Southwest Chief discussion 2025

[pennyk]

From January 2, 2025 forward, please post comments discussing the Southwest Chief here. For previous posts regarding the Southwest Chief, please refer to this thread, which is currently locked:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/southwest-chief-discussion-q4-2023-2024.86124/

 

[Cal]

@zephyr17 was talking about vestibule doors being open at speed. “Funny” story, that happened yesterday on my #7 through Montana! Someone had said they saw it just a crack open and I went to see it, only to find it completely open while we were doing 79. I didn’t approach it, and immediately went to get the SCA who closed it.

 

[Rasputin]

Some years ago I was on the Southern Crescent and was returning from the dining car after dinner when another fellow and I came across a vestibule door wide open with the trap up. The train was just hurtling along at a good speed. We shut the trap and then closed the door and secured it. I don't think we reported it to anyone.

I had the impression that several passengers had passed through the area when the door was open and none of them reported it or took any action to close it.

 

[zephyr17]

@zephyr17 was talking about vestibule doors being open at speed. “Funny” story, that happened yesterday on my #7 through Montana! Someone had said they saw it just a crack open and I went to see it, only to find it completely open while we were doing 79. I didn’t approach it, and immediately went to get the SCA who closed it.

Before I re-read his post and fully understood that @GariYaMoshi was talking about end doors, not vestibule doors, that is the course of action I would have recommended he take.

Some years ago I was on the Southern Crescent and was returning from the dining car after dinner when another fellow and I came across a vestibule door wide open with the trap up. The train was just hurtling along at a good speed. We shut the trap and then closed the door and secured it. I don't think we reported it to anyone.

I had the impression that several passengers had passed through the area when the door was open and none of them reported it or took any action to close it.

I wouldn't touch an open vestibule door. It would be far too easy for a crew member to happen by and assume I opened it/was fooling with it. It would be a get-removed-from-the-train offense unless I could convince them of my honorable intentions. I have run into too many irrascible crew members who don't really listen to passengers to trust to that.

I'd immediately try to find a crew member to report it, preferably that car's attendant or a conductor, but I would not touch the open door.

 

[Cal]

I'd immediately try to find a crew member to report it, preferably that car's attendant or a conductor, but I would not touch the open door.

Also just going near an open door at speed is dangerous. If you go over a switch and lose your balance… no thank you.

 

[zephyr17]

Also just going near an open door at speed is dangerous. If you go over a switch and lose your balance… no thank you.

True. Though if I were to do it (which I wouldn't) I would have a hand on a grab bar at all times. Three points of contact, both feet and one hand, at all times.

 

[Rasputin]

I wouldn't touch an open vestibule door. It would be far too easy for a crew member to happen by and assume I opened it/was fooling with it. It would be a get-removed-from-the-train offense unless I could convince them of my honorable intentions. I have run into too many irrascible crew members who don't really listen to passengers to trust to that.

I'd immediately try to find a crew member to report it, preferably that car's attendant or a conductor, but I would not touch the open door.

I appreciate your point of view but I would not hesitate to do what we did to immediately remedy an unsafe situation. I recall that while we were in the process of closing the trap and the door, several women walked by from the dining car. It is possible that one of them might have been injured if we had been off searching for a crew member (who are not always readily available.)

 

[railiner]

@zephyr17 was talking about vestibule doors being open at speed. “Funny” story, that happened yesterday on my #7 through Montana! Someone had said they saw it just a crack open and I went to see it, only to find it completely open while we were doing 79. I didn’t approach it, and immediately went to get the SCA who closed it.

Some years ago I was on the Southern Crescent and was returning from the dining car after dinner when another fellow and I came across a vestibule door wide open with the trap up. The train was just hurtling along at a good speed. We shut the trap and then closed the door and secured it. I don't think we reported it to anyone.

I had the impression that several passengers had passed through the area when the door was open and none of them reported it or took any action to close it.

These two situations sound like a possible suicide jumper, but if it were, pretty sure you’d have heard about it.
More likely some crew member carelessness after a station stop, not properly securing the door, although leaving a trap up sounds unlikely…

 

[Rasputin]

I think in my instance what probably happened was that the door and trap had been opened at a station stop, passengers had boarded, and a crew member went to attend those passengers who possibly needed extra assistance or required extra attention. The crew member then forgot to come back to close the trap and the door.

 

[railiner]

I think in my instance what probably happened was that the door and trap had been opened at a station stop, passengers had boarded, and a crew member went to attend those passengers who possibly needed extra assistance or required extra attention. The crew member then forgot to come back to close the trap and the door.

Yeah, that sounds about right…

 

[railiner]

I had thought that trains might have an interlock system, that would prevent train movement until all doors were secured, or at least some sort of alarm signal to alert crew…

 

[Eternityroad]

I appreciate your point of view but I would not hesitate to do what we did to immediately remedy an unsafe situation. I recall that while we were in the process of closing the trap and the door, several women walked by from the dining car. It is possible that one of them might have been injured if we had been off searching for a crew member (who are not always readily available.)

