Texas Eagle & Sunset Limited from LA

[user 6862]

Had heard that the Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited are the same train until San Antonio, what exactly happens to each section there?

From LAX we are using the SL and a friend will be using the TE which are connected?, we are aiming to travel together (well at least on the same train) until the train splits? which according to the timetables shows the two sections connected for about just over a day, but what happens to the two smaller trains as they continue?

Just idle curiosity but would like to know

Thanks

 

[TinCan782]

The last two cars (a sleeper and coach) of the train (Texas Eagle #422) are uncoupled from the Sunset Limited #2 in San Antonio and coupled to the Texas Eagle #22 to continue to Chicago. The remaining Sunset Limited cars continue east to New Orleans.

 

[Philly Amtrak Fan]

If you are coming from LAX, the TE goes north to Chicago Union Station via Dallas/Ft. Worth and St. Louis while the SL goes east to New Orleans via Houston. If you want to ride more than one train, Chicago gives you more options to the East Coast. The SL gets into NOL late and no trains leave until the next morning.

 

[KmH]

The consist from LA to San Antonio is 2 P-42 engines, baggage car, Transition dormitory, Sunset Limited (#2) sleeper, Dining car, Sightseer lounge (SSL),#2 Coach, #2 coach, #422 coach, #422 sleeper.

The #422 coach and #422 sleeper get disconnected and have to also be disconnected from each other.

The Sunset Limited consist is 1 P-42, baggage car, Transition dormitory, Sunset Limited (#2) sleeper, Dining car, Sightseer lounge (SSL),#2 Coach, #2 coach. In high season a 3rd coach is added and a 2nd sleeper may be added to the end of the consist.

the TE consist is made up with 1 P-42, baggage, trans dorm, #422 sleeper, Diner (Cross Country Café type), SSL, Coach/baggage, coach, #422 coach. A 4th coach is often added in high season.

It's a somewhat convoluted process that takes about 1.5 hours before the Sunset Limited can can continue on its route.

It takes a good 2 hours before the Texas Eagle can continue.

 

[user 6862]

Thanks, that all makes sense now and the positioning of our car in the consist. As it's a night stop to separate the SL from the TE do most people remain in their car, or is there any point a chance to get off to watch the separation being done if you wish to?

 

[TinCan782]

Thanks, that all makes sense now and the positioning of our car in the consist. As it's a night stop to separate the SL from the TE do most people remain in their car, or is there any point a chance to get off to watch the separation being done if you wish to?

The three times I did it I stayed in the 422 sleeper (last car on the train) during the switching listening to the chatter on my scanner. From time to time I would take a look out one end window or the other. I only got off the train after the switching was done.

 

[the_traveler]

If you are booked in the 422 cars (or 421 cars if going west), you can if you want stay in the car and sleep. Those cars are switched between the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle in San Antonio. If you are booked in train #2 connecting to train #22 in San Antonio, you must get off in San Antonio and wait overnight for the boarding of Train #22. The station is not very comfortable at all!

 

[oregon pioneer]

If you are booked in the 422 cars (or 421 cars if going west), you can if you want stay in the car and sleep. Those cars are switched between the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle in San Antonio. If you are booked in train #2 connecting to train #22 in San Antonio, you must get off in San Antonio and wait overnight for the boarding of Train #22. The station is not very comfortable at all!

Note: this is only if you came as far as San Antonio on the Sunset Ltd, and are switching to a car on the Texas Eagle (as if you are continuing towards Chicago). If you are on the SL, and continuing towards New Orleans in the same accommodation (continuing on the SL), you can sleep right through it as you do not need to change cars. Likewise, if you are on the TE, and continuing on the TE, you do not need to get off.

If you do get off to watch the switching (which I have not done), I understand that you must stay off until re-boarding is announced. You cannot get back on whenever you wish. The station is small and tends to be crowded.

 

[ScouseAndy]

Unless my experience was unusual- do not count on being able to sleep thru the night in coach. At some point during the night all the chairs were rotated 180 degrees with no prior warning so everyone was woken up whilst this is done and resulted in personal belongings needing moving from chair backs and over head stowage.

Also my experience in coach was that anyone could come and go from the coach as they felt like it with no checks to ensure that everyone was ticketed etc, it was the only point in the whole Amtrak experience that I felt concerned about the security of my belongings in coach.

 

[west point]

Have not done west bound for decades. East bound train #2 stopped short of station dropped the two Eagle cars and pulled into the station on track 1. Then Eagle set on track 2 which arrived the night before backed onto the two cars and then pulls forward onto track 2.

