Search results

It is generally when there's a relatively light load. When they do it, just show up before or when they announce last call. If they're full, they'll wait list you and you'll be seated and served. It's just like breakfast service in that regard. You just need to be attentive to last call and...

1. The equipment is needed to restore consists to previous sizes, not sit around. As noted before, the actual track record of the Builder turns this year is not particularly bad, is pretty normal, and was far, far worse in the period around 10 years ago. In light of the absence of an actual...

It has always been a pretty even split between the NEC and the National Network ever since Congress demanded that the accounting be kept separate several years ago. Nothing new there and not evidence that mis-charging NEC expenses to National Network trains had stopped in that fact alone. There...

1. What solution is "at hand"? 2. What is special about this coming winter? 3. There were a hell of a lot more blown turns on the Builder for years during the Bakken oil boom of the early 2010s before BNSF added a lot of second main track than there are now. 4. Amtrak has been Forrest Gumping...

Most crew rest related delays are at smaller crew bases en route, not at the endpoints where the train is turned. Particularly at the en route away terminals. At endpoints in larger cities most crews at the base are qualified on multiple routes so there are others available. In most cases an...

Yes, guaranteed connections booked using Multi-City are still guaranteed. Some things have to be booked using Multi-City, particularly between smaller cities that haven't been added to the city pair lists between two trains that show as guaranteed between larger cities. While that isn't the...

That's against Amtrak policy and they make announcements about it if they see you. The engineer has mirrors and often checks the consist on curves. If they see someone has a window open they'll radio back. If they catch you at it you'll get a stern warning if it's a conductor, maybe a softer...

That's probably because of the lower pressure differential due to altitude. The vacuum system does not exert as much force against the lower pressure so is even more prone to clogging than it normally is. The Zephyr tops at 9200 feet and stays over 6,000 feet for extended periods. That's...

Superliner Is were built with "indirect dump". Waste went into a "macerator" then into small retention tanks which would periodically dump as a fine mist at speeds over 30(?). I recall announcements on the Starlight approaching Vancouver, WA for attendants to set their cars to "inhibit"...

Probably head to the SSL around Green River or a bit after so as to ensure seats through Ruby Canyon. They'll likely be some snow at higher elevations. A "good bit" by only mid-November is chancy at best.

The Builder turns at Seattle and Portland never were entirely realistic. But most of the time the worst effect is they go out a just a couple hours late, which is not great, but not catastrophic either. Since the January 1st, it left Seattle more than 2 1/2 hours late 12 times, and more than 4...

It isn't the money, they flat do not have enough equipment to have extra consists. The crew stops being paid the second the train stops at its terminal. That is indeed a matter of money, but also of culture. When they initially moved the Sunset's arrival at Los Angeles to 5:35 am, the policy...

Amtrak only has commisary services at terminals. The only western LD with a mid route commisary is the Starlight which can use the Oakland commisary to top off. They do not stock diners or cafes away from commisaries. Santa Fe/Fred Harvey maintained several commisaries along the route up to...

20 minutes before Glenwood Springs you'll be in Glenwood Canyon westbound. Myself, I'd go to the Sightseer 30 or 40 minutes after Granby for Gore Canyon and stay in it until Glenwood Springs.

That's usually if the diner goes out of service for some reason, or bustitutions, not so much severe lateness. My guess is, if it's done in cases of lateness, they don't have enough stock of the emergency rations onboard for some reason.

It goes back and forth. I'd say generally about 70-80% of the time lunch is by reservation, that's any train with diner service. It depends on the individual crews, probably influenced by the load.

They'll serve a meal to all passengers, typically Dinty Moore stew over rice. They probably will not serve the regular diner menu to sleeper passengers as they likely will have run out. They'll likely run low on all items, including bottled water. However, no one will go thirsty, They'll make...

They usually announce what time zone a given meal is going to be served on when there might be a time zone change shortly before, during, or shortly after a meal service. The entire service stays on that time, as @Eric in East County points out. However, it shouldn't be a problem on the...

Officially the dining car meal services are: Breakfast 6:30-9:00 am Lunch 11:30 am-2:30 pm Dinner 5:00 pm-9:00 pm In practice, this can vary somewhat. Breakfasts they usually open on the dot at 6:30. They are usually pretty good about staying open until 9:00 but I have seem them stop seating...

Thanks, I was looking at www.timetables.org.