Viewliner I and II discussion

I'm on train 97 in a roomette and it is the original Viewliner. I was just curious as to when all the Viewliners be upgraded to the Viewliner II? Is there a schedule posted somewhere?

Thanks!

Hans627 said:

I'm on train 97 in a roomette and it is the original Viewliner. I was just curious as to when all the Viewliners be upgraded to the Viewliner II? Is there a schedule posted somewhere?

Thanks!

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Never, under current plans. The Viewliner Is were originally slated to be upgraded to the same configuration as the V IIs once all the V IIs were deployed, so they had the same number and type of rooms. Those plans were shelved, and the intent now is to run both types in their current configurations indefinitely.

i‘m in a V1 and it is really looking tired. It needs to be refurbished soon. Are there plans to refurbish the V1’s if they are not going to be replaced?

Hans627 said:

i‘m in a V1 and it is really looking tired. It needs to be refurbished soon. Are there plans to refurbish the V1’s if they are not going to be replaced?

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Yes. Currently the design work for the refresh is in progress. Likely to start the project later this year.

zephyr17 said:

Never, under current plans. The Viewliner Is were originally slated to be upgraded to the same configuration as the V IIs once all the V IIs were deployed, so they had the same number and type of rooms. Those plans were shelved, and the intent now is to run both types in their current configurations indefinitely.

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I was talking to someone who was in the team that produced the Viewliner I design and then worked on them some during the manufacturing phase. His comment was that the much touted modular structure was mainly to better manage the logistics of manufacturing floor and not that much about swapping out random modules at some point in the future. This was never going to be easy. The managers who did not understand this sold the idea that they could be converted easily to the Viewliner II layout. But when it came time to pay the Piper they realized that the Piper needed almost as much as rebuilding the entire car. At which point they backed off and here we are where we are.

Considering how much time it took to just insert the darned modules to build the cars the first time, it had seemed to me at least, that removing modules and inserting new ones will be quite a long drawn out process. The gentleman also explained to me how even the first time they had to rework shims around the modules as they were installed because no one had taken into consideration that the car frame changes shape slightly as modules are loaded up.

So anyway, the bottom line is that the Viewliner Is will remain as is with some superficial fixing up. Maybe the cushion and fixtures will look more like the VL IIs, but there will most likely be no common restrooms. One remote possibility is to replace a Roomette module in the middle of the car with a restroom module, and then seal the commodes shut in place in the Roomettes. But that is also quite unlikely. Getting a restroom module into the end of the car seems totally out of the question. The design activity may be addressing such possibilities, and we won't know for sure until that process is completed

jis said:

Yes.

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But they won't be reconfigured with in room toilets removed from the roomettes and two common use restrooms installed in place of one roomette that was the original intention. It will be a cosmetic refresh with new upholstery and perhaps the faux wood paneling.

jis said:

I was talking to someone who was in the team that produced the Viewliner I design and then worked on them some during the manufacturing phase. His comment was that the much touted modular structure was mainly to better manage the logistics of manufacturing floor and not that much about swapping out random modules at some point in the future. This was never going to be easy. The managers who did not understand this sold the idea that they could be converted easily to the Viewliner II layout. But when it came time to pay the Piper they realized that the Piper needed almost as much as rebuilding the entire car. At which point they backed off and here we are where we are.

Considering how much time it took to just insert the darned modules to build the cars the first time, it had seemed to me at least, that removing modules and inserting new ones will be quite a long drawn out process. The gentleman also explained to me how even the first time they had to rework shims around the modules as they were installed because no one had taken into consideration that the car frame changes shape slightly as modules are loaded up.

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Finally someone actually explained why the VLI refresh was shelved instead of just saying “they shelved it.” I’ve been wondering this for ages, thank you!

Thanks to all for your comments and insight. I better understand the situation now.

The Viewliner Is  are going to be replaced, but that will be part of the long-distance fleet replacement (along with the Superliners and Amfleet IIs) that Amtrak is planning.

What about the long plans to upgrade the V 1s to 125mph?

I am riding Silver Meteor 9711 roomette 3 in June. I would like to know if its a Viewliner 1 or 2 would be greatly appreciated

There is probably no way to know for sure. I think as it stands now, the 11 cars on the Silver Meteor are usually Viewliner 1s. However, it is anticipated that soon (maybe mid-late June), the third sleeper will be removed from the Meteor and then likely, the 11 car may be a Viewliner 2.

