Snack Coaches

[Superliner]

I am curious to know if the 35xxx series is still in service? There are only about a dozen of these, I understand. I have never seen the interior of a Snack Coach in person. I am guessing, the lower level (where seating would normally be) acts as the "cafe" so to speak? I heard that a few of the 35xxx Superliners were at one time converted for operation in push/pull service.

 

[cpamtfan]

There were originally 12 snack coaches, but a couple incidents scaled them back to ten I believe.

Upper level is the same, with a bar with a little bit of open seating (Although not much)

The ones that are push-pull compatable run on the Heartland Flyer.

 

[zephyr17]

I am curious to know if the 35xxx series is still in service? There are only about a dozen of these, I understand. I have never seen the interior of a Snack Coach in person. I am guessing, the lower level (where seating would normally be) acts as the "cafe" so to speak? I heard that a few of the 35xxx Superliners were at one time converted for operation in push/pull service.

I rode one. The snack coach was the only cafe/lounge service towards the end on the Pioneer and there was one when I made a "farewell" trip in 1996. Yes, the lounge is where the lower level seating normally is. It was reconfigured so there was a counter, similar to the downstairs counter on a Superliner I sightseer. There were a few of lounge seats down there, IIRC, but it was not a place you'd want to hang out.

 

[Trogdor]

There are nine in service right now. One is in service on the Heartland Flyer, one on the Pere Marquette. A couple fill-in for food-service cars in California, and the rest roam around the system as extra coach capacity.

It has been a while since I've been in one, but, as I recall, the service counter is like a Superliner I sightseer lounge, and there are some sideways-facing seats on that half of the lower level. The other half has the normal coach restroom layout.

 

[guest]

They're known as "panic boxes" at Amtrak, since they're only used on long-haul trains in emergencies. They did have them regularly on the Sunset, but now only very rarely, when the observation/lounge car has to be pulled at the last minute. There are usually one or two in the yard in LA.

 

[rtabern]

Yes, they are used on Michigan trains (Pere Marquette year-round and on the Wolverines in the winter)

See pictures here:

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066#8067

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066#8068

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066#8069

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066#8070

 

[spacecadet]

Yes, they are used on Michigan trains (Pere Marquette year-round and on the Wolverines in the winter)

See pictures here:

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066#8067

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066#8068

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066#8069

http://rtabern.shutterfly.com/8066#8070

Worst. Lounge. Ever!

Seriously, those sideways facing seats look ridiculous in that area. Why would anyone actually sit there? That's about as utilitarian of a snack counter as I've ever seen, in a tiny little enclosed space with absolutely no ambiance.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

I've sometimes seen 2 of them on the HF, one for pax service and the other for the 2 Conductors to work in. While there are seats down there, most the service is meant to be carry back to your chair. But for the short haul, they do a good job.

 

[jphjaxfl]

The snack coaches are better than no food service at all. The seats could for someone who might be waiting for service who isn't able to stand. I think it is an efficient use of space.

 

[rrdude]

They're known as "panic boxes" at Amtrak, since they're only used on long-haul trains in emergencies. They did have them regularly on the Sunset, but now only very rarely, when the observation/lounge car has to be pulled at the last minute. There are usually one or two in the yard in LA.

OMG, "Panic Box" had a much different meaning when I worked on board as an LSA. Granted, that was decades ago, (literally) but I worked them often out of Chicago, when a lounge or AmCafe was not available.

They too were in the lower level of the Superliner coaches, but they were "literally" PANIC BOXES. We placed a long board over the coach seats in the lower level. Had coolers for ice, and could only sell (obviously) items that required no nuking. Worked out of boxes and milk crates. I once had a line, that I don't believe I ever broke, from Chicago to Carbondale on a Sunday afternoon. I do not believe that I ever left the bottom of that Superliner coach the entire trip. Just sold beer, after beer, after beer, after beer........

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

And anyone who remembers the early days of the Heartland Flyer recalls vending machines were stuck in the lower levels of some of the Coaches, but when the State found out about that, they were quickly ordered out as the contract called for "proper" food service.

 

[SubwayNut]

Were those the vending machine coaches left over from the Kentucky Cardinal? (I thought that was the main reason a few HiLevel coaches were refurbished to provide that service but when it became single level and went bust they became the cars of the Heartland Flyer).

I was too young to be riding trains about the country at that point so I'm just remembering what I've read over the years.

 

[Sactobob]

Quite a few years ago, when the Coast Starlight was routinely running with six coaches in peak season, the large number of passengers could overwhelm the snack bar in the sightseer lounge car, so one of the coaches assigned would be one of the snack coaches to help handle the volume of business. Now that the Starlight has been running with a maximum of four coaches, this is no longer necessary.

 

[Trogdor]

The Kentucky Cardinal originally started with one coach and one sleeper. I don't think there was any food service on it, not even vending machine service.

I want to say the Hi-Levels that were refurbished were done specifically for the Heartland Flyer. The Kentucky Cardinal just ran with whatever junk was available. Sometimes, that may have included a HiLevel coach.

 

[SubwayNut]

I was remembering this note from the 2003 Amtrak Roster in reverse, never mind!