Just had a fun ride on the Ocean View dome car with 10-12 others! It is "visiting" for the holiday weekend. A real treat, but most passengers didn't seem interested or maybe didn't realize how rare it is.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
Ma. McFarland, while you and most others here represent exceptions, again we must not lose sight that "Ocean View" is in consist and revenue service for one reason - they will need the revenue space over the Thanx travel period.
99% of the revenue passengers simply want a ride - and the Horizons regularly assigned provide just that.
Posted by Judy McFarland (Member # 4435) on :
It's just that the dome is a novelty & I thought more people would at least want to take a look at a unique experience. Obviously not everyone would be able to ride in the dome, but not even to be curious enough to look. . . I continue to overestimate a lot of my fellow Americans, I guess.
Posted by smitty195 (Member # 5102) on :
I love the interior of the dome. It's "old school Amtrak" that reminds me of how the Santa Fe Hi-Level cars (which are now the Pacific Parlour Cars on the Coast Starlight) used to look back when they were used in lieu of a Sightseer Lounge (usually on the Zephyr and Sunset Limited). It's a very non-modern interior, but it sure is nice to ride up in that big dome. The only drawback is when it's on a foamer trip and is packed with people. I never enjoy those trips, so I don't do them any more.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
quote:Originally posted by Judy McFarland: I continue to overestimate a lot of my fellow Americans, I guess.
Ms. Mc Farland, there could have been an on-board announcement made to the effect of "Folks, today we have a special travel experience for you which is yours to use free of charge but is first come first served.....(blah blah)".
Some aboard of course would have moved, some might even have had a "shall we.." moment, but by and large, there would be about as much movement as you noted on your recent trip.
Your trip was made before the actual Thanx rush occurred, but Amtrak was positioning its equipment to be ready. Was the Dome filled yesterday? of course it was. Was it filled with sightseers and novelty experience seekers? hardly. It simply represented some 50 or so seats.
Posted by bill613a (Member # 4264) on :
Does anybody know why Amtrak did not run this car on the CARDINAL on 11/9 & 11/10 as they had advertised?
Posted by MontanaJim (Member # 2323) on :
"Does anybody know why Amtrak did not run this car on the CARDINAL on 11/9 & 11/10 as they had advertised?"