Meal times on the Crescent?

[DevalDragon]

I am looking to ride the Crescent next week to get a few last meals in a heritage dining car before they're retired. Considering I live in the Chicago area this will be quite a feat. I'm looking to drive to Virginia and take a day trip to Wilmington or Philadelphia.

Specifically, I'm looking for the normal serving times for dinner on 19 and breakfast and lunch (if it's offered) on 20 between NYP and Virginia.

20 leaves Mananas VA at 8:35 am and gets to Wilmington at 11:44 am.
Is this too late for breakfast and too early for lunch?

19 leaves Wilmington at 4:19pm and gets back to Mananas at 7:22 pm.

Do they start serving dinner early enough for this to be realistic?

It feels strange traveling halfway across the country to ride in an old dining car for Amtrak food, but once they're gone they're gone.

Any information will be greatly appreciated.

 

[GaSteve]

There's no guarantee that your diner will be a Heritage car. Viewliners are in the Crescent consist about half the time now.

Timewise, you should be good on 19 for dinner time, don't know about 20. Timekeeping on 20 that far north could be problematical.

Remember also that there is a layover at WAS while they change locomotives on both trains.

.

 

[Thirdrail7]

Specifically, I'm looking for the normal serving times for dinner on 19 and breakfast and lunch (if it's offered) on 20 between NYP and Virginia.

20 leaves Mananas VA at 8:35 am and gets to Wilmington at 11:44 am.

Is this too late for breakfast and too early for lunch?

Breakfast on 20 is served from 6:30am to 10:00am. Assuming 20 is within tolerance, breakfast is served until it arrives in WAS. They have a modified lunch from 11am to 12am.

19 serves dinner from 4:30p to 9:00p. Assuming it is within tolerance, dinner is served until CVS.

There are five of the viewliner II diners approved for use on the Crescent. Additionally, the 8400 is available for the Crescent. Your odds of getting a heritage are 50/50 and declining.

 

[GBNorman]

I'm not certain if the Paywall Police are on patrol today, but if they are not, you may enjoy this travelogue of a journey on the Crescent. Only problem; it arrived New Orleans some four hours late:

http://nytimes.com/2017/11/01/travel/new-york-new-orleans-by-train.html