Refreshed Superliners in service

[Seaboarder3023]

Does anyone know roughly how many Superliners are in service that have been refreshed from the 2021 program? I’ve occasionally seen the refreshed coaches in service from videos on YouTube, but I’ve yet to see any refreshed sleepers, SSL cars, or diners in service. I’ll be on Auto Train in June, and I kind of hope to get one of the refreshed cars, as the SL 2 sleepers are kind of gross at this point. Probably wishful thinking though. :/

 

[jis]

Does anyone know roughly how many Superliners are in service that have been refreshed from the 2021 program? I’ve occasionally seen the refreshed coaches in service from videos on YouTube, but I’ve yet to see any refreshed sleepers, SSL cars, or diners in service. I’ll be on Auto Train in June, and I kind of hope to get one of the refreshed cars, as the SL 2 sleepers are kind of gross at this point. Probably wishful thinking though. :/

No refurbished Superliner Sleeper is in service yet AFAIK (except perhaps the original demo one). The refurbishment program for Sleepers was supposed to start in January '23 and have not definitively heard that it has actually started yet, given the staffing situation everywhere. The only refurbished Superliners around are Coaches and they seem to be appearing here and there with increasing regularity of late.

 

[Seaboarder3023]

No refurbished Superliner Sleeper is in service yet AFAIK (except perhaps the original demo one). The refurbishment program for Sleepers was supposed to start in January '23 and have not definitively heard that it has actually started yet, given the staffing situation everywhere. The only refurbished Superliners around are Coaches and they seem to be appearing here there with increasing regularity of late.

That’s what I thought. Thanks for the info about the timing though!

 

[Mike G]

I have noticed on Virtual Railfan the Sunset Limited has a couple of train sets that the car appeared to have been buffed with Nevr-dull the same compound used on AF-1 anti-ice rings on the engine inlets. It’s also a protective for stainless steel. It would probably take 3 guys a day to do a car with pneumatic buffers.

 

[jis]

I have noticed on Virtual Railfan the Sunset Limited has a couple of train sets that the car appeared to have been buffed with Nevr-dull the same compound used on AF-1 anti-ice rings on the engine inlets. It’s also a protective for stainless steel. It would probably take 3 guys a day to do a car with pneumatic buffers.

We are actually talking about internal refurbishment with refurbished seats/berths and such, not external beautification.

 

[Asher]

I have noticed on Virtual Railfan the Sunset Limited has a couple of train sets that the car appeared to have been buffed with Nevr-dull the same compound used on AF-1 anti-ice rings on the engine inlets. It’s also a protective for stainless steel. It would probably take 3 guys a day to do a car with pneumatic buffers.

What’s the term, putting lipstick on a pig.

 

[jis]

What’s the term, putting lipstick on a pig.

So then, would you consider cleaning the windows putting lipstick on a pig too? It takes even less time

 

[Seaboarder3023]

So it’s been about a month, we’re there any updates on this at the RPA meeting?

 

[trimetbusfan]

Btw, there is a refurbished dining car out on the Coast Starlight 11(7). This is my first time seeing one!

The upholstery looks quite different from the others, inclung new seats, floors, curtains, and tables.

Car number is 38046 for those that are curious.

 

[JP1822]

Nice! Empire Builder has interior refreshed coaches; that’s been it.

 

[zephyr17]

Btw, there is a refurbished dining car out on the Coast Starlight 11(7). This is my first time seeing one!

The upholstery looks quite different from the others, inclung new seats, floors, curtains, and tables.

Car number is 38046 for those that are curious.

View attachment 32427

Where's the butcher paper?

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

Where's the butcher paper?

I haven't been in there since pre-COVID, but I think the standard in the (before March) sleeper-only revamped diner was tablecloths, yeah?

 

[zephyr17]

I last rode in November 2022 and linen was only at dinner service. Breakfast and lunch were still butcher paper.

 

[trimetbusfan]

I last rode in November 2022 and linen was only at dinner service. Breakfast and lunch were still butcher paper.

Yep.

Although I have noticed recently crews are starting to use the metal utensils during all meal services… kinda a nice upgrade.

When I rode cross country last summer (across multiple trains) it was just at dinner time.

 

[Cal]

Btw, there is a refurbished dining car out on the Coast Starlight 11(7). This is my first time seeing one!

The upholstery looks quite different from the others, inclung new seats, floors, curtains, and tables.

Car number is 38046 for those that are curious.

View attachment 32427

The angle of the photo is weird, it looks like the middle section of the diner is towards the end. I'm very surprised, but the diner actually looks so much better this way. Would've been nice if they could've added the nice ceiling lamps that the V2 diners have, but that's a pipe dream.

 

[trimetbusfan]

The angle of the photo is weird, it looks like the middle section of the diner is towards the end. I'm very surprised, but the diner actually looks so much better this way. Would've been nice if they could've added the nice ceiling lamps that the V2 diners have, but that's a pipe dream.

It was taken from the end of the car facing towards the center

 

[railiner]

The angle of the photo is weird, it looks like the middle section of the diner is towards the end. I'm very surprised, but the diner actually looks so much better this way. Would've been nice if they could've added the nice ceiling lamps that the V2 diners have, but that's a pipe dream.

I don’t think the Superliners have sufficient headroom for that…maybe some wall sconces, or table lamps instead?

 

[railiner]

It was taken from the end of the car facing towards the center

The end it was taken in has one more pair of tables than the far end. The lens perspective gives the illusion that the far end is even shorter than it is…

 

[Cal]

I don’t think the Superliners have sufficient headroom for that…maybe some wall sconces, or table lamps instead?

I love the table lamp idea, only problem is it would get in the way of the flowers.

 

[railiner]

I love the table lamp idea, only problem is it would get in the way of the flowers.

Perhaps, but maybe a tall thin vase could fit behind a shaded low bankers type table lamp, and long stemmed buds would still be visible?
Maybe too much “clutter” for both. I recall riding in PRR twin-unit diners with their signature table lamps. I think they had flowers, as well, but maybe just bouquets in the mid-car pantry area…?

 

[Willbridge]

I love the table lamp idea, only problem is it would get in the way of the flowers.

One advantage of table lamps is that the overhead lighting doesn't have to be as harsh. Here's a Czech diner with low overhead lighting. A desk lamp would cast less light on the windows.

 

[JWM]

One advantage of table lamps is that the overhead lighting doesn't have to be as harsh. Here's a Czech diner with low overhead lighting. A desk lamp would cast less light on the windows.

View attachment 32436

Not only is the lighting better, but so is the food from personal experience.

 

[jis]

I got curious about what JLV is. Apparently it is a company to which CD (the Czech Railway Czeska Drahi) contracts on board Restaurant Service). There is a very ice color photo of a CD Diner in this article, and a bit more about JLV.

https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/ar...dresden-on-a-new-train-excursion-for-gourmets
a paradigm that we have talked about from time to time for Amtrak, but for various reasons while this is possible in "Socialist" Europe, it appears to be impossible to work out in "Capitalist" US of A!

Incidentally, if such lighting is installed in the Superliner Diners (and indeed in Viewliner Diners too), I don;t think they will necessarily infringe on the flower vase, which can be placed in front of the light. As long as the light is a diffused source rather than a point source it should not cast any major shadows.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

The CCC cars have table lamps. I've always liked them.

 

[Bob Dylan]

The Heritage Diners,Lounges/ Club Cars and Pullmans had much softer Lighting than current Amtrak Cars, but the Coaches mostly had Harsh Lighting.