Southwest Chief discussion

[railpost]

As of late I have noticed that the Southwest Chief has been running with what appears to be 2 sleepers next to the diner. I was wondering if the first sleeper is a regular sleeper or whether it is Dorm/Sleeper? I also noticed that the west bound number 3 was running with 3 and not 2 coaches when it arrived in Galesburg and a short time ago today at Fort Madison (August 2, 2022) the eastbound 4 was also running with 3 coaches which is good news because it shows that at least somedays they are trying to expand the passenger capacity on the Southwest Chief.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Summer consist for the SWC has been a bag car, one Dorm/Sleeper, one full sleeper, diner, SSL, and 3 coaches.

 

[railpost]

Summer consist for the SWC has been a bag car, one Dorm/Sleeper, one full sleeper, diner, SSL, and 3 coaches.

Thanks. Its good to know that the Southwest Chief is running with 3 Coaches regularly as opposed to the California Zephyr which is only running with 2. It is disgusting to see how Amtraks management is still shortchanging their long distance service. At least Anderson is gone. I still have to see how well Gardner does.

 

[joelkfla]

As of late I have noticed that the Southwest Chief has been running with what appears to be 2 sleepers next to the diner. I was wondering if the first sleeper is a regular sleeper or whether it is Dorm/Sleeper? I also noticed that the west bound number 3 was running with 3 and not 2 coaches when it arrived in Galesburg and a short time ago today at Fort Madison (August 2, 2022) the eastbound 4 was also running with 3 coaches which is good news because it shows that at least somedays they are trying to expand the passenger capacity on the Southwest Chief.

A Trans-Dorm can be identified by the small window on the upper level at the front of the car. Someone said it's the conductor's office.

The Superliner sleeper behind it has full-width windows to both ends of the upper level.

 

[railpost]

Thanks for the illustration joelkfla.

 

[Eric in East County]

Does anyone have information as to when the second full sleeper will be returned to the SWC's consist?

 

[zephyr17]

Normal pre-COVID consist was at least baggage, transform, 2 standard sleepers and 2 coaches year round. 3rd coach in summers, but no 3rd sleeper.

 

[trimetbusfan]

Does anyone have information as to when the second full sleeper will be returned to the SWC's consist?

Maybe once Amtrak’s ‘fall’ changes kicks in. (September or October for Amtrak)

 

[Eric in East County]

Maybe once Amtrak’s ‘fall’ changes kicks in. (September or October for Amtrak)

That's what we're counting on. (Last June, Amtrak sold us SWC bedrooms in the second sleeper. We'll be traveling on No. 4 the latter part of September and No. 3 in early October.)

 

[zephyr17]

Maybe once Amtrak’s ‘fall’ changes kicks in. (September or October for Amtrak)

When they start getting that 80 car backlog out of Beech Grove, and who knows when that'll be.

 

[trimetbusfan]

When they start getting that 80 car backlog out of Beech Grove, and who knows when that'll be.

Not nessicarily. For the summer they took some sleepers off the SWC and allocated them to other routes. Right now the Coast Starlight and Capitol Limited are running with more sleeper cars than they were before.

 

[zephyr17]

Not nessicarily. For the summer they took some sleepers off the SWC and allocated them to other routes. Right now the Coast Starlight and Capitol Limited are running with more sleeper cars than they were before.

Starlight is not up to its pre-COVID summer consist even so. It was a transdorm and 3 standard sleepers in the summers before COVID.

Root cause is the full fleet still is unavailable. That is why they are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

 

[njdon]

A Trans-Dorm can be identified by the small window on the upper level at the front of the car. Someone said it's the conductor's office.
View attachment 29035
The Superliner sleeper behind it has full-width windows to both ends of the upper level.

Thanks for the info.

 

[BGW 1]

The little window, one each side, is for the stairway down to the lower level door.

 

[ScottR]

I am on the #3 right now as we just crossed over Raton Pass. So far a very pleasant trip. Dining excellent, bathrooms clean, cars are kept cool, we are reasonably on time…
it’s a very full train.

one of the onboard staff told me the baggage and one of the coaches will be removed in September and the transdorm will remain. Also it will be a 5, perhaps 3 day a week train.

Perhaps this is normal after peak season?

anyway a pleasant trip

 

[Cal]

Starlight is not up to its pre-COVID summer consist even so. It was a transdorm and 3 standard sleepers in the summers before COVID.

That 11 car starlight was a beast, really miss it.

one of the onboard staff told me the baggage and one of the coaches will be removed in September and the transdorm will remain. Also it will be a 5, perhaps 3 day a week train.

Perhaps this is normal after peak season?

not normal, at all. This is very sad news, I hope it’s false.

 

[user 14106]

The baggage removal isn’t surprising. I think the last couple years they’ve added the full baggage on the Chief in the summer mainly due to the Boy Scouts. Rest of the year I think they make do with just the coach baggage.

 

[Cal]

The baggage removal isn’t surprising. I think the last couple years they’ve added the full baggage on the Chief in the summer mainly due to the Boy Scouts. Rest of the year I think they make do with just the coach baggage.

Well pre-covid every LD train except the CONO IIRC had a baggage car…

 

[Bob Dylan]

Well pre-covid every LD train except the CONO IIRC had a baggage car…

Not the #22/#21 Eagles, they used a Coach Baggage like they are doing now!( but there was 2 Sleepers and a Sightseer Lounge!!

On the #421/#422 days ( 3 times a week as you know)there was one of the New Bag Cars for a few Months..

 

[zephyr17]

Well pre-covid every LD train except the CONO IIRC had a baggage car…

27/28 always had a coach/bag, too.

 

[rs9]

On #4, does anyone know which of the 2 or 3 coach cars passengers headed all the way to Chicago are seated in? Just curious for an upcoming trip.

 

[Cal]

On #4, does anyone know which of the 2 or 3 coach cars passengers headed all the way to Chicago are seated in? Just curious for an upcoming trip.

Back in July most Chicago passengers from early on were in the rear car.

 

[rs9]

Back in July most Chicago passengers from early on were in the rear car.

Thanks for the info. I'll be boarding in ABQ, so not sure if that would still qualify as early on.

Here's a ridiculously specific question. For the last coach car in the consist, at the back door that would be the vestibule to another car, is there still a light on overnight?

Seems like if there is no light and virtually no foot traffic, that would be a really desirable area.

 

[Cal]

Thanks for the info. I'll be boarding in ABQ, so not sure if that would still qualify as early on.

Here's a ridiculously specific question. For the last coach car in the consist, at the back door that would be the vestibule to another car, is there still a light on overnight?

Seems like if there is no light and virtually no foot traffic, that would be a really desirable area.

I have no idea, I was dead smack in the middle of the car so I can't be sure.

 

[Willbridge]

There's enough light anywhere in a Superliner coach that some passengers bring sleep masks. I wear a hat with a brim and just pull it down.