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rayray

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hello everybody i come too ask perfetionals obout this amtrak consist thing.ive been on trips to railfan the nec and all the amtrak trains have reversed consists :huh: like the silvers have the amfleets first then the dinning car then the viewliner ummmmmmmmmmmm anybody know why i dont see the other version anymore i like it better but this this remix of the consists aint gonna fly <_<

RAYRAY
 
hello everybody i come too ask perfetionals obout this amtrak consist thing.ive been on trips to railfan the nec and all the amtrak trains have reversed consists :huh: like the silvers have the amfleets first then the dinning car then the viewliner ummmmmmmmmmmm anybody know why i dont see the other version anymore i like it better but this this remix of the consists aint gonna fly <_<

RAYRAY

All consists (Silver Star/Meteor, Crescent) have moved the sleepers to the rear, coaches to the fron permanently. They did it because there was too much horn noise for all of the crossings in the South. But now the ride suffers because the tracks aren't kept in the "best shape avalible". You'll just have to let it fly, even if you don't like it.

cpamtfan-Peter
 
hello everybody i come too ask perfetionals obout this amtrak consist thing.ive been on trips to railfan the nec and all the amtrak trains have reversed consists :huh: like the silvers have the amfleets first then the dinning car then the viewliner ummmmmmmmmmmm anybody know why i dont see the other version anymore i like it better but this this remix of the consists aint gonna fly <_<

RAYRAY

All consists (Silver Star/Meteor, Crescent) have moved the sleepers to the rear, coaches to the fron permanently. They did it because there was too much horn noise for all of the crossings in the South. But now the ride suffers because the tracks aren't kept in the "best shape avalible". You'll just have to let it fly, even if you don't like it.

cpamtfan-Peter
but thats crap the people in the viewliners dont be that close too the horn its not like they right on top of it :angry:
 
hello everybody i come too ask perfetionals obout this amtrak consist thing.ive been on trips to railfan the nec and all the amtrak trains have reversed consists :huh: like the silvers have the amfleets first then the dinning car then the viewliner ummmmmmmmmmmm anybody know why i dont see the other version anymore i like it better but this this remix of the consists aint gonna fly <_<

RAYRAY

All consists (Silver Star/Meteor, Crescent) have moved the sleepers to the rear, coaches to the fron permanently. They did it because there was too much horn noise for all of the crossings in the South. But now the ride suffers because the tracks aren't kept in the "best shape avalible". You'll just have to let it fly, even if you don't like it.

cpamtfan-Peter
but thats crap the people in the viewliners dont be that close too the horn its not like they right on top of it :angry:
I have heard a definite increase in horn noise in coach since they reversed the trains. The horns are loud and an engine and baggage car are not enough of a buffer to let people sleep which is what they paid extra for. Heck my parents live 3/4 mile from train tracks and complain about the horns at night.
 
I rode the Silvers and LSL in June and was quite unhappy that the sleepers were in the rear. I spoke to many people who had phoned Amtrak to complain. When I returned, I, too, phoned customer service to complain. I would much rather hear a whistle and have a smoother ride.
 
I rode the Silvers and LSL in June and was quite unhappy that the sleepers were in the rear. I spoke to many people who had phoned Amtrak to complain. When I returned, I, too, phoned customer service to complain. I would much rather hear a whistle and have a smoother ride.
I like the sleepers on the rear. For over 100 years the Pullman company and then Amtrak ran the vast majority of their sleepers on the rear of the trains. It avoided the head end noise, activity from mail and baggage handling, was more convenient for those boarding at stub end terminals (shorter walk), facilitated adding and removing sleepers enroute, and best of all allowed you to easily check out the view from the rear window as the railroad unfolds behind you. Never understood why in the past 10 years Amtrak changed this. Having had many rides on the rear, I was never aware of a rougher ride. In my opinion, good for Amtrak for putting them where they belong.
 
I rode the Silvers and LSL in June and was quite unhappy that the sleepers were in the rear. I spoke to many people who had phoned Amtrak to complain. When I returned, I, too, phoned customer service to complain. I would much rather hear a whistle and have a smoother ride.
One week ago today I rode in the H room of a Boston Sleeper from CHI to ALB and I was in the very first room behind the engine and the baggage car. (The NYP sleepers were somewhat further back in the consist, but I'm not sure just how far back) From my room I could see the sign in the next car that indicated that no passengers were permitted beyond that point.

