Best stinkin' sleeping car attendant on Empire Builder

[jackal]

Well, I can't compare him to any of the folks you've mentioned, but I was supremely impressed by the service rendered by Cruz on my Coast Starlight short adventure last year. If these guys are even half as cool as Cruz, then they totally ROCK!

 

[sunchaser]

Well, I can't compare him to any of the folks you've mentioned, but I was supremely impressed by the service rendered by Cruz on my Coast Starlight short adventure last year. If these guys are even half as cool as Cruz, then they totally ROCK!

Is Cruz on typically the NB (#14) CS or the SB (#11)? I've been hoping we would luck out & get him....Have read many trip reports/travelogs mentioning what a great Attendant he is!!!

 

[RTOlson]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?

For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

 

[MrFSS]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?
For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

Yes - the SCA I had going from NOL to CHI a couple of days ago arrived at CHI at 9:00AM and would be the SCA on that evening's train CHI to NOL. I asked and she confirmed it. She is a NOL crew based member. She can work that route twice and then have time off, or, sometimes even work it three times if she wants the overtime. The SCA I had from CHI to NOL was done and went home in NOL when we arrived there, so he had been to CHI two days before.

 

[sunchaser]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?
For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

Yes - the SCA I had going from NOL to CHI a couple of days ago arrived at CHI at 9:00AM and would be the SCA on that evening's train CHI to NOL. I asked and she confirmed it. She is a NOL crew based member. She can work that route twice and then have time off, or, sometimes even work it three times if she wants the overtime. The SCA I had from CHI to NOL was done and went home in NOL when we arrived there, so he had been to CHI two days before.

I know, dumb question-I was thinking if the attendant originated in another city like Portland? The question made sense at the time......guess it was a brief blonde moment. :lol:

 

[MrFSS]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?
For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

Yes - the SCA I had going from NOL to CHI a couple of days ago arrived at CHI at 9:00AM and would be the SCA on that evening's train CHI to NOL. I asked and she confirmed it. She is a NOL crew based member. She can work that route twice and then have time off, or, sometimes even work it three times if she wants the overtime. The SCA I had from CHI to NOL was done and went home in NOL when we arrived there, so he had been to CHI two days before.

I know, dumb question-I was thinking if the attendant originated in another city like Portland? The question made sense at the time......guess it was a brief blonde moment. :lol:

OBS crews always start at one end or the other of a route. Not in the middle.

 

[sunchaser]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?
For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

Yes - the SCA I had going from NOL to CHI a couple of days ago arrived at CHI at 9:00AM and would be the SCA on that evening's train CHI to NOL. I asked and she confirmed it. She is a NOL crew based member. She can work that route twice and then have time off, or, sometimes even work it three times if she wants the overtime. The SCA I had from CHI to NOL was done and went home in NOL when we arrived there, so he had been to CHI two days before.

I know, dumb question-I was thinking if the attendant originated in another city like Portland? The question made sense at the time......guess it was a brief blonde moment. :lol:

OBS crews always start at one end or the other of a route. Not in the middle.

Thanks for the correction! Then the crews, in this case 'always' originate in LA? Not ever in Seattle? Same with the Zephyr? They are always from Chicago, never Emeryville/Sac? I thought they could be from either end point.

 

[MrFSS]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?
For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

Yes - the SCA I had going from NOL to CHI a couple of days ago arrived at CHI at 9:00AM and would be the SCA on that evening's train CHI to NOL. I asked and she confirmed it. She is a NOL crew based member. She can work that route twice and then have time off, or, sometimes even work it three times if she wants the overtime. The SCA I had from CHI to NOL was done and went home in NOL when we arrived there, so he had been to CHI two days before.

I know, dumb question-I was thinking if the attendant originated in another city like Portland? The question made sense at the time......guess it was a brief blonde moment. :lol:

OBS crews always start at one end or the other of a route. Not in the middle.

Thanks for the correction! Then the crews, in this case 'always' originate in LA? Not ever in Seattle? Same with the Zephyr? They are always from Chicago, never Emeryville/Sac? I thought they could be from either end point.

It depends which route we are talking about. I was just on CONO and it is uses a NOL based crew. However, The Crescent which runs between NYP and NOL uses a New York based crew. So, a particular start/endpoint can have a crew from either end. I'm not sure about the CS but I believe the CZ uses an Emeryville crew that then turns in CHI and comes back. Last time I rode the EB they had a Seattle crew.

 

[sunchaser]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?
For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

Yes - the SCA I had going from NOL to CHI a couple of days ago arrived at CHI at 9:00AM and would be the SCA on that evening's train CHI to NOL. I asked and she confirmed it. She is a NOL crew based member. She can work that route twice and then have time off, or, sometimes even work it three times if she wants the overtime. The SCA I had from CHI to NOL was done and went home in NOL when we arrived there, so he had been to CHI two days before.

I know, dumb question-I was thinking if the attendant originated in another city like Portland? The question made sense at the time......guess it was a brief blonde moment. :lol:

OBS crews always start at one end or the other of a route. Not in the middle.

