Southwest Chief Consist - short train?

[Genesis1]

Hi All- Newbie Here - Great Forum
I just saw on WebCam the SuperChief - only six cars
meaning only one sleeper?
It that normal for this time of year or has the train
been purposely shortened?

thank you

 

[F900ElCapitan]

Well, currently that train is called the Southwest Chief. But yes, this time of year that train is normally two engines, one baggage, one transition sleeper, one full sleeper, one diner, one sightseer lounge, and two coaches.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

Amtrak 3 of Jan. 26 2018
P42DC 115
P42DC 9
Baggage 61047
Transition Sleeper 39018
Sleeper 32042
Diner 38000
Lounge 33015
Coach 34030
Coach-Baggage 31007

That's the consist of a January Southwest Chief I saw a couple years ago. So yes, it could have only 1 regular sleeper.

(Finally! My consist records have been put to use!)

 

[Genesis1]

Hi All- Newbie Here - Great Forum
I just saw on WebCam the SuperChief - only six cars
meaning only one sleeper?
It that normal for this time of year or has the train
been purposely shortened?

thank you

Apologies about the Train Name- I was reading about the older SuperChief- then found the
Webcam w/the Southwest Chief - Just an honest slip. thank you

 

[Genesis1]

Well, currently that train is called the Southwest Chief. But yes, this time of year that train is normally two engines, one baggage, one transition sleeper, one full sleeper, one diner, one sightseer lounge, and two coaches.

Thank you and apologies about the name -

 

[F900ElCapitan]

Thank you and apologies about the name -

No worries!

 

[Thirdrail7]

Tis the season for the "runt" consists.

 

[MIrailfan]

It's slow season on the Chief til spring breaks.

 

[Way2Kewl]

Here's SC latest info.

 

[MIrailfan]

howd u get thatinfo

 

[Bagels]

I rode the Southwest Chief from Los Angeles through to Chicago earlier this week. According to the passenger manifest, Coach peaked at 80 passengers, but there were no more than 50 passengers for most of the journey. The manifest indicated the same consist would return to Los Angeles about 24-hours after it arrived in Chicago, and Coach would peak at 60 passengers, with no more than 35 throughout most of the journey. So yes, passenger traffic is light, which would've made the trip more enjoyable except that they crammed pretty much everybody into the second Coach car, and refused to let us spread out into the first "for safety reasons" (there were literally two passengers on the upper level during the first night).

 

[Way2Kewl]

howd u get thatinfo

Webcams (and Excel)
I like to watch Amtrak’s Western Long Distance train consists. I also try to note with way the sleepers are facing.
The Excel helps me quickly do the math of how far back to go with the DVR depending on how late the train is.

Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, and the Texas Eagle all have great webcams and 12 hr DV2 so effort is minimal.
Unfortunately the Empire Builder is hit and miss as the Minneapolis webcam has no DVR and the Skykomish webcam does not allow you to see enough detail or dark. Same with Coast Starlight, the webcam does not allow enough detail.


Here’s a list of the Webcams above that cover these trains.
Virtual Railfan https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOIkT9bq-1N2BvrsBjhNlag.
MSP Minneapolis (Empire Builder) has their own webcam at https://www.uniondepot.org/railfan-live-cams/ (NO DVR)
GLB Galesburg (Southwest Chief & California Zephyr) has their own webcam at http://www.galesburgrailroadmuseum.org/
TRU Truckee (Southwest Chief) has their own webcam at http://tahoetopia.com/webcam/downtown-truckee (DVR useless)
cheers,
(I also attached my Excel (XLS) in case someone finds it useful, note I had to ZIP it in order to attach, unzip with no pass for the XLS)

 

[frequentflyer]

Chesterton shows the Cap Ltd. and the LSL. Cap today was 7 cars and no baggage, with a deadhead observation car. The LSL had10 cars with one car deadheading behind the baggage. Short consists for sure.

 

[Thirdrail7]

The LSL has a base consist of two coaches out of NY, making it 7 cars. They can add more if necessary.