Search results

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
  1. Palmland

    Winter Park (Colorado) Express is back

    Good question. While you would often see interline baggage cars in the east where a southeastern road sent them to PRR, the UP went most everywhere of significance the DRGW/WP went. And the UP didn’t absorb the WP until 1982.
  2. Palmland

    Winter Park (Colorado) Express is back

    We talked about this a few months ago and I mentioned seeing the ski train and riding the Yampa Valley train while at CSU. I've now, finally, embarked on a never ending project to scan my many slides from long ago. I had forgotten about these. They were taken on my second trip out west in April...
  3. Palmland

    Eric & Pat’s May 2024 Trip Report: San Diego - Toledo - San Diego

    You trip reports are worthy of a Passenger Trains Journal article. I particularly like your including historical information with your trip report. Keep on traveling!
  4. Palmland

    Atlantic Coast (Silver/Palmetto/Carolinian) Service discussion Q4 2023 - 2024 H1

    91 this morning had a fourth coach. Just in time for the holiday weekend. Sleepers still 9110 VL1, 9111 VL2
  5. Palmland

    Cardinal discussion

    Why two different shifts for LD and day trains? The SCA’s have beds made upon arrival. Cleaning sleeper rooms, coaches, rest rooms, emptying trash, shouldn’t be much different between a coach and sleepers. I would think the cost of an additional cleaner or two would be more than offset by...
  6. Palmland

    Auto Train discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

    Nice article in the Orlando Sentinel about a coach trip northbound on AutoTrain. Generally favorable with only negatives being a restless sleep, about an hour late arrival, and waiting two hours for his auto. “Despite the wait, the Amtrak Auto Train proved a worthwhile experience that I would...
  7. Palmland

    New train (40-41 Floridian) between Miami and Chicago via Washington DC

    Well, as you point out, the Star is often delayed. So, regardless of changes to its schedule, I would think the Carolinian would be your train of choice (unless you’re splurging on a roomette)? It’s only 90 minutes or so behind the Star and also has business class if you want to avoid crowded...
  8. Palmland

    Atlantic Coast (Silver/Palmetto/Carolinian) Service discussion Q4 2023 - 2024 H1

    I saw 98 in Deland today with same consist as described above. Good to see a healthier train size. I’m sure this isn’t news to many but I didn’t realize Amtrak was renaming VL1 sleepers and this began in 2015 to match the VL2 cars being built. When I first saw this car I thought it was a VL2...
  9. Palmland

    History of the creation of Railpax which became Amtrak

    Yes, that is what the 1971 timetables show. By 1973 it originated in LAX. There was a daily Coast Daylight on the same schedule LAX to Oakland on the days the Starlight didn't operate. By 1976 it was 6 each way. By the way, the 1973 a roomette Chicago-LA would set you back $149. Using an...
  10. Palmland

    History of the creation of Railpax which became Amtrak

    Fascinating history lesson, thanks for posting. Jim McClellan was a bit like Forest Gump- he was everywhere at that exciting time, as this article describes. I remember watching the evening news and seeing Secretary Volpe describe the routes. At that time there was a lot of enthusiasm for...
  11. Palmland

    Future ideas for service in South Eastern US

    And that's a real oversight. Hard to find a faster growing area then the Triangle in NC and the coastal cities in SC and GA. Our son is in the process of moving to Beaufort, SC (and reduce the need for us to use AutoTrain) and I was amazed at the amount of developments between Charleston and...
  12. Palmland

    Future ideas for service in South Eastern US

    Because Amtrak moves at glacial speed, I suspect we'll see Jax- West Palm service via Brightline long before Amtrak gets around to it. But it's fun to talk about the 'what if's'. For us, the drive to Daytona is maybe 15 minutes longer than the drive to the Deland station. And the extension of...
  13. Palmland

    Future ideas for service in South Eastern US

    Those were the days when railroads competed for passenger business. Amtrak seems to be motivated by cost control and hands off management of day to day operations.
  14. Palmland

    Sightseer Lounge etiquette

    And it really was superior service. I especially liked the special PPC menu and service and being able to sit at a table of your choosing for just the two of us and sitting across from each other.
  15. Palmland

    Future ideas for service in South Eastern US

    I don't think Amtrak would compete with Brightline if they were 'stops only to discharge passengers' West Palm and south. Where they would compete is for track time and would probably get a priority behind Brightline, Tri-iRail, and FEC. I know CSX/Amtrak ran an inspection train down the FEC...
  16. Palmland

    Amtrak Dining and Cafe Service discussion 2024 H1

    Ironically, Continental was one of the last airlines to offer meals to coach passengers. I don’t remember the reason I was on a Continental flight but thinking the hamburger was pretty good. According to this article it apparently ended in 2010. Continental coach food
  17. Palmland

    Atlantic Coast (Silver/Palmetto/Carolinian) Service discussion Q4 2023 - 2024 H1

    More train time for the same price! With a current Deland ETA for 2:02, you may meet 98 (Deland 2:40) and get to use the new double track south of there.
  18. Palmland

    Atlantic Coast (Silver/Palmetto/Carolinian) Service discussion Q4 2023 - 2024 H1

    Interesting, I didn't realize the Florida Special lasted that long. That prompted me to pull out the timetable from that winter and not only did it have the features you mention but the scheduled time had been reduced to a flat 24 hours - 11:15 am departure and arrival. Aside from the dome...
  19. Palmland

    Atlantic Coast (Silver/Palmetto/Carolinian) Service discussion Q4 2023 - 2024 H1

    Interesting they had that so long ago. Here is the ad in the ACL timetables for the winter 63/64. 64/65. Note the hostess talking with happy passengers in the recreation car. Can you imagine what the fashion show was like. I suspect the TV's were a short lived feature as that could be really...
  20. Palmland

    Atlantic Coast (Silver/Palmetto/Carolinian) Service discussion Q4 2023 - 2024 H1

    Somewhere I have a photo of the dome/sleeper being added in Richmond on a snowy day during my college years in Ashland. The screenshot is from the January 1966 Official Guide, courtesy of Timetable World. Also in this consist are the 7 Dbr-2 Dr cars. These had been modified by Pullman in 1961/62...
Back
Top