Sunset loads up at its time and pulls away toward Houston. Then track 2 which is no longer blocked by #2 is loaded and usually backs to wye and proceeds to Ft. Worth.

One caveat is the 2 locos on #2 are fueled at the UP yard fueling facility after departure from SAS. The Eagle loco that comes to SAS and then back to FT Worth either fuels before arriving at SAS, is disconnected from train set and goes to fueling facility, or fuels after departure from SAS by another route to Ft Worth. You will just have to ask what the plan for your trip is as there seems to be no plan set in stone.

 

[the_traveler]

I have not been in coach on 421/422 (only sleeper), and thus I'm unaware of the coach procedure but I've heard this is done.

As far as getting off and back on, check with your CA/SCA prior to getting off. Some may allow you to reboarded at anytime. Others may lock up the car, and you must wait in the station for the general boarding announcement. (Of course this wouldn't apply if you stay aboard.

 

[Don Newcomb]

If you are booked in the 422 cars (or 421 cars if going west), you can if you want stay in the car and sleep. Those cars are switched between the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle in San Antonio. If you are booked in train #2 connecting to train #22 in San Antonio, you must get off in San Antonio and wait overnight for the boarding of Train #22. The station is not very comfortable at all!

Could someone explain the difference between 421 and 21 and also 422 and 22?

 

[Philly Amtrak Fan]

If you are booked in the 422 cars (or 421 cars if going west), you can if you want stay in the car and sleep. Those cars are switched between the Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle in San Antonio. If you are booked in train #2 connecting to train #22 in San Antonio, you must get off in San Antonio and wait overnight for the boarding of Train #22. The station is not very comfortable at all!

Could someone explain the difference between 421 and 21 and also 422 and 22?

21 and 22 are CHI-SAS.

421 and 422 are CHI-LAX via SAS.

1 and 2 are NOL-LAX.

 

[Lonestar648]

Please note that 1/2 and 421/422 only operate 3 days per week but 21/22 is daily.

When I travel on 421/422 I prefer to sleep through the switching, though this summer the switching was rougher and the time without power much longer so the car got quite warm, thus difficult for sleeping.

 

[Don Newcomb]

Please note that 1/2 and 421/422 only operate 3 days per week but 21/22 is daily.

When I travel on 421/422 I prefer to sleep through the switching, though this summer the switching was rougher and the time without power much longer so the car got quite warm, thus difficult for sleeping.

So, #421 leaves Chicago Sun, Tue & Thu? Does this mean that #421 is actually the two extra cars attached to #21? Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat it doesn't have the extra cars?

 

[KmH]

What 2 extra cars?

It's my understanding that between CHI and SAS the TE consist is the same every day of the week, except when demand dictates an additional coach be added.

 

[ParanoidAndroid]

I think he means the extra two cars that will be attached to #1 at SAS?

 

[MikefromCrete]

Please note that 1/2 and 421/422 only operate 3 days per week but 21/22 is daily.

When I travel on 421/422 I prefer to sleep through the switching, though this summer the switching was rougher and the time without power much longer so the car got quite warm, thus difficult for sleeping.

So, #421 leaves Chicago Sun, Tue & Thu? Does this mean that #421 is actually the two extra cars attached to #21? Mon, Wed, Fri & Sat it doesn't have the extra cars?

That is correct.

 

[user 6862]

Thank you

So it depends on which train you are on, where it originates, where it's going and in which direction plus day of the week. Whatever happens it's late at night and everyone in particular coach passengers know it is happening as there are different types of switching to be done, is that about right?

Sounds like quite a few personnel are involved and in particular the on-board staff have to be awake to control what happens in the cars, hmmm. Think I'd like to see it done but Rosie has less interest!

 

[Don Newcomb]

What 2 extra cars?

It's my understanding that between CHI and SAS the TE consist is the same every day of the week, except when demand dictates an additional coach be added.

Well, I was going by what KmH wrote above describing how two cars were split off the Sunset (#2) and added to #422. The "two extra" cars being the two that are to continue with #1 to L.A.

 

[Shortline]

Good info, I just booked OKC-FTW-LAX-SAN for a getaway trip with the wife. Heading to San Diego for the CVMA (Combat Vets Motorcycle Association) rally/convention/meeting, for a week of riding SoCal with about 1400 of our closest friends. (Train out, renting an Indian M/C for the week, then fly home the following week)

So as this is a grownups trip, leaving the kiddo at home, we're able to have some grownup fun together and might be fun to "go out" for a change-Assuming 421 is on time, looks like we have 4 hours and 50 minutes in San Antonio. I've been to the riverwalk, but she hasn't. Thinking it'd be fun to kill the layover there, vs sitting on a stopped train getting bumped around while switching, and power goes off and on.

