Sightseer Lounge on Surfliner

[PaTrainFan]

This brief clip from a relatively new YouTube (and well done) channel shows a Sightseer Lounge on a Surfliner. If they are in such short supply that they cannot be on the Capitol Limited or Texas Eagle, what the heck is one doing on a Surfliner? New clip but no date when it was recorded.

 

[TinCan782]

They have been making appearances on the Pacific Surfliner for several years now (even pre-pandemic).
During my commuting days, I would see them from time-to-time on the Surfliner.
And yes, those LD trains could certainly make good use of them!

 

[Sidney]

They have been making appearances on the Pacific Surfliner for several years now (even pre-pandemic).
During my commuting days, I would see them from time-to-time on the Surfliner.
And yes, those LD trains could certainly make good use of them!

Again,why isn't there a sightseer lounge on the Texas Eagle? No excuse

 

[TinCan782]

Again,why isn't there a sightseer lounge on the Texas Eagle? No excuse

Ask Amtrak.

 

[hmy1]

The SSL subs in on the Surfliner whenever there is a shortage of cafe cars. It does not run regularly on this route but it is not very rare either. I think I posted a couple years ago when a couple trainsets were running with the SSL regularly for a while, perhaps due to a maintenance issue with the cafe cars at the time.

 

[zephyr17]

Any surplus SSLs that aren't in regular assignment at LA should be shipped to Chicago for regular assignment.

If the Surfliner needs a protect cafe car, they can use a diner-lounge (CCC). There are plenty of those abominations around, as opposed to the SSLs.

 

[Cal]

Any surplus SSLs that aren't in regular assignment at LA should be shipped to Chicago for regular assignment.

If the Surfliner needs a protect cafe car, they can use a diner-lounge (CCC). There are plenty of those abominations around, as opposed to the SSLs.

While the Surfline scenery is quite impressive (mainly north of LA and Goleta), the Starlight has an SSL and the TE would deserve it much more than the surfliner. So, by all means, send them to Chicago!!!!

The SSL subs in on the Surfliner whenever there is a shortage of cafe cars. It does not run regularly on this route but it is not very rare either. I think I posted a couple years ago when a couple trainsets were running with the SSL regularly for a while, perhaps due to a maintenance issue with the cafe cars at the time.

I would say pre-pandemic they were rare, but it seems that they are sending in Surfliner cars to Chicago or Beech Grove to get overhauled (same as the small Acela upgrade I believe, if there was one) and so they are running short. I've been seeing videos of them on the Surfline more recently.

 

[Bob Dylan]

While the Surfline scenery is quite impressive (mainly north of LA and Goleta), the Starlight has an SSL and the TE would deserve it much more than the surfliner. So, by all means, send them to Chicago!!!!


I would say pre-pandemic they were rare, but it seems that they are sending in Surfliner cars to Chicago or Beech Grove to get overhauled (same as the small Acela upgrade I believe, if there was one) and so they are running short. I've been seeing videos of them on the Surfline more recently.

And so the Western LD Trains except for the Zephyr and Empire Builder, will be running without Sightseer Lounges according to several Posts on various Rail Sights.

Before it was just the Orphan Shorties, the Eaglet and the Cap Very Ltd. without them!

And taking the Transdorms off of LD Trains means the Crew has to move to Rooms in the Revenue Sleeper(s) with Paying Customers having their Reservations Cancelled!

Brillant!

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

I found it strange the lounge was up front where few pax could get to it, let alone even know about it.

 

[PVD]

where is it normally? It's a push/pull, so it will be at the opposite end in the other direction... what contractual obligations does Amtrak have for providing "loaner cars" in a hurry, and what is permitted... our personal preferences for ssl where they are missing really doesn't mean much if they are obligated to provide these in a hurry...

 

[Cal]

And so the Western LD Trains except for the Zephyr and Empire Builder, will be running without Sightseer Lounges according to several Posts on various Rail Sights.

WHAT?

