Longest Amtrak Consist

[battalion51]

GML, I would agree that the coach dinners are not nearly as high in quality as the first class dinners, but I would still say it beats getting food out of the lounge car and trying to dine off that. Auto Train is still the only service that includes meals for coach passengers. And they still give you complimentary wine, so just take the edge off with that. :lol:

ALC, the beauty of Auto Train is that in a given trip the train will only come to a complete stop a few times. When I rode it south back in August I was awake the entire trip, and I think we came to a dead stop twice (outside of yard switching moves). Once was as we were pulling from Lorton and they were having computer issues. The other was in Florence for our servicing stop. Other than that the train was rolling the entire trip. A large part of the reason why passenger trains need horsepower is to get up and moving from station stops. If the train doesn't stop moving then the engines have a pretty easy task at hand.

 

[AlanB]

ALC, the beauty of Auto Train is that in a given trip the train will only come to a complete stop a few times. When I rode it south back in August I was awake the entire trip, and I think we came to a dead stop twice (outside of yard switching moves). Once was as we were pulling from Lorton and they were having computer issues. The other was in Florence for our servicing stop. Other than that the train was rolling the entire trip. A large part of the reason why passenger trains need horsepower is to get up and moving from station stops. If the train doesn't stop moving then the engines have a pretty easy task at hand.

And the run is rather flat too, it's not like the Rockies are in the way between Sanford and Lorton.

 

[Bigval109]

ALC, the beauty of Auto Train is that in a given trip the train will only come to a complete stop a few times. When I rode it south back in August I was awake the entire trip, and I think we came to a dead stop twice (outside of yard switching moves). Once was as we were pulling from Lorton and they were having computer issues. The other was in Florence for our servicing stop. Other than that the train was rolling the entire trip. A large part of the reason why passenger trains need horsepower is to get up and moving from station stops. If the train doesn't stop moving then the engines have a pretty easy task at hand.

And the run is rather flat too, it's not like the Rockies are in the way between Sanford and Lorton.

can use points to ride the auto train? if so how much?

 

[AlanB]

can use points to ride the auto train? if so how much?

You can use points for the AT, but you need to have enough points for both you and your passengers, as well as your car.

So for example if you wanted a roomette, you'd need 15,000 points for the roomette, plus 10,000 AGR points for a car or 15,000 for a van/SUV.

Just look at the One Zone awards chart to find out what you need for coach or bedroom.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

And they still give you complimentary wine, so just take the edge off with that. :lol:

Albeit watered down, flavourless, white. If it wasn't for a hint of grape, I woulda sworn it was some kinda watered-down vodka with food colouring, seriously. OTOH the first class diner is first rate.

 

[rtabern]

The longest Amtrak consist was when I saw the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief linked together in Galesburg a couple of years ago.

Now and then, I'll do a day-trip out to Galesburg from Chicago... either out in the morning on 381 and back to Chicago on 4... or out in the afternoon on 3 or 5 and back on 382.

Anyhow, that particular day I took 5 out and was planning to take 382 home.

When we stopped in Galesburg, they announced that it was going to be a smoke stop. I've never seen that before because usually the first smoke stop isn't until Ottumwa. When in Galesburg, I just usually have lunch or dinner at the Packing House and do some train watching -- so I was sticking around to see 5 pull away.

Well, it didn't... it sat in the Galesburg station for a good 45 minutes. The conductor told me there was some derailment in Iowa they just learned about so they were going to wait for #3... and hook the trains together and run them through to Kansas City... and then #5 would take some line from KCY to LNK to rejoin the regular line, while #3 would continue west to LAX.

They did the switching just west of the GBB station, but I got to see it linked together.

Pretty cool.

 

[printman2000]

The longest Amtrak consist was when I saw the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief linked together in Galesburg a couple of years ago.
Now and then, I'll do a day-trip out to Galesburg from Chicago... either out in the morning on 381 and back to Chicago on 4... or out in the afternoon on 3 or 5 and back on 382.

Anyhow, that particular day I took 5 out and was planning to take 382 home.

When we stopped in Galesburg, they announced that it was going to be a smoke stop. I've never seen that before because usually the first smoke stop isn't until Ottumwa. When in Galesburg, I just usually have lunch or dinner at the Packing House and do some train watching -- so I was sticking around to see 5 pull away.

Well, it didn't... it sat in the Galesburg station for a good 45 minutes. The conductor told me there was some derailment in Iowa they just learned about so they were going to wait for #3... and hook the trains together and run them through to Kansas City... and then #5 would take some line from KCY to LNK to rejoin the regular line, while #3 would continue west to LAX.

They did the switching just west of the GBB station, but I got to see it linked together.

Pretty cool.

Did they put the second trains locos on front, or just run them in the middle like they did with the LSL/CL that time?