It's a pretty close walk, less than a mile it seems, and checking the web, looks like the party lasts until 2 AM closing time, giving us plenty of time to have fun, listen to some music, get dinner, and get back to the train, to finally go to sleep. Is it reasonably walkable? I'm familiar with the riverwalk area, but not the station, looks like there is a highway between. Can we meander down there for the nearly 5 hours for dinner, drinks, and riverwalk entertainment, and back, or is it an Uber/Taxi thing?

I understand the may or may not be able to re-board whenever thing, so what time do they call for re-boarding?

 

[oregon pioneer]

Good info, I just booked OKC-FTW-LAX-SAN for a getaway trip with the wife. Heading to San Diego for the CVMA (Combat Vets Motorcycle Association) rally/convention/meeting, for a week of riding SoCal with about 1400 of our closest friends. (Train out, renting an Indian M/C for the week, then fly home the following week)

So as this is a grownups trip, leaving the kiddo at home, we're able to have some grownup fun together and might be fun to "go out" for a change-Assuming 421 is on time, looks like we have 4 hours and 50 minutes in San Antonio. I've been to the riverwalk, but she hasn't. Thinking it'd be fun to kill the layover there, vs sitting on a stopped train getting bumped around while switching, and power goes off and on.

It's a pretty close walk, less than a mile it seems, and checking the web, looks like the party lasts until 2 AM closing time, giving us plenty of time to have fun, listen to some music, get dinner, and get back to the train, to finally go to sleep. Is it reasonably walkable? I'm familiar with the riverwalk area, but not the station, looks like there is a highway between. Can we meander down there for the nearly 5 hours for dinner, drinks, and riverwalk entertainment, and back, or is it an Uber/Taxi thing?

I understand the may or may not be able to re-board whenever thing, so what time do they call for re-boarding?

We have walked the distance from the station to our hotel (past the Riverwalk), in the middle of the night, because it had snowed and taxis were not available, LOL. It is easily possible. The hardest portion is the underpass under the freeway, though it was actually kind of cool. I think there was a sidewalk, and there was some kind of light show on the walls that was artsy and obviously made just for walkers. There were definitely sidewalks leading all the way downtown from there. It's not that far to the first Riverwalk access points.

When we boarded in SAS, they called us about twenty minutes before departure.

 

[Bob Dylan]

EZ-PZ walk from Sunset Station to the Riverwalk, but if it's open when you arrive, there is a New Bar-B-Q Place where Ruth Chris Steakhouse ( now in the Grand Hyatt next to the Convention Center) used to be across from the Original Sunset Station on the South Side of E. Commerce, and Several Pubs and Bars on the North Side E. Commerce just before the Underpass at I-37 on the way to the Riverwalk.

Most of the Riverwalk Cafes and Bars are overpriced Tourist/Convention joints and close early on week nights if no special events are going on!

My favorite is the Iron Cactus, great Rita's and Tex-Mex and not too expensive for the Riverwalk.

You might check out River Center Mall under the Marriott Riverwalk on East Commerce, there are several cafes and bars there but the food court closes early.

The Marriott and the Hilton on the Riverwalk also have bar/pubs and high end cafes if that appeals to you.

There is also an Old Shagetthi Warehouse about three blocks North of the Station on the Downtown side next to the Tracks but its not recommended to walk there at night, use a cab or Ride Share if you want to go there.

Whatever you do,skip Denny's on East Commerce and don't hang out in the cramped,noisy, dirty and crowded Amshack.

 

[Lonestar648]

The TE consist is exactly the same 7 days a week. On those days that 421/422 runs, the Sleeper and the rear Coach are switched to/from 1/2. Bottom line, there are no additional cars added for 421/422. Just as a note my sleeper was 2120 on 421 going to LAX and 2130 on 21 when the sleeper did not connect for LAX.

As fat as going to the Riverwalk, the walk is easy and safe. Your first access point will be the River Center Mall. If the river boats or the river taxi are still running, take that loop so you can see everything, well worth the cost. Eat outside along the river if the weather permits, it is a great way to enjoy this special place, unique to San Antonio

 

[caravanman]

Shortline, I am so impressed... "with 1400 of our closest friends" . Gosh, I only have about 30 "friends" on facebook, and I don't know who half of them are !

Have a great time

Ed.