Siemens Caltrans/IDOT Venture design, engineering, testing and delivery (2012-1Q 2024)

[rickycourtney]

4 more Amtrak Midwest cars are en route to Chicago.

 

[Mailliw]

Cool, have any interior photos been released yet?

 

[DSS&A]

Here is a Railway Age article on the arrival and testing of the new IDOT cars:

https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/locomotives/for-idot-new-siemens-ventures/?RAchannel=news

 

[west point]

Were they not on the CAL Z because the cars had not been fully certified to be on revenue passenger trains ?

 

[Steve4031]

In the video above they operated as a separate movement over UP.

 

[MisterUptempo]

Cool, have any interior photos been released yet?

I posted these in another thread a few weeks ago-



A mock-up of the IDOT cafe car.

 

[Bob Dylan]

I posted these in another thread a few weeks ago-

View attachment 18713View attachment 18714View attachment 18715

A mock-up of the IDOT cafe car.
View attachment 18712

The Colors remind me of the 70s!

 

[MisterUptempo]

The Colors remind me of the 70s!

Well, to be Scrupulously Fair, here's a shot of an Amtrak interior from the 70s.
I'd imagine that fabric was named something along the lines of "Earth Tone Vomit".

But, perhaps, the retro interior is intentional. We'll know for sure if the Midwest states introduce a "new" uniform for all conductors and service personnel...

 

[Bob Dylan]

Well, to be Scrupulously Fair, here's a shot of an Amtrak interior from the 70s. View attachment 18716
I'd imagine that fabric was named something along the lines of "Earth Tone Vomit".

But, perhaps, the retro interior is intentional. We'll know for sure if the Midwest states introduce a "new" uniform for all conductors and service personnel... View attachment 18717

I remember those Amtrak 70s Colors well! ( no wonder we drank so much on the Trains! lol)

It was more so Automobile Seats and Furniture I was remembering, but all forms of Transportation seats were pretty Vomit inducing in the 70s!!

 

[Mailliw]

Thanks for the pics!

 

[Seaboard92]

Were they not on the CAL Z because the cars had not been fully certified to be on revenue passenger trains ?

Special move on Union Pacific Sacramento-Chicago via the Overland Route all the way.

 

[railiner]

Special move on Union Pacific Sacramento-Chicago via the Overland Route all the way.

Did it run via Donner Pass?

 

[Seaboard92]

Did it run via Donner Pass?

I believe it did, and via Wyoming and the former CN&W Omaha east

 

[railiner]

Did it run via Omaha, or the bypass thru Blair?
Only asking because curious about some 'rare mileage' possibilites...

 

[Steve4031]

I remember the 70s too. But not that outfit the lady is wearing next to the turbo train. Those shoes definitely would not work for safety compliance imho.

 

[Thunder]

Kinda funny the BNSF handed it off to us

 

[Steve4031]

According to posts on train orders more cars are headed east. They are being moved on the UP line through Wyoming and Nebraska.

 

[jiml]

According to posts on train orders more cars are headed east. They are being moved on the UP line through Wyoming and Nebraska.

There's a string of them behind UP power moving through Kearney on yesterday's VR Grab Bag video around the 7 minute mark IIRC.

 

[Agent]

Video by James Tray showing the new cars passing through Ottumwa, Iowa yesterday (October 3).

 

[west point]

How did the cars have electric ? Noticed door lights active

 

[me_little_me]

How did the cars have electric ? Noticed door lights active

It's amazing what LEDs with a couple of rechargeable AAA batteries can do these days!

 

[AmtrakBlue]

How did the cars have electric ? Noticed door lights active

Wouldn't they be hooked up to the engine's power? Don't they have to have the markers lit up?

 

[Dutchrailnut]

all LED and cars do have sizable battery banks of 64 volt . the battery power has to be on for slip/slide system to be able to protect wheels

 

[jiml]

Don't they have to have the markers lit up?

Interesting. Some previous moves like this behind freight power have had the single flashing freight-style FRED attached, but this one did indeed have the markers illuminated - especially visible on the nighttime YouTube footage.

 

[Crowbar_k]

So are they going to just slap those cars on existing Amtrak consists with older cars? Or will they at least use the new cars for entire train sets?

Ok. I just saw an interview with someone from IDOT. He said that since the café cars will not arrive until 2022, the initial consist will be 4 Venture coaches and a legacy café/business car. He also said that they will be going to the Lincoln Service first. That makes sense, given that it is the most travelled of the Midwest routes (except the Hiawatha, which is getting its own separate fleet).