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Can anyone (Mr. Norman perhaps who may have spotted #5 or #6 just west of MP18 lately) tell me whether the sleepers are running fore or aft of the diner on the California Zephyr these days?
Also, where in the consist might I find the 631 sleeper these days? I've not been on the Zephyr in a few years and I'm fortunate enough to be taking a ride from Sacramento to Denver in May.
coachseats Member # 7295
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On my RT from CHI-OMA about three weeks ago the sleepers were on the front end of the train both ways. On the trip back I was in the 631 sleeper and it was the one right next to the diner. SAC-DEN should be a great trip- enjoy!
train lady Member # 3920
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631 is usually first or second from the diner. Also all the times we have takes the Zephyr the sleepers have always been to the rear of the diner. So I guess there is no definie answer
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Last month on our Chicago-Grand Junction trip, the sleepers were just in front of the diner both ways.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Thanks for the response everyone......
I'll be going Sacramento-Denver using Guest Reward points. I'm in the Family Room (alone) in the 631 sleeper as that was the only accomodation available when I booked my trip.
I anticipate liberal use of the sightseer lounge because I do enjoy the upstairs view BUT I am looking forward to being near the restroom and and shower.
Perhaps one day my wife and daughter will actually take an extended Amtrak trip with me and we'll use the Family Room as intended.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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I just stopped by the Amtrak yard in Oakland the other day to shoot the breeze with a few people. The Zephyr's sleepers are always running on the front now, because the yard crew in Oakland finally has the time to properly "wye" the train (which requires splitting the train into two sections, and wye'ing one section at a time). When the Zephyr was chronically running extremely late, they would oftentimes not have time to wye both sections of the train, so you would sometimes see the sleepers at the rear. But that hasn't happened for quite some time now.
One note about the numbering system of the sleepers on the Zephyr, and nobody has ever been able to explain this to me.....but.....The "31" sleeper will ALWAYS be next to the diner. There is no "30" sleeper as on most of Amtrak's other trains. The Zephyr, as long as I can remember, has never had a 30 car (0530 or 0630). So if you are in a 31 sleeper, you are next to the diner. If you are in a 32 sleeper, you are two cars up from the diner.
notelvis Member # 3071
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Makes sense (I suppose) to have the sleepers up front behind the transition sleeper on the superliner consists.
palmland Member # 4344
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History question on transition sleepers: are they all Suplerliner II's. If so what was used on earlier Superliner trains for a dorm, a heritage sleeper?
Was the transition sleeper always intended to be a crew dorm car, or did that just 'evolve'? It would have seemed more cost effective to eliminate a baggage car from the consist and have the upper level on the transition be for the crew and lower level for baggage.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Mr. Palmland, all T-Dorms are S-II's.
Here is photo of a converted Hi-Level that was used as a Dorm:
The intent was to have the Dorm as the Crew's car; I'll never forget the glaring looks I got when I once ventured into one of such, with full permission from the Auto Train Director.
The 310XX were Coach Baggage cars; I believe they are still used as such on 21-22 58-59.
palmland Member # 4344
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If a converted ATSF Hilevel was used as a coach dorm, that would explain why all sleepers were on the rear with coaches and coach dorm up front in the early Superliner I era.
Wonder why Amtrak didn't make the new Superliner II transition dorms a coach dorm also, rather than sleeper dorm? My guess would be, if they had to put in a few roomettes for the crew, might as well do the whole car.
I still think a transition dorm/baggage would have been the way to go - as they are talking about for new single level cars in the east.
SilverStar092 Member # 2652
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When the Sunset first was extended to Florida, a Hi Level coach dorm/transition car followed the baggage car followed by the sleepers. This made the coach section of the dorm car basically useless.
Railroad Bob Member # 3508
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quote:Originally posted by SilverStar092: When the Sunset first was extended to Florida, a Hi Level coach dorm/transition car followed the baggage car followed by the sleepers. This made the coach section of the dorm car basically useless.
True, it often ran w/o any revenue chair car passengers, but I recall many times during busy seasons when those seats were put into use. It was a good spot to put a medium-sized tour group, school kids doing a short "take the train" field trip-- that was a fairly common occurence. D/H rail workers moving across the Subdivisions would ride there too- faster and more comfortable than ensconced in a trailing freight unit from GLP to WLO. By the way, that car- the "T/C Dorm" was called the "09" car in old ATSF parlance. Then the regular revenue coaches became "0410, 0411, etc." And of course the crew needed the TC Dorm car there for the "step down" stair at one end, in order to access the Bag Car. Hope this helps!
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