Viewliner II - Part 1 - Initial Production and Delivery

[afigg]

Here's a video I found of it passing through NYP. Doesn't show the locos, but the uploader says they used diesels.

You beat me to posting the link. Nice close-up view with the luggage racks visible through the windows in the doors.

As for the P-42 pulling the train through NYP and to PHL, the videos getting posted of the train between PHL and NYP show the locomotives on front. So there were no engine swaps for the move from NY state to PHL.

 

[mattie]

Here's the viewliner II special at Long Bridge park in Arlington Va. It had locomotives 822 and 42. It also had Pacific Cape and Beach Grove cars at the end. These cars probably indicate that VIPs are on board.

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

As this train works its way south, don't you know the casual observer is going to be mystified and wonder what it is all about!

 

[Caesar La Rock]

[SIZE=13.63636302948px]I might try to catch the train passing by Winter Park. Can't promise anyone anything though. [/SIZE]

 

[user 1215]

So what!? Thank you for sharing!

There's always one...
If I'm not busy, I'll be in Savannah watching and waiting

 

[Guest]

I know, kind of a dumb question, but these are all full baggage cars, no? None are the half baggage and half dormer cars. I assume the half and half would have at least some of the thin upper windows characteristic of the old Viewliners.

The reason I ask, is that I thought that the half and half would be destined for existing Viewliner consists/routes (like those to/from MIA, WAS, and NYP), to allow crew/staff to move out of the revenue Viewliners. The Superliners would get the full baggage since they already have their transdormers.

 

[Scott Orlando]

I know, kind of a dumb question, but these are all full baggage cars, no? None are the half baggage and half dormer cars. I assume the half and half would have at least some of the thin upper windows characteristic of the old Viewliners.

The reason I ask, is that I thought that the half and half would be destined for existing Viewliner consists/routes (like those to/from MIA, WAS, and NYP), to allow crew/staff to move out of the revenue Viewliners. The Superliners would get the full baggage since they already have their transdormers.

Bag dorms have not yet done initial testing. These are baggage only going to Hialeah for final inspection and release to service.

Has anyone in Georgia seen the special yet???

 

[pennyk]

I know, kind of a dumb question, but these are all full baggage cars, no? None are the half baggage and half dormer cars. I assume the half and half would have at least some of the thin upper windows characteristic of the old Viewliners.

The reason I ask, is that I thought that the half and half would be destined for existing Viewliner consists/routes (like those to/from MIA, WAS, and NYP), to allow crew/staff to move out of the revenue Viewliners. The Superliners would get the full baggage since they already have their transdormers.

Bag dorms have not yet done initial testing. These are baggage only going to Hialeah for final inspection and release to service.

Has anyone in Georgia seen the special yet???

Scott, are you planning to go to the ORL station? I have read one post that says 855 will be 2 hours behind 97 (2:55) and the Trains magazine article says around 1pm. If it is at 1pm, the station will be packed with 97 and 98 passengers. Amtrak.com status states that 855 is due in ORL at 1:07.

 

[RampWidget]

Just went through SAV at 0930.

 

[Scott Orlando]

Thanks for the info Penny. I will be there!

Thanks for the update Ramp!

If it just went through Savannah at 930 and 97 is in Jax then it would indeed be closer to 2 hours. It would have been nice to get a shot of 97 or 98 meeting 855.

 

[user 1215]

I missed it in Savannah by 5. Ramp - was that you I talked to?

In Richmond Hill, but no evidence that is is coming or gone.

Looks like I missed it here, too. Sad.

Looks like it's about 20 min ahead of schedule.

 

[pennyk]

Thanks for the info Penny. I will be there!

Thanks for the update Ramp!

If it just went through Savannah at 930 and 97 is in Jax then it would indeed be closer to 2 hours. It would have been nice to get a shot of 97 or 98 meeting 855.

Unless something comes up, I will go to the ORL station around 2pm (or earlier or later depending on updates). I am 5'2" and I likely will be wearing yoga pants, eyeglasses, a ponytail and funny shoes.

 

[jis]

I figure it is a safe bet that it will take at least 6 hours to KIS from SAV. So just to be absolutely on the safe side I will get to KIS by 2:30 pm and hang out there.

 

[fairviewroad]

As promised, crappy video:

No, that wasn't crappy at all. It was cool to see it at speed along the NEC, even though it was at night (no fault of yours).

Thanks to everyone who's posted videos!

 

[pennyk]

I am at ORL station now. Agents seem to think it will be coming through shortly after 98 leaves here, depending on SunRail, dispatch, etc

 

[AmtrakBlue]

Get your phone set up for video so you can take a better video than your twin did last night.

 

[Scott Orlando]

Penny, I have heard there was a mechanical issue south of Jax and there will be a stop at Sanford to look into it further. The train is still north of Palatka.

 

[Slasharoo]

Just went through SAV at 0930.

OK, just a quick housekeeping question. How can RampWidget post that the train went through SAV at 9:30 in a post at 8:43...Tardis?

 

[pennyk]

Drat. I likely will leave.

 

[Scott Orlando]

Going to SFB for a live report....

Actually SFA. SFB is the airport.

 

[neroden]

According to other websites, the second special, with 8 cars is supposed to be coming out of Elmira today. (So total of 28 going into service.)

In other news, the rumor is that *all 130 cars* will be delivered in 2015.

I think it's time to pressure Amtrak to exercise part of the option ASAP, keep the production line going, and get more Viewliner sleepers for 2016.

They can be used and profitable, no doubt about it; at the least, there's a daily Cardinal, a sleeper on 66/67, and the Pennsy/Cap through cars, but there's probably going to be good reason in the next few years to lengthen some of the other trains, and possibly run the Palmetto back to Florida.

Given that this is pretty much a one-time opportunity, Amtrak should also really get about 4 more dining cars for future expansion (enough to allow for a daily Cardinal and Silver Palm and single-level Broadway/Capitol Limited, with shop count, or to allow for future wrecks). That's about $10 million and should be considered an insurance policy, and well worth it at the price. It's never going to make sense to order 4 dining cars by themselves, and I can't think of a scenario where Amtrak will need more than 4 additional single-level dining cars (unless there are a whole lot of wrecks), so they should be gotten now.

I'm not sure how to start pushing for this.

 

[jis]

I am at KIS and can hang out here the rest of the day. Anyway keep me posted with anything you learn

Neorden let us start putting together a concrete short write up that we can either send directly to Boardman, possibly via Brian G. Also maybe we can get NARP on board. Perhaps Anderson and Charlie can work that angle.

But first a few of us need to have something concrete that we are all comfortable standing behind and pushing.

 

[fairviewroad]

Just went through SAV at 0930.

OK, just a quick housekeeping question. How can RampWidget post that the train went through SAV at 9:30 in a post at 8:43...Tardis?

Your computer time-stamps posts according to your local time zone.You are probably in the Central Time. SAV is in Eastern Time.

 

[Slasharoo]

Thanks, I knew it was my own brain getting in the way.

 

[jis]

Second delivery train with 8 Baggage Cars left Elmira at 11:20 am today (Friday 19 Dec '14)