Cardinal discussion

[JWM]

The Penn Central's James Whitcomb Riley prior to Amtrak was well patronized between Indianapolis and Chicago's Central Station via the former New York Central/Illinois Central route through Kankakee. Once the train reached the IC mainline at Kankakee, it would fly up the welded rail line and even if it was a little late arriving at Kankakee, it would on time at Central Station. It left Indianspolis mid morning and arrived in Chicago around 1PM. The return train left Central Station around 3:50PM and got into Indianapolis 8:30-9PM. It, of course, ran to and from Cincinnati. That continue at the beginning of Amtrak, but the Penn Central tracks deteriorated so the time keeping was horrible. For a while the train used the former C&O route which bipassed Indianapolis. The full former New York Central from Kankakee to Cincinnati doesn't exist. The State of Indiana should have bought this line for future high speed service. Unfortunately Indianapolis Union Station is a dinosaur left over from a bi gone era.

Parts of the old NYC line do exist. Cincinnati to Indianapolis would need a lot of upgrading, but it is there. See link, https://www.gwrr.com/cind/. The problem is between Lebanon, Indiana and Lafayette as the only rail line that exists is the old PRR through Frankfort and is now CSK and NS. Indiana Railroad Map link. https://www.in.gov/indot/files/RailSystemMap_Med_StWide_11x17_RH_Final.pdf. From Lafayette to Kankakee, the line is in place. https://www.kbsrailroad.com/

 

[JamesWhitcombRiley]

Tiny in the scope of things, but the Cardinal even takes the worse route from Charlottesville to Orange in Virginia, compared to all other Amtrak trains. It's verrrry slowww on the first stretch, and ends up about 20 minutes slower over 44 miles. (The junction at CVS is 3/4 a diamond, so it's the only route to take for the Cardinal. The state now owns the tracks and will fix them up some day.)

For railfans, on the other hand, the old Crozet Tunnel between Staunton and Charlottesville is now a trail. It saw trains from 1858 to 1944. Locals used to sneak up there before the official trail opened, and brave a small opening in a wall built in an scuppered plan to store fuel during the Second World War. Daylight is barely visible from the center of the tunnel, where the geology changes from hard rock to limestone, supported by brickwork.

 

[NES28]

The Penn Central's James Whitcomb Riley prior to Amtrak was well patronized between Indianapolis and Chicago's Central Station via the former New York Central/Illinois Central route through Kankakee. Once the train reached the IC mainline at Kankakee, it would fly up the welded rail line and even if it was a little late arriving at Kankakee, it would on time at Central Station. It left Indianspolis mid morning and arrived in Chicago around 1PM. The return train left Central Station around 3:50PM and got into Indianapolis 8:30-9PM. It, of course, ran to and from Cincinnati. That continue at the beginning of Amtrak, but the Penn Central tracks deteriorated so the time keeping was horrible. For a while the train used the former C&O route which bipassed Indianapolis. The full former New York Central from Kankakee to Cincinnati doesn't exist. The State of Indiana should have bought this line for future high speed service.

You are absolutely correct. The FRA Midwest Regional Plan identified Chicago-Indianapolis as one of the most promising HSR corridors in the Midwest. The new Illinois HSR Commission is studying a true HSR route connecting Chicago-Champaign-Springfield-St. Louis (or, perhaps, E. St. Louis). This is the only potential Midwest HSR route that would be in a single (blue) state, making it the most likely to be implemented first. It would go through Kankakee where a route to Indy, roughly following the old NYC/Big 4 alignment, could branch off. The KBS could be integrated (serving grain elevators at night) and the section between Lafayette and Lebanon could on some combination of the abandoned RR or I-65 alignments.

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

It was interesting to see a horizon car on the Cardinal pass by the Cincinnati cam this morning (7/24/24). I'm sure it was deadheading and not in revenue service, but still interesting to see on the Cardinal.



Possibly picked up at Beech Grove headed to NY?

 

[Amtrak25]

Relocation to Downeaster service ?

 

[Cal]

It was interesting to see a horizon car on the Cardinal pass by the Cincinnati cam this morning (7/24/24). I'm sure it was deadheading and not in revenue service, but still interesting to see on the Cardinal.

View attachment 37283

Possibly picked up at Beech Grove headed to NY?

I find it so funny when theres Surfliner cars strolling through Indiana.