 

[F900ElCapitan]

From what I understand, there is one SSL and a few coaches that are long-term leased to Cal for Surfliner/NorCal service. There have also been a Cross Country Cafe (mostly in NorCal) or two sub in, but I think they’ve all been returned. The line that they are short equipment for SSLs to be used on the Capitol Limited and Texas Eagle is junk. Unless they consider people equipment, because that is where I see the true shortage to be. They fired way too many people during Covid and got burned for it. Tri-weekly service hurt Amtrak far more than the very few dollars it might have saved!!

I just got back from my vacation and a trip on the Empire Builder from Essex to Chicago and Texas Eagle from Chicago to Dallas. I was able to talk to the cook on the Texas Eagle who recently served and talked with the VP for the route. From the sounds of things, our complaints are being heard and changes maybe coming sooner rather than later, especially dining menu wise. Once they get people hired and in the field, things should start changing with the CONO getting some love first.

Also, the new bedding is FANTASTIC!!! Even though the mattress is the same, the sheets, pillows and ESPECIALLY the blanket are MUCH better!!!! Thank you Amtrak!!!!!

 

[Cal]

The line that they are short equipment for SSLs to be used on the Capitol Limited and Texas Eagle is junk.

If they were long-term leased to California it still is not available for the Capitol and Eagle so they still would be short of equipment. And I thought the CCC was down here in Socal?

 

[hmy1]

So I didn't watch the video linked in the original post until now. In that trainset, the SSL is subbing in for the business class car #1. That is an unusual substitution for the Surfliner.

 

[F900ElCapitan]

If they were long-term leased to California it still is not available for the Capitol and Eagle so they still would be short of equipment. And I thought the CCC was down here in Socal?

I understand about the availability, but we are only talking one unit. There was a CCC in SoCal a while back, but with the TE, CL, and AT assignments, as far as I know, they have all been recalled and are in those services.

 

[hmy1]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but thought I'd mention that an SSL was subbing in for business class car #2 on 567 yesterday (Sunday 5/1/22). Normally car #2 is a long-distance Superliner coach or a CA-leased Superliner coach,

 

[Bob Dylan]

Sorry to bump an old thread, but thought I'd mention that an SSL was subbing in for business class car #2 on 567 yesterday (Sunday 5/1/22). Normally car #2 is a long-distance Superliner coach or a CA-leased Superliner coach,

Yep, to heck with the LD Passengers on the Cap and the Eagle!

 

[user 14106]

Does anyone know which car is the former Sightseer that was converted to all tables?

 

[F900ElCapitan]

33043

It was converted by the AutoTrain group. When the decision was made to take away the coach lounge car and replace the coach diner with a CCC, it was released to LD service.

 

[Amtrakfflyer]

“released to LD service” yet it finds its way to a corridor while 30 plus hour trips go without.

 

[user 14106]

I wonder if they put the original viewing chairs back in or if they just kept it all tables and use it as a fill in only.

 

[trimetbusfan]

I wonder if they put the original viewing chairs back in or if they just kept it all tables and use it as a fill in only.

I somehow have ridden 33043 3 seperate times over the past year of my travels. Twice on the builder and once on the Starlight. It still has the 'tables only' setup. (Which I personally prefer believe it or not).

 

[BlackDiamond]

Remember that to add a single SSL to an LD train you need at least 4 and as many as 6 to equip all trainsets for a given LD train. One SSL isn't going to help much.

 

[20th Century Rider]

And so the Western LD Trains except for the Zephyr and Empire Builder, will be running without Sightseer Lounges according to several Posts on various Rail Sights.

Before it was just the Orphan Shorties, the Eaglet and the Cap Very Ltd. without them!

And taking the Transdorms off of LD Trains means the Crew has to move to Rooms in the Revenue Sleeper(s) with Paying Customers having their Reservations Cancelled!

Brillant!

Yup... Amtrak seems to be wandering aimlessly and without direction.

 

[jis]

Yep, to heck with the LD Passengers on the Cap and the Eagle!

The one SSL in the California lease pool is nothing new. It has been there for several years with a start date well before any COVID or such. IIRC it happened as far back as Anderson's time.