I have to say that the whistle was not a problem for me. But then again I like the sound of train whistles, and I am happy that where I just moved to you can hear an occasional whistle of a train passing in the evening... something I haven't been able to say for about 40 years except while at camp during the summer. However, the ride itself was the furthest from being smooth that I have ever experience, at least for an eastern train. The ride up front may sometimes be smoother, but for me it was no picnic that night; or even during the day for that matter.
 
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I definitely think the ride on the bottom is rougher. One of the roughest rides I ever had was when I was in the 5800 on the bottom of the CONO. When I was in the Lounge or Diner things were fine, but the sleeper was pretty rough. You also have to remember that the Pullman cars were much heavier than the Viewliners are. You also usually had a first class lounge brining up the markers, not a sleeper.
 
I don't think it's a big deal where the cars are in the consist, just as long as they're all coupled to the locos. :)
 
I just finished a Texas Eagle run in the Trans-Dorm, which is directly behind the engine as that train carries no Baggage Car. Not only did I enjoy listening to the K5LA, even at night (I'm always fascinated at how each engineer has his or her unique way of sounding the so-called standard signals) but also the throttling up and back of the engine was interesting, especially at night when background noise was low. Just remember to use the net if you're in an Upper :)
 
If you're on a run like Auto Train or the Meteor when you have multiple engineers working at the same time it's kind of interesting to see if you can tell when they switch seats. Of course assuming you don't listen on the scanner then it's blatantly obvious.
 
I just finished a Texas Eagle run in the Trans-Dorm, which is directly behind the engine as that train carries no Baggage Car.
I lost my copy of "Luggage Check for Dummies" and I'm wondering, does no baggage car mean you can't check luggage? And if so, when did that begin? I took the TE in 1992 and 2000 and we were able to check baggage back then.
 
I just finished a Texas Eagle run in the Trans-Dorm, which is directly behind the engine as that train carries no Baggage Car.
I lost my copy of "Luggage Check for Dummies" and I'm wondering, does no baggage car mean you can't check luggage? And if so, when did that begin? I took the TE in 1992 and 2000 and we were able to check baggage back then.
They have coaches that have a baggage area on the lower level that subs for the baggage car. It has a big bay door that opens direct to the outside of the train.
 
Heck my parents live 3/4 mile from train tracks and complain about the horns at night.
I grew up (11 years) about 500 feet from the Coast Line (the SP's north-south mainline in California and the route of the Coast Starlight) and about 1/4 mile from a private driveway crossing a few houses down. That meant the trains were usually blowing their horns right as they passed my bedroom.

Never bothered me. In fact, if it were daytime, as soon as I'd hear the train coming, I'd run out to the back fence to watch it and wave at it. And if it were night and I were lying in bed, I'd run to the window. And if I were sleeping, I'd never be awoken, but my dreams were made happy. :)

(Except one vivid nightmare where a train kind of entered my bedroom in the way that only something in a dream can happen, but that was an isolated incident!)
 
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Heck my parents live 3/4 mile from train tracks and complain about the horns at night.
I grew up (11 years) about 500 feet from the Coast Line (the SP's north-south mainline in California and the route of the Coast Starlight) and about 1/4 mile from a private driveway crossing a few houses down. That meant the trains were usually blowing their horns right as they passed my bedroom.

Never bothered me. In fact, if it were daytime, as soon as I'd hear the train coming, I'd run out to the back fence to watch it and wave at it. And if it were night and I were lying in bed, I'd run to the window. And if I were sleeping, I'd never be awoken, but my dreams were made happy. :)

(Except one vivid nightmare where a train kind of entered my bedroom in the way that only something in a dream can happen, but that was an isolated incident!)
heck its just wrong too put sleepers on the end of the consists its just not the way amtrak should roll i love slepping inthe viewliner listening to k5la especialy at night but after my last ride yesterday when there were on the rear i was soo mad the only good thing obout this is when i took the the cresent to alanta i was in the last amfleet which is know right behind the baggage car i could hear the k5la great but thats still wrong amfleets should never be this way unless on th reginal or palmettooo but know that the consists have reversed its like the cardinal took over the silvers :angry:
 
hello everybody i come too ask perfetionals obout this amtrak consist thing.ive been on trips to railfan the nec and all the amtrak trains have reversed consists :huh: like the silvers have the amfleets first then the dinning car then the viewliner ummmmmmmmmmmm anybody know why i dont see the other version anymore i like it better but this this remix of the consists aint gonna fly <_<

RAYRAY

All consists (Silver Star/Meteor, Crescent) have moved the sleepers to the rear, coaches to the fron permanently. They did it because there was too much horn noise for all of the crossings in the South. But now the ride suffers because the tracks aren't kept in the "best shape avalible". You'll just have to let it fly, even if you don't like it.

cpamtfan-Peter
Umm.. No.