Joy B said:

I am riding Silver Meteor 9711 roomette 3 in June. I would like to know if its a Viewliner 1 or 2 would be greatly appreciated

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Based on the best information available so far, the most likely scenario is that until about the 24th of June 9711 will be a Viewliner 1 and after that possibly at least until the end of November it will be a Viewliner 2. Of course these could change due to substitution of bad ordered cars too. And plans could change too.

Does anyone have a current photo of what to expect in a Viewliner roomette? All the photos I've found are old ones with a toilet in them.

Kbyrdleroydogg said:

Does anyone have a current photo of what to expect in a Viewliner roomette? All the photos I've found are old ones with a toilet in them.

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I thought I did, but do not.

In any case, they are pretty much the same. Aside from color scheme, the differences are:
1. No toilet. Replaced by a step with a handy little cubby under it that was good for my daypack.
2. Real thermostat with a temperature setting as opposed to a "warmer/cooler" dial to control the wall heat. Mine actually worked.
3. The luggage cubby above the sink is noticeably shallower.

Kbyrdleroydogg said:

Does anyone have a current photo of what to expect in a Viewliner roomette? All the photos I've found are old ones with a toilet in them.

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There are tons of YouTube trip reports out there. I'll try to find a few later.

Kbyrdleroydogg said:

Does anyone have a current photo of what to expect in a Viewliner roomette? All the photos I've found are old ones with a toilet in them.

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Here you are:

I never minded the Viewliner roometttes with the bathroom in the room. I need to to take a trip to Florida and I always buy a bedroom, plus getting older at times one needs a bathroom and cannot stand in line. Have the news car replaced the older ones or are some of the older sleeping cars still running?

Billvasili said:

I never minded the Viewliner roometttes with the bathroom in the room. I need to to take a trip to Florida and I always buy a bedroom, plus getting older at times one needs a bathroom and cannot stand in line. Have the news car replaced the older ones or are some of the older sleeping cars still running?

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Usually there is at least one older Viewliner in the consist.

If you are traveling in Bedroom, there is no difference between the old and new cars. Both have en suite toilet and shower.

Just got back on Meteor ,up in 10, back in ll both V1; used "facilities in 12 (V!!). noticed much groaning and squeeking in V11 compared to V1 and smoother ride w/o car noises in V1. Had not noted that before; almost enough to prefer V1 over V11; perhaps V1 in more sturdy than V11.

ancompton said:

perhaps V1 in more sturdy than V11.

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That’s a good question. They’re similar in design, but built by different builders. I don’t know if that has any bearing…

railiner said:

That’s a good question. They’re similar in design, but built by different builders. I don’t know if that has any bearing…

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I think this particular case is more likely because that specific V1 just came from periodic maintenance and that specific VII has been running for a while. Nothing to do with inherent property.

zephyr17 said:

I thought I did, but do not.

In any case, they are pretty much the same. Aside from color scheme, the differences are:
1. No toilet. Replaced by a step with a handy little cubby under it that was good for my daypack.
2. Real thermostat with a temperature setting as opposed to a "warmer/cooler" dial to control the wall heat. Mine actually worked.
3. The luggage cubby above the sink is noticeably shallower.

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Of all the trips I have taken, the VLII's temperature control is the ONLY one that actually worked. The VL1 and all versions of Superliners don't do a dang thing but turn left and right.

I've had a temp control work on a Superliner, but it only controls a baseboard heater under the window. It has no effect on the air vent, and they shut the heaters off outside of cold weather. And sometimes they just don't work.

Personally, I very much like one aspect of the Viewliners over the Superliners, and that is that I could wake up in the upper bunk of our sleeper, while my son was still asleep below, and fully sit up in my bunk and read a book, so as not to disturb him until he was up. That was on the Lakeshore, and as I recall, I am unable to do that on the Superliner; there isn't enough headroom in the upper bunk.

Aristotle said:

Personally, I very much like one aspect of the Viewliners over the Superliners, and that is that I could wake up in the upper bunk of our sleeper, while my son was still asleep below, and fully sit up in my bunk and read a book, so as not to disturb him until he was up. That was on the Lakeshore, and as I recall, I am unable to do that on the Superliner; there isn't enough headroom in the upper bunk.

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The Viewliners are nice cars, and it would be nice to see Amtrak order more of them.