer fresh, regional cuisine, while the Arcade Room will entertain kids of all ages with a great selection of arcade-style video games. Sleeping Car passengers can enjoy Happy Hour specials and a daily tasting of local wines in the refurbished Pacific Parlor Car, which also will offer a specialty coffee bar, onboard theater and alternative dining venue.
From a review of this material, it appears that "Parlour" has taken a one-way trip back across the Atlantic and returned to the Mother Country.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman:
From a review of this material, it appears that "Parlour" has taken a one-way trip back across the Atlantic and returned to the Mother Country.
Not yet. The newly refurbished Parlour/Parlor cars have a new "Pacific Parlour Car" sign/logo on the lower level. Check out Anton's web page for a picture of the newly refurbished 39975 at:
I would insert the photo myself, but I still don't understand how to do it. I think it involves registering for a free web page where you can upload photos, and then do some sort of computer mumbo-jumbo language, and then paste in some sort of HTML language. Whew!!! Way too much of a process to put up a picture. Too bad Railforum doesn't have a simple "upload photo" link.
Of interst, as Mr. Smith has pointed out, it appears that there is a "disconnect" between Amtrak's Art Department (in-house or outside contractor, as the case may be) and their Staff Writers. This is certainly the type of stuff for which there should be a "connection". Hope you are reading 60 Mass (Aafter all, I know for fact you read my stuff I write over @ RRNET).
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Okay, here it goes....let's see if this works.
Hmmm....I think it's just showing the URL address that I copied. Also, I am using a Macintosh so I don't have the same options listed. But thanks for trying! With a Mac laptop (using a trackpad), the "right click" option is accomplished by holding down the "Control" button and clicking at the same time. When I do this, a menu appears with several choices. I selected "Copy Image Address", and that is what I pasted into this post.
Also, this still would not explain how I could post a picture on this forum that I have taken myself. I have had many instances where it would have been nice to attach a photo or two to a post, but I'll be darned if I can understand it. I've asked the moderator how to do it a few times, but have never received a response. I've fairly computer savvy (with Apple, that is), and if it's this hard for me to understand and figure out, I'm sure there are many others who would like to share photos but don't want to bother with the hassle.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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I am completely lost. I don't know what a PHPBB system is, nor do I know what a BBC is (British Broadcasting Network??).
I re-read your instructions in the post above, and I'm not seeing anything about an image protocol (what is an image protocol?). Also, pictures that I take myself are inside my computer---not on the internet---so they would not have a "www" address.
I am 100% confused.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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PHP Bulletin Board is the "canned" message board railroad.net uses.
If I have you confused, then I had best defer to others - as I am NOT any kind of expert. Possibly this material on UBB code will help; scroll down to Images:
I cannot help with regards to "uploading" photos you have taken.
I'd best withdraw on these matters, Mr. Smith, before I am showed up in a manner as Chris Matthews did with this guest on his show who evidently needed a history lesson (I saw it live and couldn't believe what I was seeing).
smitty195 Member # 5102
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Oh, that's embarrassing to watch. I've never heard of the talk show host being interviewed, but wow.......he didn't know his basic world history.
Re: uploading a photo.....I'll have to give up again. Thanks for the help, but this is the same issue I run into each time I've asked. The actual process for putting a photo on here can't be explained to an Apple user. And if I'm understanding things correctly, you can't upload a photo unless it's published on the internet somewhere. Very odd.
FWIW, the way to upload a photo over on Trainorders is very simple. At least, to me it is. You just start a new thread (or reply to one) as you normally would, and in that window you will see, "Attach File". When you click on that, it brings up a window where you can choose any picture you choose (on your computer---not on a web page). Once you select the photo you would like to use, all you do is click "Attach", then post the message as normal. Piece of cake. No code, no registering for a photo website, no copying/pasting, and no variation in instructions for a PC or an Apple. That's about as simple as it can get.
CorporateMonkey Member # 8365
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Rich, here is a link to the original photo I took. I uploaded a smaller version to this thread for better formatting.
You can clearly see the sign that says "Pacific Parlour Car"
That is what got my attention originally.
sbalax Member # 2801
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Great link, Mr. Norman. Thanks.
I wonder if there is any hope that the as yet unamed PPC will be Santa Barbara County or Santa Ynez Valley. We spent a lovely day yesterday tasting and lunching at the Roblar Winery in Santa Ynez.
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