The sleepers were moved to the back for safety issues. With the consists having sleepers up front the lounge cars had no vestibule doors, this movement addresses the issue with the emergency exits-- any "improvement" with noise reduction is secondary.

And if anybody wants to complain about the arrangement-- then I suggest they plan on being in the lounge car in case of an emergency.

For more information see this thread--
 
The move to the back was claimed to be a safety issue. You know how you fix the door problem? You flip the sleepers around the other way. DUH!
 
The move to the back was claimed to be a safety issue. You know how you fix the door problem? You flip the sleepers around the other way. DUH!
Why is it everytime Amtrak makes a decision people assume that Amtrak is out to screw with railfans...

It's quite obviously an issue as you want public places on the train to have the most possible exits, especially if they're in the middle of the consist. It would not be enough to simply turn the sleepers around as then you have another problem with the vestibules between the two sleepers since the vestibules would be on opposite ends... Amtrak's method streamlines the operation to allow for less mistakes in the yard and easier train turning as well as car swap outs.
 
I grew up (11 years) about 500 feet from the Coast Line (the SP's north-south mainline in California and the route of the Coast Starlight) and about 1/4 mile from a private driveway crossing a few houses down. That meant the trains were usually blowing their horns right as they passed my bedroom.
Never bothered me. In fact, if it were daytime, as soon as I'd hear the train coming, I'd run out to the back fence to watch it and wave at it. And if it were night and I were lying in bed, I'd run to the window. And if I were sleeping, I'd never be awoken, but my dreams were made happy. :)

(Except one vivid nightmare where a train kind of entered my bedroom in the way that only something in a dream can happen, but that was an isolated incident!)
I spent about the 1st 6 years of my life about that far from the SP tracks in SF East Bay. I get rocked to sleep by the horn now while training, and I'm a light sleeper.

Funny, I had that train entering the house dream too, but coming at the back door. When it got close, I slammed the door shut. No problem, no more train. ;)
 
The move to the back was claimed to be a safety issue. You know how you fix the door problem? You flip the sleepers around the other way. DUH!
Why is it everytime Amtrak makes a decision people assume that Amtrak is out to screw with railfans...

It's quite obviously an issue as you want public places on the train to have the most possible exits, especially if they're in the middle of the consist. It would not be enough to simply turn the sleepers around as then you have another problem with the vestibules between the two sleepers since the vestibules would be on opposite ends... Amtrak's method streamlines the operation to allow for less mistakes in the yard and easier train turning as well as car swap outs.
No, turning the sleepers would have worked. What battalion51 is saying to do would be exactly the same as pulling the current consist backwards, except with the baggage car next to the Viewliners, not the coaches.
 
I grew up (11 years) about 500 feet from the Coast Line (the SP's north-south mainline in California and the route of the Coast Starlight) and about 1/4 mile from a private driveway crossing a few houses down. That meant the trains were usually blowing their horns right as they passed my bedroom.
Never bothered me. In fact, if it were daytime, as soon as I'd hear the train coming, I'd run out to the back fence to watch it and wave at it. And if it were night and I were lying in bed, I'd run to the window. And if I were sleeping, I'd never be awoken, but my dreams were made happy. :)

(Except one vivid nightmare where a train kind of entered my bedroom in the way that only something in a dream can happen, but that was an isolated incident!)
I spent about the 1st 6 years of my life about that far from the SP tracks in SF East Bay. I get rocked to sleep by the horn now while training, and I'm a light sleeper.

Funny, I had that train entering the house dream too, but coming at the back door. When it got close, I slammed the door shut. No problem, no more train. ;)
i would like to know the idiot who made this nightmare happen whyyyyyyyyy whyy the consist look shaful know its just soo terrible to me im so sick of it that i stopped railfanning amtrak silvers beacuse of the cars swiching around this issssssssss crap :angry:
 
If anything Amtrak went and created a safety hazard. One of the Conductors has to be in the baggage car to load and unload bags, while the other tends to the coaches. So now assuming the Conductor is working the 43 car you've got a pretty sizable distance between him and the rear of the train where the sleepers are loading.
 