Thanks for the correction! Then the crews, in this case 'always' originate in LA? Not ever in Seattle? Same with the Zephyr? They are always from Chicago, never Emeryville/Sac? I thought they could be from either end point.

It depends which route we are talking about. I was just on CONO and it is uses a NOL based crew. However, The Crescent which runs between NYP and NOL uses a New York based crew. So, a particular start/endpoint can have a crew from either end. I'm not sure about the CS but I believe the CZ uses an Emeryville crew that then turns in CHI and comes back. Last time I rode the EB they had a Seattle crew.

Is it possible that any train could have a crew at either end? To me that makes more sense. Not that it has to be that way, but if the crew does 2-3 on, 2-3 off, that would make sense for their shifts.

 

[Rail Freak]

The CZ I rode last year,SAC-CUS, was a Chicago Crew, and PROUD OF IT !!! :huh: :lol:

RF

 

[Bierboy]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?
For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

Yes...Andrea told us that she is based in Seattle; her husband is typically a train ahead of her and gets home one day before she does. She told us that she gets five days off between trips, so she and her husband effectively get four days together before he takes off, then she follows the next day.

 

[jackal]

Yes...Andrea told us that she is based in Seattle; her husband is typically a train ahead of her and gets home one day before she does. She told us that she gets five days off between trips, so she and her husband effectively get four days together before he takes off, then she follows the next day.

That sounds like just about the perfect mix for true marital bliss! Four days together and then one day as a break from your spouse!! :lol:

 

[sunchaser]

Yes...Andrea told us that she is based in Seattle; her husband is typically a train ahead of her and gets home one day before she does. She told us that she gets five days off between trips, so she and her husband effectively get four days together before he takes off, then she follows the next day.

That sounds like just about the perfect mix for true marital bliss! Four days together and then one day as a break from your spouse!! :lol:

Pretty funny comment! I would admit not everyone gets along with their spouses, but a one day break each week? :lol:

Not for us! :lol:

 

[AlanB]

Yes...Andrea told us that she is based in Seattle; her husband is typically a train ahead of her and gets home one day before she does. She told us that she gets five days off between trips, so she and her husband effectively get four days together before he takes off, then she follows the next day.

That sounds like just about the perfect mix for true marital bliss! Four days together and then one day as a break from your spouse!! :lol:

Pretty funny comment! I would admit not everyone gets along with their spouses, but a one day break each week? :lol:

Not for us! :lol:

Actually it's not a 1 day break per week though. They're gone for 5 days on seperate trains, on top of the 4 days that they spend together, plus the one day that each is home alone. Assuming that they are on a standard rotation and have the seniority to hold it.

 

[Bierboy]

It took awhile, but I finally e-mailed Amtrak to compliment Andrea, our SCA on the Empire Builder. I received almost an immediate response from Amtrak --

"Thank you for your kind words about the service you were provided when you traveled on Amtrak.

 

We are tremendously proud of our dedicated and talented employees, like Andrea, who go above and beyond their assigned duties to deliver outstanding levels of customer service. It is our highest priority to ensure that we do all we can to provide our valued customers with a safe and enjoyable trip.

 

We have forwarded your comments on to the appropriate supervisors so that commendations might be made.

 

Thank you again for taking the time to let us know that you are happy with our efforts. We know that our goals are being met when we receive a response such as yours. We look forward to the privilege of serving you again."

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Patrice

Amtrak Customer Service

 

[haolerider]

Wouldn't a sleeping car attendant typically be on both legs of a trip (not necessarily the exact same train)?
For example, the SCA leaves their home location on a northbound train, the SCA would have to be on a southbound train in order to return to base. I suppose there could be contingencies, but that sounds the most efficient to me.

Yes - the SCA I had going from NOL to CHI a couple of days ago arrived at CHI at 9:00AM and would be the SCA on that evening's train CHI to NOL. I asked and she confirmed it. She is a NOL crew based member. She can work that route twice and then have time off, or, sometimes even work it three times if she wants the overtime. The SCA I had from CHI to NOL was done and went home in NOL when we arrived there, so he had been to CHI two days before.

I know, dumb question-I was thinking if the attendant originated in another city like Portland? The question made sense at the time......guess it was a brief blonde moment. :lol:

OBS crews always start at one end or the other of a route. Not in the middle.

Thanks for the correction! Then the crews, in this case 'always' originate in LA? Not ever in Seattle? Same with the Zephyr? They are always from Chicago, never Emeryville/Sac? I thought they could be from either end point.

It depends which route we are talking about. I was just on CONO and it is uses a NOL based crew. However, The Crescent which runs between NYP and NOL uses a New York based crew. So, a particular start/endpoint can have a crew from either end. I'm not sure about the CS but I believe the CZ uses an Emeryville crew that then turns in CHI and comes back. Last time I rode the EB they had a Seattle crew.

Actually, the Crescent uses a NY based dining car crew and a NOL based sleeping car, coach car and lounge car crew. There are a few others that have mixed crew based staffing.