I know of that "six vending machines in two cars" plan, but On-track-on-line still indicates one vending car per train with some combination of coach seats and/or table seats. I wonder if that's why those cars at Siemens have no interiors yet; incredibly, that still hasn't been sorted out.
I wouldn't trust On-track-on-line over the documents from SJJPA and the state
Wheelchairs can go between cars I believe. That's one of the benefits of Venture cars. Every car should have restrooms.
Same Marketing Hype that Amtrak used when introducing Flex Meals on the LD Trains!
I wonder how they handled heating those "hot tray meals" ?
Hate to say it, but I think Automatic Buffet Car fare was better than Flex.Same Marketing Hype that Amtrak used when introducing Flex Meals on the LD Trains!
I believe the SP added microwave ovens to the cars not long after the cars were introduced. Microwaves weren't in the original design, I suspect, because microwaves were pretty much introduced at the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. I believe the first automat car came out of SP's Sacramento shops in 1961.
As one who experienced the SP Automatic Biuffet Cars and the Fresh and Contemporay Meals, along with the Flex Variations, Id say all 3 were Subpar!
The new Venture trainsets are fully wheelchair accessible. You can freely move in your wheelchair through the entire train.
I don’t know how the SP did it, but PC used to have an attendant staffing their NEC coach-snack bars (“Hot-Cold Food and Beverages”), and they used to heat sandwiches in a plastic bag submerged in a very hot water tank of some sort, IIRC. Their “hot beef sandwiches” were pretty tasty…
That sounds like an upgrade from the PC food service I remember. A guy sitting in the rear seats of an ex PRR P70 coach selling cold sandwiches and snacks out of a cardboard box on the seat.I don’t know how the SP did it, but PC used to have an attendant staffing their NEC coach-snack bars (“Hot-Cold Food and Beverages”), and they used to heat sandwiches in a plastic bag submerged in a very hot water tank of some sort, IIRC. Their “hot beef sandwiches” were pretty tasty…
I believe PC called that: “Food Service by Train Sales Staff”, or something like that…
I believe the SP usually had one Automat attendant per car as well. And while that attendant wasn't on duty 24 hours a day, at least SP trains with automat cars were the only ones in the country to offer 24-hour food service, unless the train crew closed the car at night. I'm not sure about that one.I don’t know how the SP did it, but PC used to have an attendant staffing their NEC coach-snack bars (“Hot-Cold Food and Beverages”), and they used to heat sandwiches in a plastic bag submerged in a very hot water tank of some sort, IIRC. Their “hot beef sandwiches” were pretty tasty…
The attendant was there mainly to maintain, stock, and clean the machines.
And then there was "Sandwiches and refreshments by Train Sales Service" on the Great Northern.I believe PC called that: “Food Service by Train Sales Staff”, or something like that…
Served liquor, too.
See, there are some things that robots can't do.
I’m guessing you haven’t sailed on one of these Royal Caribbean ships…
When I rode in summertime, there was a second attendant. I remember that well, because of the comparison with the Northern Pacific cafeteria-style car on Pool Trains 407/408 that served good food, including freshly made sandwiches with a two-man crew. They added a third man for clean-up on peak days. So, the SP saved a position and perhaps some commissary costs versus the NP approach and came up with a concept that was despised then and now.
