Handling of misconnect from Sunset Limited to Texas Eagle at San Antonio

[marcoloco]

It looks like it only goes to Houston from here. At 200 miles that is a short trip relative to the size of Texas and arriving in Houston as a pedestrian is not very appealing to me. That being said I hope these types of services do well and become more common so I can use them in the future.

When the train leaves LAX, it is in reality 2 trains (the Sunset Limited (train#2 and the Texas Eagle (train 422) and when the train gets to San Antonio, the last 2 cars of the train are cut off and reconnected to train 22 to continue on north of San Antonio and all the way to Chicago. The Sunset Limited portion of the train continues to Houston, Beaumont, Lake Charles,Louisiana and Lafayyete, then New Iberia and NEW ORLEANS

 

[F900ElCapitan]

Just noticed something odd: the Sunset Limited arrived in San Antonio at 9:15 AM, 4 hours and 21 minutes late.
According to Track Your Train, Train 22 departed at 7 AM, but has an estimated arrival at San Marcos at 12:32.
According to asm.transit.docs, Train 22 departed San Antonio at 10:20 and has an estimated arrival at San Marcos at 12:30.
Apparently, THEY HELD THE EAGLET!
Who decides? This hold makes sense because there is so much slop in the schedule that right now they show an on time arrival to stations in Illinois. Annoying for people along the way, but any delay is annoying, and this way the 422 goes through.
The remainder of the Sunset Limited left San Antonio at 10"46 AM, heading for Houston.

My best guess is they couldn’t secure busses and thus had to wait on the incoming train.

 

[The Quaking Widow]

Fairly new passenger here. It’s 9/30/22 and I’m on 22/422 departing SAS heading to CHI. Got a msg that #2 was held up near El Paso last night due to a freight train malfunction. I didn’t know if that would affect my travel, but arrived at station around 6 am to find a full waiting room. The sleeping car I’m in is an older model than the one I took from CHI to SAS 2 weeks ago, and the ride so far today is so bumpy and jostling so much I couldn’t eat my lunch. Almost ended up wearing it. As it was I was glad I was drinking water because my glass fell over and drenched my lap. I almost lost my footing while being thrown around going from sleeper car to eating car (I hesitate to call it dining) for breakfast earlier. Luckily I was thru the doors when a hard lurch threw me sideways into a seat in the dining room. So could it be that the car they save for when #2 is late is A real dog? P.s. took forever to type this; violent shaking slowed me down. Im afraid to stand up in here again.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Fairly new passenger here. It’s 9/30/22 and I’m on 22/422 departing SAS heading to CHI. Got a msg that #2 was held up near El Paso last night due to a freight train malfunction. I didn’t know if that would affect my travel, but arrived at station around 6 am to find a full waiting room. The sleeping car I’m in is an older model than the one I took from CHI to SAS 2 weeks ago, and the ride so far today is so bumpy and jostling so much I couldn’t eat my lunch. Almost ended up wearing it. As it was I was glad I was drinking water because my glass fell over and drenched my lap. I almost lost my footing while being thrown around going from sleeper car to eating car (I hesitate to call it dining) for breakfast earlier. Luckily I was thru the doors when a hard lurch threw me sideways into a seat in the dining room. So could it be that the car they save for when #2 is late is A real dog? P.s. took forever to type this; violent shaking slowed me down. Im afraid to stand up in here again.

The Eaglette is one of the Orphan Trains that gets the Oldest, Worn out Cars and of course as you know still has Flex Food, No Sightseer Lounge and mostly Bad OBS!( the Conductors are still mostly very good on this Route!)

UP Freights beat the heck out of the Tracks in Texas and UP isn't known for its Maintainence!

Hopefully your not a prisoner in your Room ( the Crew let's you use the CCC as a Lounge between Meals).

The Tracks are in better shape North of Temple ( BNSF) and East of Dallas( UP) but you'll run into Freight Interference in East Texas and North of Little lRock to St Louis during the Night!

Keep us informed how your trip goes!