If there were two of you one could have stayed there to warn others while the other went off looking for an attendant. I have never traveled that particular route so i don't know if it was a bi-level car. On a bi-level a lot fewer people are going to meet that stuation than on a single level car anyway. On a bi-level most would go below for the use of the restrooms. It isn't like there is a steady steam of passengers going through the area.

 

[Rasputin]

This was an incident that occurred on the Southern Crescent, probably between 1972 and 1975. It was a single level train.

I did not see any reason to overthink the situation. Just close the trap, then close the door and then move on. No need to get W. Graham Claytor involved in this. Maybe that is just me. I realize that others may have reacted differently in that situation.

 

[Cal]

These two situations sound like a possible suicide jumper, but if it were, pretty sure you’d have heard about it.
More likely some crew member carelessness after a station stop, not properly securing the door, although leaving a trap up sounds unlikely…

The incident I had was shortly after Havre, a fresh air stop. So points to the door not being closed all the way.

I had thought that trains might have an interlock system, that would prevent train movement until all doors were secured, or at least some sort of alarm signal to alert crew…

i'm sure you've seen superliner doors, they're completely manual and the locks are just levers.

 

[railiner]

i'm sure you've seen superliner doors, they're completely manual and the locks are just levers.

You’re correct, but they could install microswitches to some safety system…something as simple as a “door ajar” alarm on many auto’s…

 

[Steve4031]

I’ve encountered open doors on superliners on two occasions. The first was on 21, coming out of Chicago on the UP detour that ran nonstop to STL. I instructed my girlfriend to stand on the tiled floor by the luggage rack and explained that she should caution passengers passing by. She does not have the best balance, so I gave those instructions. I had to go to the diner to let someone know. I could not find the sca. I didn't touch the door because I did not want to be accused of opening it. The employee in the diner thanked me.

The second time was on five after departing Truckee. I found the sca and informed her. She thanked me profusely and closed the door. Then she checked to make sure she had all of her passengers.

 

[Stevenz]

I’m not sure I would even know how to close a door.

 

[Rasputin]

I’m not sure I would even know how to close a door.

You simply snap off the catch that holds the door open and prevents it from closing and then you close the door and pull down the lever to keep it closed. As I would explain to my son, who has an aeronautical/astronomical engineering degree from MIT, "This is not rocket science."

 

[Rasputin]

I’m not sure I would even know how to close a door.

I would suggest that on your next trip you watch the attendant when he or she opens or closes the door and also study the door fixtures carefully so you will know what must be done to open or close the door.

I would recommend that everyone should especially know how to open the vestibule door in the event of an emergency. A conductor or attendant may not always be available.

 

[zephyr17]

I would suggest that on your next trip you watch the attendant when he or she opens or closes the door and also study the door fixtures carefully so you will know what must be done to open or close the door.

I would recommend that everyone should especially know how to open the vestibule door in the event of an emergency. A conductor or attendant may not always be available.

True. Just because I wouldn't touch an open door in normal operations doesn't mean I wouldn't open it in an emergency (and, yes, I know how).

VIA actually "deputizes" a passenger in each car, at least in sleepers, as an emergency door handler in case of a wreck with the attendant absent. The attendant chooses someone, shows them how to operate the door and trap, has them do it, and shows them where the car's emergency supplies/first aid kit is and how to get at it. Then they put a sticker on the designee's door showing that's who it is. I have been the emergency door person a couple times on VIA.

Finally, to review the order of precedence in case you have to leave the car in an emergency:
1. Move to an adjacent car
2. Exit outside through the vestibule door.
3. Exit through window by removing (Amtrak-pull out window gasket)/ breaking (VIA-you get to use the cute little hammer mounted next to the window) the window.

 

[Rasputin]

Does the VIA Renaissance equipment or any new equipment ordered by VIA or Amtrak have sensors which alert the engine crew or another employee if a vestibule door is not closed?

 

[UserNameRequired]

You simply snap off the catch that holds the door open and prevents it from closing and then you close the door and pull down the lever to keep it closed. As I would explain to my son, who has an aeronautical/astronomical engineering degree from MIT, "This is not rocket science."

This sounds Viewliner/Amfleety? Doesn’t the Superliner have two levers to keep closed? Now I need to closely observe what is happening around me on the next ride instead of being oblivious

 

[zephyr17]

This sounds Viewliner/Amfleety? Doesn’t the Superliner have two levers to keep closed? Now I need to closely observe what is happening around me on the next ride instead of being oblivious

Superliners have a simple latch plus two dogging levers, one towards top of the door and one towards the bottom.