Crescent discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

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Trucker72 said:
On the Crescent now.
Nice to eat in the diner instead of spending the whole time in our roomette
We were told this is the first day serving the above menu
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Well, I better use my time in New Orleans to stock up on food. I see at least one item in all but one of those dishes which give me reflux. My 75-year-old stomach is rather tender. I think I'll take lunch on board with me, and have the chicken fettucine alfredo for dinner.
 
west point said:
Hide bound Amtrak management would not think of turning the train sets at Meridian or even somewhere else. Make the passengers take the bus all the way to / from ATL.
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I could be wrong, but I think one contributing factor to turning in Atlanta is Amtrak owns the track siding they park the train sets at Brookwood Station. I think Amtrak bought that siding specifically so they could turn trains in Atlanta. They have owned it for many years.

Another thing, when they bought the trackage from Atlantic Steel, Amtrak changed crews in Atlanta. It would make sense to turn the train in Atlanta. Also, if you need 10 last minute buses, you can get them in Atlanta. Not so much in Meridian, MS.
 
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BarryATL said:
I could be wrong, but I think one contributing factor to turning in Atlanta is Amtrak owns the track siding they park the train sets at Brookwood Station. I think Amtrak bought that siding specifically so they could turn trains in Atlanta. They have owned it for many years.

Another thing, when they bought the trackage from Atlantic Steel, Amtrak changed crews in Atlanta. It would make sense to turn the train in Atlanta. Also, if you need 10 last minute buses, you can get them in Atlanta. Not so much in Meridian, MS.
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Meridian is a crew base just like Atlanta.
 
GaSteve said:
Meridian is a crew base just like Atlanta
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When I used to travel the Crescent two or three times a month they moved the crew base from Atlanta to Meridian. That was during the time when the president of the Amtrak board was living in Meridian. At that time they had been using the siding in Atlanta for turning the train for many years.
 
BarryATL said:
When I used to travel the Crescent two or three times a month they moved the crew base from Atlanta to Meridian. That was during the time when the president of the Amtrak board was living in Meridian. At that time they had been using the siding in Atlanta for turning the train for many years.
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Atlanta is still a crew base, as is Meridian.
 
BarryATL said:
Thanks. I was not aware they were doing some stuff out of Atlanta again. For awhile in the early 2000s, there was one in Laurel, MS.
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The next crew base north is Charlotte. So, southbound, the Charlotte crew get off, the Meridian crew, who have layed over from the previous night, get on board. Northbound, the Meridian crew detrain to layover and the Charlotte crew, who have layed over, get on.
 
OK - Just to clear up some things. As said, No crews are based in Atlanta. It is just a crew change location. Amtrak does not own any track in Atlanta. The former steel company track is used by Amtrak at the NS's grace. They will not let Amtrak use it on a regular basis. As far as turning the train in Meridian - There is no usable Wye in Meridian. Trains cannot be turned there unless the engines are run back to back, which they are not to allow use of the trailing engine in case of a problem with the lead one (ie - engine trouble, crossing accident, etc.). The nearest wye to Meridian is Birmingham. There used to be one in Akron, but no more.
 
I understand from another list that 19(23?) arrived in New Orleans on time on Oct. 24 with a wheel needing to be replaced on the bag/dorm. During the layover of 12 hours or so, the wheel was not replaced so 20(25?) departed without a bag/dorm. Revenue sleeping car passengers who were booked in the bag/dorm were downgraded to coach. Some sleeping car passengers in the existing functioning sleeping car were also downgraded to coach in order to accommodate the crew in the existing sleeper. The train also did not have any checked baggage.

This is what I understand and corrections would be welcome.
 
Rasputin said:
I understand from another list that 19(23?) arrived in New Orleans on time on Oct. 24 with a wheel needing to be replaced on the bag/dorm. During the layover of 12 hours or so, the wheel was not replaced so 20(25?) departed without a bag/dorm. Revenue sleeping car passengers who were booked in the bag/dorm were downgraded to coach. Some sleeping car passengers in the existing functioning sleeping car were also downgraded to coach in order to accommodate the crew in the existing sleeper. The train also did not have any checked baggage.

This is what I understand and corrections would be welcome.
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12 hours and they can't replace a wheel? In New Orleans? With three (soon to be four) routes terminating there??? I've seen a wheel replaced in Fort Worth. Another disappointment. And aren't there tons of viewliner II baggage cars? I feel like there should be at least an extra baggage car at all terminuses.
 
Cal said:
12 hours and they can't replace a wheel? In New Orleans? With three (soon to be four) routes terminating there??? I've seen a wheel replaced in Fort Worth. Another disappointment. And aren't there tons of viewliner II baggage cars? I feel like there should be at least an extra baggage car at all terminuses.
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There are not that many viewliner bag-dorm cars (the type used on the Crescent). There are only 10 in Amtrak's fleet, not sure how many of those are active. Yes, they could replace with a regular baggage car, but then everyone booked in a roomette in that car would be displaced (and most are crew rooms so they would have to take over space in one other sleeper, which would most likely still lead to people being downgraded to coach).
 
trimetbusfan said:
There are not that many viewliner bag-dorm cars (the type used on the Crescent). There are only 10 in Amtrak's fleet, not sure how many of those are active. Yes, they could replace with a regular baggage car, but then everyone booked in a roomette in that car would be displaced (and most are crew rooms so they would have to take over space in one other sleeper, which would most likely still lead to people being downgraded to coach).
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Rasputin said:
Substituting a regular baggage car would have at least allowed checked baggage to be offered.
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Exactly. I know there's very few bag-dorms, but there should at least be extra baggage cars around.
 
BlackDiamond said:
I'm surprised to hear they could change out a wheel anywhere other than a shop like Beech Grove. I would imagine it's not like changing the wheel on an automobile. Doesn't the entire wheel set have to come out?
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They can replace just a single axle/wheel set and do not need to replace an entire truck. Also, if a flat wheel is the problem they can turn a wheel on a wheel lathe in situ if they are so equipped, without changing out anything provided there is enough of the tire left to shave off to fix the shape.

New Orleans does have a shop but I am not sure how well they are equipped to deal with wheel problems in a 12 hour window. I am sure that they have a jack to lift one end of a car to replace an axle/wheel, but am not sure what their spare serviceable wheel/axle inventory is or was on that given day.
 
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