Pacific Surfliner single-level consist

[johnny.menhennet]

I was on the PacSurf earlier today (for the third weekend RT in a row ) and I passed a single-level PacSurf going south. However, it did not look like the usual single-level consist. The usual has a Horizon cafe, three amfleet coaches and an amfleet business on the other side of the cafe. It (from what I remember two weeks ago) has Pacific Surfliner engine son both ends (but this part I am unsure about, it's not that relevant). From the video Whooz posted a week or so ago about the detoured CS, it looked as if the single-level consist usually on the PacSurf was headed north, presumably for the Reno Fun Train. The consist I saw had Cascades engines on both ends and it looked entirely Horizon. I think I remember someone on here talking about how there was a single-level non-Cascades train kept in the Northwest that was sent here to replace our usual train. Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

It's not all that unusual to see Cascades engines running around down here, and occasionally in Coast Starlight consists. I believe they're periodically brought to L.A. for maintenance work that can't be handled at Seattle. There was one such locomotive in residence when AU Gathering II toured the L.A. shops in 2008.

An all-Horizon passenger consist is another question, and I spotted a cut of old New Jersey Transit Comet commuter cars - from which Horizons were derived - out by Santa Clarita while riding a Starlight Techachapi detour train on 2-6-12. Any chance you actually saw those being dragged around? They can't seem to find a permanent home, and have been at the Metrolink shops, on the old track 13 at LAUS, and who knows where else...

Amtrak Cascades engine in background at L.A. Maintenance Facility during Amtrak Unlimited Second Annual Gathering tour, 10-13-08. That's one of our Amtrak hosts (L), and member RailFanLNK (then known as RailRookie) in foreground.

 

[johnny.menhennet]

Yeah I know it's not that unusual. When I spent some time in Ventura this summer, the usual single level consist going south from SLO was being pulled by two engines (one Cascades) in front and another in back. I am sure thouh that it was being pulled by Cascades engines, an dit wa sthe 11:10 from LA. I am also fairly sur ethat it was Horizon. Where are the cars that went to the Fun Train?

 

[WhoozOn1st]

When I spent some time in Ventura this summer, the usual single level consist going south from SLO was being pulled by two engines (one Cascades) in front and another in back.

Though the single level consist that is often Surfliners 798/799 is sometimes worked by two locomotives, it's more usually a single engine (F59, P32) at one end, and gutted F40PH nonpowered control unit ("cabbage" - cab/baggage) 90208 on the other, as in this video...

Dome For Thanksgiving - Amtrak's great dome departs San Luis Obispo with Pacific Surfliner 798 on Thanksgiving 2010.

...and in this shot:

All-Horizon Pacific Surfliner 799 departs OXN for SLO, 2-12-08.

​

 

[Trogdor]

There is also Cascades cabbage 90230 in LA service, so it could have been that.

 

[Donctor]

An all-Horizon passenger consist is another question, and I spotted a cut of old New Jersey Transit Comet commuter cars - from which Horizons were derived - out by Santa Clarita while riding a Starlight Techachapi detour train on 2-6-12. Any chance you actually saw those being dragged around? They can't seem to find a permanent home, and have been at the Metrolink shops, on the old track 13 at LAUS, and who knows where else...

Are those for service on the BFD trains? Or am I mixing things up?

 

[Blackwolf]

Are those for service on the BFD trains? Or am I mixing things up?

I have to wonder this myself, considering the thread I started a few days ago that mentioned Comet cars were destined for the San Joaquin route. If so, makes perfect sense! I'm hoping they get a makeover, at least partially, before going into service in September.

 

[MikefromCrete]

I would hope any Comet cars would get a big make over before being put into service. I mean those things have 3-2 seating. Amtrak better off big discounts to get people to ride those.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I would hope any Comet cars would get a big make over before being put into service. I mean those things have 3-2 seating. Amtrak better off big discounts to get people to ride those.

I thoguht we had a thread awhile ago about those Comet Is. Did not expect "discarded" commuter cars on Amtrak trains. How hard is it to get a Comet I into Horizon standard? I suppose changing restrooms, seats, lights, doors, anything else?

 

[WhoozOn1st]

Those ex-NJT Comets - coaches and cab cars - have been floating around SoCal for years. At a long ago NARP/RailPAC L.A. meeting it was stated (by a guy in a position to know) that they were destined to be renovated for San Joaquin service. Then there was speculation that they were Metrolink stopgaps while awaiting the new Korean equipment - and indeed they ran in Metrolink consists for a time, along with Utah FrontRunner Comets. I've seen 'em all over, and who knows? The shot below was taken from a Surfliner on 3-21-09.

At Metrolink shops, downtown L.A.

​

 

[Trogdor]

The San Joaquin cars are not the same as the Comet cars that ran for Metrolink. These cars do not look like Horizons but instead have a much older look with fluted sides.

They were at Beech Grove, last I checked, being completely overhauled. I don't think they will have commuter seating.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

The San Joaquin cars are not the same as the Comet cars that ran for Metrolink. These cars do not look like Horizons but instead have a much older look with fluted sides.

Interesting. Anybody have a photo? Think I found one - fluted sides and all - but it's too huge to use here. Couldn't pass up this one though...

SubChat photo of Comets rolling west, 1-21-09.

​

 

[WhoozOn1st]

The San Joaquin cars are not the same as the Comet cars that ran for Metrolink. These cars do not look like Horizons but instead have a much older look with fluted sides.

Interesting. Anybody have a photo? Think I found one - fluted sides and all - but it's too huge to use here.

Here we go... Like this?

 

[X]

Amtrak actually keeps enough single level cars in LA for 3 Surfliner train sets*, only half of them were sent to Oakland for the Reno trains.

*Only two Horizon Coaches though.

 

[Trogdor]

The San Joaquin cars are not the same as the Comet cars that ran for Metrolink. These cars do not look like Horizons but instead have a much older look with fluted sides.

Interesting. Anybody have a photo? Think I found one - fluted sides and all - but it's too huge to use here.

Here we go... Like this?

Something like that. I don't know the history of NJT cars, but I'm told they converted some of those from EMUs to regular cars, and those do look very much like what I saw on the back of the Hoosier State a year or so ago.