Train 40-41 Floridian Miami - Chicago via Washington DC 2025

[Cal]

I hope you will be able to treat yourself to a good dinner in the diner.

I thought it wasn't open to coach passengers on the Floridian?

 

[Chatter163]

I suspect the third sleeper will be a Viewliner I, since there are twice as many Viewliner Is as 2s, I believe.

Do I remember correctly that the 40/41-10 sleeper tends to be the V1 and -11 the V2? Or am I reversing it?

 

[jis]

I thought it wasn't open to coach passengers on the Floridian?

It was open on the Star and in general Star’s dining service was extended to cover all of the Floridian.

 

[Qapla]

Since, if I do get to go, I will be traveling on a very tight budget, I will most likely BMOFAD

 

[IndyLions]

So as usual around this time of year - which car(s) is a VI and which is a VII is a mystery. And with a train like 40/41 that is frequently sold out, a last minute move once the mystery is solved is not usually possible.

Sigh...

 

[Tom C]

I think the usual assignment on the Floridian is V1 for the 10 car and V2 for the 11 car. Last Meteor I saw was the 12 car was V2.

 

[TrainAttendantLady]

Hi! Can't say or post much but if you are ever on the 40/41 Floridian, I hope to meet you all! New attendant and love the job. Just being able to help my passengers makes my trips easier. Have a great weekend

 

[Stevenz]

I’m boarding 40 Monday night in Pittsburgh, bound for Chicago.

 

[TrainAttendantLady]

I’m boarding 40 Monday night in Pittsburgh, bound for Chicago.

You will definitely be on my train that night!

 

[PaTrainFan]

Hi! Can't say or post much but if you are ever on the 40/41 Floridian, I hope to meet you all! New attendant and love the job. Just being able to help my passengers makes my trips easier. Have a great weekend

Might see you in a couple of months. ;-)

 

[Cal]

Hi! Can't say or post much but if you are ever on the 40/41 Floridian, I hope to meet you all! New attendant and love the job. Just being able to help my passengers makes my trips easier. Have a great weekend

Yay! Employees who are dedicated, and joyful always make the trip enjoyable, no matter what happens. Please keep it up!

 

[ScotiaBound]

Does anyone know what's going on in Chicago with the Floridian?
I began tracking it a few days ago and it's departed from 1 1/2 to over three hours late each day. The reason given is "Late equipment servicing".
I noticed, the last two nights, that it wasn't departing until after the Empire Builder arrived - very late. Could be a coincidence, but either way, it raises questions.

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

A) Winter
B) Late arrival
C) Chicago

If your track a train you need to track the inbound not just the outbound, and yes maybe there holding the train for the Empire Builder. It’s not policy but maybe someone notice the amount of transfer occurring and had the authority to do something about it.

 

[John Bobinyec]

When tracking you need to consider crews as well. 40/41 are run by Toledo crews, not Chicago crews. So if 40 is really late getting into Chicago, 41 will have to wait for the same crew to get its rest before it can take 41.

jb

 

[Cal]

When tracking you need to consider crews as well. 40/41 are run by Toledo crews, not Chicago crews. So if 40 is really late getting into Chicago, 41 will have to wait for the same crew to get its rest before it can take 41.

jb

Crews don't sit overnight?

 

[Just-Thinking-51]

I am not sure, about Toledo, but was very surprised to find out the LSL Albany crew was a three day turnaround in Buffalo.

 

[Stevenz]

You will definitely be on my train that night!

Sorry to take advantage of you to ask a job related question, but when we board at midnight in Pittsburgh are the beds in the roomette likely to be made up or will the attendant need to be asked to do that? I can understand that the staff may not want to guess what the passengers want until they talk to them. Thanks.

 

[zephyr17]

Sorry to take advantage of you to ask a job related question, but when we board at midnight in Pittsburgh are the beds in the roomette likely to be made up or will the attendant need to be asked to do that? I can understand that the staff may not want to guess what the passengers want until they talk to them. Thanks.

Boarding late at night the room will be made up in night mode with the berths down. That's pretty much anything after about 8 or 9.

 

[Stevenz]

Boarding late at night the room will be made up in night mode with the berths down. That's pretty much anything after about 8 or 9.

Excellent information. Thanks.

 

[Cal]

I am not sure, about Toledo, but was very surprised to find out the LSL Albany crew was a three day turnaround in Buffalo.

I just didn't think any LD crews do a same-day turnaround, since many of them have a long scheduled duty day already, and that can of course easily be extended by a few hours. A three day turnaround is insane for a daily train.

 

[trimetbusfan]

I just didn't think any LD crews do a same-day turnaround, since many of them have a long scheduled duty day already, and that can of course easily be extended by a few hours. A three day turnaround is insane for a daily train.

The Cardinal (NY based OBS) does a same-day turn in Chicago as well on Thursdays and Saturdays

 

[Cal]

The Cardinal (NY based OBS) does a same-day turn in Chicago as well on Thursdays and Saturdays

Sorry, I meant operating crews (conductors and engineers). Not OBS. OBS does indeed have same-day turns in a few places.

 

[zephyr17]

I am not sure, about Toledo, but was very surprised to find out the LSL Albany crew was a three day turnaround in Buffalo.

If returning on the Lake Shore there would only be about 8 1/2 hours between the westbound arrival and the eastbound departure. That is not counting the on duty prep and briefing time required. That would be cutting it very fine with 8 hours required rest and is impractical in the real world. The other Empire Service trains are all even earlier, except the Maple Leaf.

So being in Buffalo for two nights and returning on the eastbound LSL on the second morning after arrival makes sense.

 

[railiner]

Sorry, I meant operating crews (conductors and engineers). Not OBS. OBS does indeed have same-day turns in a few places.

Do OBS crews have any Hours of Service limits, perhaps less stringent than operating crews?
On airlines, I believe flight attendants do, but their occupation is probably more safety sensitive than their railroad counterparts…

 

[zephyr17]

Do OBS crews have any Hours of Service limits, perhaps less stringent than operating crews?
On airlines, I believe flight attendants do, but their occupation is probably more safety sensitive than their railroad counterparts…

There are no HOS regulations governing rail onboard service crews.

Any limits that might exist would be the result of Union agreements. I do not know whether there are or are not such clauses in the contract.

I do know on the turn of a late train at the OBS away terminal, if the crew normally turns with the train, such as 8's OBS crew at Chicago, they'll go out on the turned consist no matter how little rest they have. Also, OBS crew usually has to report significantly earlier than scheduled departure, like 1 to 2 hours.