I grew up (11 years) about 500 feet from the Coast Line (the SP's north-south mainline in California and the route of the Coast Starlight) and about 1/4 mile from a private driveway crossing a few houses down. That meant the trains were usually blowing their horns right as they passed my bedroom.
Never bothered me. In fact, if it were daytime, as soon as I'd hear the train coming, I'd run out to the back fence to watch it and wave at it. And if it were night and I were lying in bed, I'd run to the window. And if I were sleeping, I'd never be awoken, but my dreams were made happy. :)

(Except one vivid nightmare where a train kind of entered my bedroom in the way that only something in a dream can happen, but that was an isolated incident!)
I spent about the 1st 6 years of my life about that far from the SP tracks in SF East Bay. I get rocked to sleep by the horn now while training, and I'm a light sleeper.

Funny, I had that train entering the house dream too, but coming at the back door. When it got close, I slammed the door shut. No problem, no more train. ;)
i would like to know the idiot who made this nightmare happen whyyyyyyyyy whyy the consist look shaful know its just soo terrible to me im so sick of it that i stopped railfanning amtrak silvers beacuse of the cars swiching around this issssssssss crap :angry:
Take pictures of freights.

If anything Amtrak went and created a safety hazard. One of the Conductors has to be in the baggage car to load and unload bags, while the other tends to the coaches. So now assuming the Conductor is working the 43 car you've got a pretty sizable distance between him and the rear of the train where the sleepers are loading.
And that creates a safety hazard, how, exactly? You have the conductor board the appropriate coach and send sleeper pax down the platform to the TCA who would be sitting there waiting to collect his sleepers.
 
The move to the back was claimed to be a safety issue. You know how you fix the door problem? You flip the sleepers around the other way. DUH!
Why is it everytime Amtrak makes a decision people assume that Amtrak is out to screw with railfans...

It's quite obviously an issue as you want public places on the train to have the most possible exits, especially if they're in the middle of the consist. It would not be enough to simply turn the sleepers around as then you have another problem with the vestibules between the two sleepers since the vestibules would be on opposite ends... Amtrak's method streamlines the operation to allow for less mistakes in the yard and easier train turning as well as car swap outs.
No, turning the sleepers would have worked. What battalion51 is saying to do would be exactly the same as pulling the current consist backwards, except with the baggage car next to the Viewliners, not the coaches.
Being that some people can become sick (nausa, dizzyness, vertigo) from riding backwards in a moving vehicle, doesn't Amtrak try as best they can to made sure that all sleeper rooms with seats that only face in one direct are oriented so that the passengers are facing the direction that the train is going in? In rooms with duel facing seats, like the Superliner H rooms, an individual can switch seats if it becomes necessary, but on the singular facing seats, like the Viewliners H room, switching is not an option.
 
If anything Amtrak went and created a safety hazard.
As a professional railroader, I respectably disagree with you on this.

of the Conductors has to be in the baggage car to load and unload bags, while the other tends to the coaches. So now assuming the Conductor is working the 43 car you've got a pretty sizable distance between him and the rear of the train where the sleepers are loading.
Ok, I wanna here from you how a conductor (put yourself in his/her shoes) should handle this issue. As a T&E railroader by profession, I already know what the solution should be, here (even though I am concerned mostly with freight railroading). I have already observed my passenger T&E peers implementing the proper solutions to this issue.

I don't disagree with you in the respect with the help situation, however. Prior to Amtrak switching the consists to the "wrong way" about ten years ago, we had three T&E crew members in the back instead of just the two as we do now. So it would be nice for that third assistant conductor/flagman to be brought back into service. But it would also be nice if Amtrak would restore the dining car and lounge car to the staffing levels of yesteryear as well!

But the bottom line is, it is what it is! And there has been no further safety issue created here. It merely changes the the way the crew must work the train. So let's hear from you why you believe this is a safety issue when in fact safety for the passengers and crew has been increased with the solution Amtrak has implemented!

Safety takes precedence over everything in railroading (at least on my train or tour of duty)!

OBS gone freight...
 
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