 

[pennyk]

Fairly new passenger here. It’s 9/30/22 and I’m on 22/422 departing SAS heading to CHI. Got a msg that #2 was held up near El Paso last night due to a freight train malfunction. I didn’t know if that would affect my travel, but arrived at station around 6 am to find a full waiting room. The sleeping car I’m in is an older model than the one I took from CHI to SAS 2 weeks ago, and the ride so far today is so bumpy and jostling so much I couldn’t eat my lunch. Almost ended up wearing it. As it was I was glad I was drinking water because my glass fell over and drenched my lap. I almost lost my footing while being thrown around going from sleeper car to eating car (I hesitate to call it dining) for breakfast earlier. Luckily I was thru the doors when a hard lurch threw me sideways into a seat in the dining room. So could it be that the car they save for when #2 is late is A real dog? P.s. took forever to type this; violent shaking slowed me down. Im afraid to stand up in here again.

Be safe and if you are walking, try to hang on to something. You do not want to fall.

...and welcome to AU!

 

[The Quaking Widow]

Be safe and if you are walking, try to hang on to something. You do not want to fall.

...and welcome to AU!

Thanks, pennyk, I just asked our attendant to make up the bed in my roomette So I can lie down when the way is rough. As I am a fall risk, I think I’ll stay in my little room except for when we have long breaks and I can go outside. Thank goodness they will bring my meals to me. And I have my cane to help me to the restroom.

 

[The Quaking Widow]

We’ve had quite a long layover in Ft. Worth. Are we waiting for something or someone?

 

[The Quaking Widow]

We’ve had quite a long layover in Ft. Worth. Are we waiting for something or someone?

In fact, it looks like we are over an hour late leaving Ft. worth. . . .

 

[Bob Dylan]

In fact, it looks like we are over an hour late leaving Ft. worth. . . .

Ft Worth and St Louis are the Longest stops on the Eaglette Route.There is a Crew Change( Engineer and Conductors)and the Train is Serviced.

Dinner is served in East Texas, orders are taken after Leaving Dallas.

Hope your ride is smoother, and you have a good night rolling up the Rails!

 

[The Quaking Widow]

Well, we’re just now pulling into Dallas at 5pm, about 90 minutes late.
and yes, we were waiting for some passengers from another service. Not sure where from.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

Normally there are two protect cars (one Coach and one Sleeper) held in reserve on a house track in San Antonio. Under Stephen Gardner that may no longer be the case (for all I know).

Update: Two protect cars are still parked and waiting on the house track at SAS.

When the train leaves LAX, it is in reality 2 trains (the Sunset Limited (train#2 and the Texas Eagle (train 422) and when the train gets to San Antonio, the last 2 cars of the train are cut off and reconnected to train 22 to continue on north of San Antonio and all the way to Chicago. The Sunset Limited portion of the train continues to Houston, Beaumont, Lake Charles,Louisiana and Lafayyete, then New Iberia and NEW ORLEANS

Between LAX and SAS the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle are operated as one combined train. However the booking system is unable to group these trains so it still publishes them separately.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Well, we’re just now pulling into Dallas at 5pm, about 90 minutes late.
and yes, we were waiting for some passengers from another service. Not sure where from.

The Heartland Flyer from Oklahoma City is often Late into Ft Worth. So that's it for sure!

 

[The Quaking Widow]

Bob, you know your trains! I think someone mentioned the Heartland Flyer!

 

[The Quaking Widow]

Well, my new friends, I made it home a few hours ago. Overall, it was a good trip, tho I chafed at the ride a lot! But the staff were great at accommodating my needs and helping me feel as comfortable as possible. The coach ride home on the Capitol limited had its rough spots, but had the advantage of speed. We really zoomed through the dark.

One question: are the staff limited in what they can talk about with passengers? Even our car attendant almost fell when the car lurched while he was collecting trash in preparation for arriving in Chicago. Yet when I asked about the condition of the car, he brushed me off.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Well, my new friends, I made it home a few hours ago. Overall, it was a good trip, tho I chafed at the ride a lot! But the staff were great at accommodating my needs and helping me feel as comfortable as possible. The coach ride home on the Capitol limited had its rough spots, but had the advantage of speed. We really zoomed through the dark.

One question: are the staff limited in what they can talk about with passengers? Even our car attendant almost fell when the car lurched while he was collecting trash in preparation for arriving in Chicago. Yet when I asked about the condition of the car, he brushed me off.

Not all Train Attendants are like that, but Chicago does have more than its share of Sour Pusses and Rudeniks!