 

[WWW]

I find it so funny when theres Surfliner cars strolling through Indiana.

And Beech Grove is not near the beaches of Lake Michigan - - -
Consolation at least the Amtrak equipment serviceable or otherwise is on the move and not
sitting idle with no purpose

 

[Willbridge]

I find it so funny when theres Surfliner cars strolling through Indiana.

Back when Amtrak ran through MKE<>STL service they included ex-GN parlor-lounge observation cars "Port of Seattle" and "Port of Vancouver."

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

8/15's Cardinal #51 arrived into Cincinnati at 5:47A and did not leave CUT until 7:26A.



I know things brings inconvenience to passengers at destination stations after Cincinnati, but also gives railfans in the Cincinnati area a look at the Cardinal in daylight (which is rare).

 

[JoeRids]

Does anyone know if the new FD menu is also on the Cardinal? It looks like a step up from the old choices. According to The Crescent’s thread, the menu just took effect. As always though, how it’s prepped makes the difference…

 

[jis]

Does anyone know if the new FD menu is also on the Cardinal? It looks like a step up from the old choices. According to The Crescent’s thread, the menu just took effect. As always though, how it’s prepped makes the difference…

Cardinal now has the same Flexible Dining Menu as the Lake Shore Limited, the Crescent and the Texas Eagle between Chicago and San Antonio. Although I don;t know if the items get the same plating treatment as in the trains with a full Diner or a CCC.

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

So, I drove down to South Shore last night to watch the Cardinal come through, and I saw that it had some additional cars on it. Usually, the cardinal is two coaches, dining/cafe car, sleeper, and bag dorm, which it did have, but at the end of the bag dorm, it had another sleeper, and then two extra baggage cars.

Here's the video I took of it at the station:
View attachment cardinal_trimmed2.mov

The extra sleeper did look like it was in revenue.

 

[WWW]

So, I drove down to South Shore last night to watch the Cardinal come through, and I saw that it had some additional cars on it. Usually, the cardinal is two coaches, dining/cafe car, sleeper, and bag dorm, which it did have, but at the end of the bag dorm, it had another sleeper, and then two extra baggage cars.

Here's the video I took of it at the station:
View attachment 38150

The extra sleeper did look like it was in revenue.

Probably some refurbished renovated cars added at Beech Grove - - -
As for those sleeper cars appearing to be in revenue service - someone forgot to turn the lights out or
maybe the crew was having an all night party - LOL !

 

[Cal]

As for those sleeper cars appearing to be in revenue service - someone forgot to turn the lights out or

Deadhead cars almost always have their lights on, crew at fault or not.

 

[dlagrua]

The Cardinal is a small train. Its consist is typically one sleeper, one cafe (diner lite), a baggage dorm car, two coaches pulled by a single engine. The dining is prepared packaged reheated "flex meals" that IMO are not very good.
If you board going to Chicago and before Washington, DC the train will stop there for about 50 minutes. If you dislike flex meals, this will allow you to go into Union Station to purchase and take fresh prepared food to the train. Its hard booking a bedroom on this train as there are only two. We booked ours 10 months out and they were very expensive.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

The Cardinal is a small train. Its consist is typically one sleeper, one cafe (diner lite), a baggage dorm car, two coaches pulled by a single engine. The dining is prepared packaged reheated "flex meals" that IMO are not very good.
If you board going to Chicago and before Washington, DC the train will stop there for about 50 minutes. If you dislike flex meals, this will allow you to go into Union Station to purchase and take fresh prepared food to the train. Its hard booking a bedroom on this train as there are only two. We booked ours 10 months out and they were very expensive.

Note to anyone considering going into Washington Union Station during the engine swap. The train will leave at its scheduled departure time or as soon as it can if it arrived late at DC. Make sure you can get in and out quickly (there could be long lines at the food places). Gate closes 5 mins before departure.

 

[TinCan782]

The Cardinal is a small train. Its consist is typically one sleeper, one cafe (diner lite), a baggage dorm car, two coaches pulled by a single engine. The dining is prepared packaged reheated "flex meals" that IMO are not very good.
If you board going to Chicago and before Washington, DC the train will stop there for about 50 minutes. If you dislike flex meals, this will allow you to go into Union Station to purchase and take fresh prepared food to the train. Its hard booking a bedroom on this train as there are only two. We booked ours 10 months out and they were very expensive.

