Tourists bringing provisions

[Train2104]

Found this photograph taken Friday:

http://www.railpictu...o.php?id=371136

Photographer's caption:

Upon train #4's 15-minute late arrival in Fullerton, California, Amtrak Conductor Moncada surveys a large group of Japanese tourists (headed to New Mexico) with their own food supply. This coach wouldn't do, so the train was pulled ahead two additional car lengths so that the group could ride in a Superliner Coach/Baggage. The passengers formed a "bucket brigade" to quickly and efficiently stow their provisions (much more quickly than I had expected them to). Throughout, Conductor Moncada exhibited patience, professionalism and a positive attitude and the eastbound Southwest Chief departed not too far behind schedule.

Does anyone know more about this? I thought Amtrak didn't make exception to their baggage policy, even for groups.

 

[Shanghai]

I think the Conductor was happy when everyone boarded the train.

I'm happy to hear that the Conductor was patient and professional.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Thats alot of Raman Noodles! :lol: This might have been approved by Group Sales but since the post says that the Train was Spotted to get a Coach/Bag Car, maybe the Conductor, as was said, was just one of those Professional/Good Guys you occasionaly run into on LD Trains??!

 

[bobnabq]

Upon train #4's 15-minute late arrival in Fullerton, California, Amtrak Conductor Moncada surveys a large group of Japanese tourists (headed to New Mexico) with their own food supply.

I live in New Mexico. Why are they coming here, and why do they think they need bring their own food?

Maybe they're preparing for the world's end in 2012?

:giggle:

 

[the_traveler]

Maybe they heard that New Mexico was a foreign country - and not to eat the food there!

 

[Anderson]

Sure they weren't boarding the Builder?

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

Something about this picture bothers me. The Fullerton Station is long enough to not need a double spot. And in all the times I have been to that station I have never seen anywhere close to that many people on the platform. When #4 stops the engines are at the south end of the platform, The sleepers are about the Crossover to track 3, And the coaches are even with the main building. So the comment about moving to a coach baggage makes no sense.

Could the picture be of a Surfliner? Even if it is why would it be a double spot as the platform is longer than Surfliners.

 

[leemell]

Aloha

Something about this picture bothers me. The Fullerton Station is long enough to not need a double spot. And in all the times I have been to that station I have never seen anywhere close to that many people on the platform. When #4 stops the engines are at the south end of the platform, The sleepers are about the Crossover to track 3, And the coaches are even with the main building. So the comment about moving to a coach baggage makes no sense.

Could the picture be of a Surfliner? Even if it is why would it be a double spot as the platform is longer than Surfliners.

Looking at the cars, they don't really look like Surfliners. I know they sometimes have those cars in the consist, but I have never seen more than one at a time.

 

[Train2104]

Aloha

Something about this picture bothers me. The Fullerton Station is long enough to not need a double spot. And in all the times I have been to that station I have never seen anywhere close to that many people on the platform. When #4 stops the engines are at the south end of the platform, The sleepers are about the Crossover to track 3, And the coaches are even with the main building. So the comment about moving to a coach baggage makes no sense.

Could the picture be of a Surfliner? Even if it is why would it be a double spot as the platform is longer than Surfliners.

I think the double stop was simply because the crew wanted to make the freight loading easier. Given the comment that a "bucket brigade" was used, it is implied that there were not forklifts/hand trucks.

 

[Acela150]

I'm interested to know the co "pilots" reaction in the lead P40 or P42 when they saw all that food. After all those guys can say pretty much anything really. After all those guys have great sense of humors!

 

[dlagrua]

I thought that we travel heavy until I saw this. What I do not understand is the exception to the baggage policy. Some special arrangement must have been made. While it is good that the Japanese tourists helped with the loading of all of this stuff, I just wonder what kind of delay they will cause at the destination station?

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

Something about this picture bothers me. The Fullerton Station is long enough to not need a double spot. And in all the times I have been to that station I have never seen anywhere close to that many people on the platform. When #4 stops the engines are at the south end of the platform, The sleepers are about the Crossover to track 3, And the coaches are even with the main building. So the comment about moving to a coach baggage makes no sense.

Could the picture be of a Surfliner? Even if it is why would it be a double spot as the platform is longer than Surfliners.

I think the double stop was simply because the crew wanted to make the freight loading easier. Given the comment that a "bucket brigade" was used, it is implied that there were not forklifts/hand trucks.

Aloha

Fullerton Does not have a forklift, do not know about hand truck. Considering the station and signaling I can not see a double stop. I also do not understand the "coach baggage" term. There is a Baggage car right behind the engine. So does that mean the conductor had the train back up? Then considering how bussy that station is with Amtrak, Metrolink, and BNSF freight, I also cannot understand the conductor fouling a switch to double spot. The reason #4 is on track 1 is just south of Fullerton the train switches to the left. So Number 4 is running the opposite direction through the Fullerton Station. The crews would try to minimize time in the station..

How any people does it appear to be on that platform? What is the capacity of that train?

Lastly since that train should be in New Mexico by now, how come we have have not heard anything about the arrival situation.

 

[Donctor]

Does anyone know more about this? I thought Amtrak didn't make exception to their baggage policy, even for groups.

I've never had any problems with bringing whatever I want on board. I've taken a stash of rollsigns, a drum set, 90-pound amplifiers, and guitars, amongst other things, on Amtrak without encountering any reluctance, hesitation, or refusal on the part of any employees.