Question about boarding Southwest Chief at midnight

[OBS]

My most recent experience with a SCA was on the Auto Train in January. She politely made it clear that her work day was over at 10:00 P.M. or 11:00 P.M. (I don't recall accurate which) until 6:00 A.M.

Auto Train is a little different because of no station stops. But there are still OBS employees assigned to "patrol" the Sleepers, Coaches and food service areas all night long on the Auto Train.

 

[OBS]

If the cafe closes at midnight and reopens at 6 am how many hours of actual sleep does the LSA get? I’d guess 4-5 of actual sleep.

That is correct. By the time you get to the Crew Car, wash up and get into bed, it is 12:30 and up by 5-530 to get ready to start over. You do learn to fall asleep in a hurry though....

 

[PVD]

-On board service workers get a room to sleep/rest in. Usually, an SCA will have a room in the car the are servicing, except when one from another car is also covering rooms sold in a transition car. Coach attendants, and the food service staff get rooms in the transition dorm or bag dorm or a regular sleeper if the train doesn't have one.

 

[me_little_me]

My most recent experience with a SCA was on the Auto Train in January. She politely made it clear that her work day was over at 10:00 P.M. or 11:00 P.M. (I don't recall accurate which) until 6:00 A.M.

Since they don't have to be there when passengers at non-existent intermediate stops get on or off, what need is there for them to be on duty as emergencies really require the presence of a conductor who can stop the train and/or call for outside emergency help?

At least she was polite. I've had SCAs that made it clear that they make up beds only until 9PM no matter what the inconvenience to the passenger it is. Others are much more flexible.

Of course, the tip varies a lot from generous to none.

 

[Palmland]

As I have mentioned before, our best ever SCA was on A-T. He was outstanding and just got an e-Christmas card from him. The only bad one was on CS. Actually can’t say he was bad, just never saw him on whole trip except at both ends.

 

[Yumacool]

My wife and I have boarded the Sunset Limited in Yuma, Arizona, in the middle of the night at least 25 times over the last 15 years. Two doors are opened each time -- a sleeper and a coach. When we've traveled by sleeper, rarely is the SCA present. Either a conductor or brakeman greets us at the sleeper and shows us to our room. They have always been courteous and friendly. The SCA greets us the next morning. We have never run into a problem of any kind -- and the room is always ready!

 

[Willbridge]

I agree! The,SCAs and Coach attendants usually take turns " covering" for each other during the night, so all can get some sleep!

I've only had a Conductor board me into my Sleeper once in my 49+ years of riding Amtrak.( Coach has had more Conductors boarding me in the wee hours, but mostly it's been OBS doing the boarding)

At McCook on Train 5 it was the conductor or assistant condcutor opening up for my coach. More impressive was alighting in McCook from Train 6, picks up the step box, highball Amtrak 6! It was very quiet in McCook within a minute.

 

[railiner]

At McCook on Train 5 it was the conductor or assistant condcutor opening up for my coach. More impressive was alighting in McCook from Train 6, picks up the step box, highball Amtrak 6! It was very quiet in McCook within a minute.

Another former (when BN) crew change point. Not having to change crews helps speed up those stops....

 

[Bob Dylan]

Another former (when BN) crew change point. Not having to change crews helps speed up those stops....

My dad was stationed @ McCook Air Field during B-29 Training prior to going to the Mariannas in WWII.

My mom took me on the Train in Sections ( SP,Santa Fe,UP)from Alpine to McCook ( via El Paso,Albuqurque,Denver) to visit when I was 1 year old.

My First LD Train trip!!

The CZ always stops there @ O-Dark Thirty so have not seen the town since!

What's there now???