Correct and I agree with your assessment of the Flex meals.
We booked our September (#50) and October (#51) Chicago to Alexandria trip back in February. We got a bedroom on #50 but just a roomette on #51. At the last minute I was able to book the "H" room on #51 and get out of the roomette. The (Flex) menu was dated 0924. We ate in our room.

 

[WWW]

The Cardinal is a small train. Its consist is typically one sleeper, one cafe (diner lite), a baggage dorm car, two coaches pulled by a single engine. The dining is prepared packaged reheated "flex meals" that IMO are not very good.
If you board going to Chicago and before Washington, DC the train will stop there for about 50 minutes. If you dislike flex meals, this will allow you to go into Union Station to purchase and take fresh prepared food to the train. Its hard booking a bedroom on this train as there are only two. We booked ours 10 months out and they were very expensive.

Its hard booking a bedroom on this train as there are only two. We booked ours 10 months out and they were very expensive.
There is a 3rd BR - it is mobility impaired handicap - HC booking restrictions applies - possible upgrade from
a Roomette ? In any event if stuck with a Roomette for 2 would suggest booking another objective single occupancy. Animals in kennels have more civilized space !

 

[toddinde]

The Cardinal is a small train. Its consist is typically one sleeper, one cafe (diner lite), a baggage dorm car, two coaches pulled by a single engine. The dining is prepared packaged reheated "flex meals" that IMO are not very good.
If you board going to Chicago and before Washington, DC the train will stop there for about 50 minutes. If you dislike flex meals, this will allow you to go into Union Station to purchase and take fresh prepared food to the train. Its hard booking a bedroom on this train as there are only two. We booked ours 10 months out and they were very expensive.

Washington Union Station isn’t great for food either, unfortunately.

 

[dlagrua]

Washington Union Station isn’t great for food either, unfortunately.

Somewhat agree but the food there is FAR better than flex. Try Cava Bowl for some good mediterranean dishes, East Street cafe for some home style cooking, then you have Chipotle, Pot Belly Sandwiches, Pret, Blue Bottle (for fresh coffee/ espresso) and bring it back to the train.. We would be very happy if Amtrak flex meals were as good.
If we go back to AmtrakBlues post there is great advise there. The 50 minute layover may only happen if the train arrives in DC on time. If there is a late arrival Amtrak will try to hold to the departure time but you could be at the station for 30 minutes or less.

 

[joelkfla]

Somewhat agree but the food there is FAR better than flex. Try Cava Bowl for some good mediterranean dishes, East Street cafe for some home style cooking, then you have Chipotle, Pot Belly Sandwiches, Pret, Blue Bottle (for fresh coffee/ espresso) and bring it back to the train.. We would be very happy if Amtrak flex meals were as good.
If we go back to AmtrakBlues post there is great advise there. The 50 minute layover may only happen if the train arrives in DC on time. If there is a late arrival Amtrak will try to hold to the departure time but you could be at the station for 30 minutes or less.

Given the short turnaround, I think it would be best to stick with fast food, of which there are many. I like Chick-Fil-A, as long as it's not a Sunday. There's also McDonalds, Taco Bell, Wendys, Shake Shack, Charleys Cheese Steaks, and Canes.

 

[Sauve850]

The Cardinal is a small train. Its consist is typically one sleeper, one cafe (diner lite), a baggage dorm car, two coaches pulled by a single engine. The dining is prepared packaged reheated "flex meals" that IMO are not very good.
If you board going to Chicago and before Washington, DC the train will stop there for about 50 minutes. If you dislike flex meals, this will allow you to go into Union Station to purchase and take fresh prepared food to the train. Its hard booking a bedroom on this train as there are only two. We booked ours 10 months out and they were very expensive.

Two of the last three summers (early Sept ) I had a bedroom from Chicago to DC and second bedroom was empty. SCA used it to relax during the day.

 

[zephyr17]

Not Amfleets though.

Neither are Viewliners. Nor Horizons. I used the term "single level trains" deliberately and consider "Am" to be a general use prefix for Amtrak, so "AmAnything" would be highly inclusive.

 

[jis]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Please spin up a separate thread to discuss comparison between Amfleet and Superliner and the history of naming of Amtrak equipment if you wish to continue this side discussion. This has nothing specific to do with the Cardinal. We will be happy to transfer the half a dozen posts related to this side discussion to the new thread. Any further posts on this general equipment discussion in this thread will be removed as off topic.

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