Viewliner II - Part 1 - Initial Production and Delivery

[afigg]

Amtrak recently posted the audited FY2014 annual financial report (66 page PDF). FY2014 ended a year ago on September 30, 2014, so this financial report is a bit late. The reason for mentioning it here is a paragraph on page 41 on the spending and delivery schedule for the Viewliner II order. The PDF file is copy protected in that I can't copy and paste the text, so I will just re-write the relevant sentences:

"As of September 30, 2014, the Company has incurred $95.2 million in project related costs. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had not taken delivery of any of the cars. Deliveries began in FY2015 and final delivery of all cars is expected by April 2017."

 

[WoodyinNYC]

Amtrak recently posted the audited FY2014 annual financial report ... the relevant sentences:

"As of September 30, 2014, the Company has incurred $95.2 million in project related costs. As of September 30, 2014, the Company had not taken delivery of any of the cars. Deliveries began in FY2015 and final delivery of all cars is expected by April 2017."

Or about 18 months from now. About 73 cars to go, iirc, 13 more baggage cars coming along "any day now" LOL, then 25 diners, 10 bag dorms, and 25 sleepers.

Lessee, 18 months or 78 weeks to finish 73 cars. Maybe the final 13 baggage cars will pop out in one batch, then 60 cars to go, for an average of three new cars a month? Nah, the concept of "average rate of completion", or even the concept of "scheduled completion", seem to hardly apply here. But another year and a half to finish seems a reasonable, plausible goal at this point. Not that I'd admit surprise to see further delays.

Meanwhile look at it like this:

Finish the baggage cars by the end of this calendar year. With the new cars in service, a good impact on maintenance and operating costs, modest effect on revenues for FY 2016, and slightly better in FY 2017.

Then 25 diners delivered by the end of FY 2016 next September 30. With the new cars in service, very good impact on maintenance and operating costs, modest effect on revenues for FY 2017.

Ten bag-dorms and 25 sleepers delivered by April 2017. With some of the cars in service, a nice effect on maintenance, operations, and revenues for FY 2017. Then at last, substantial impact on revenues for FY 2018 and forward.

And we've got maybe another year to dream about exercising the option order to get another 20 or 25 sleepers and even possibly a handful more diners. Probably not, but I'm still wishing.

 

[HenryK]

It occurred to me that only hopeless foamers could find baggage cars interesting. (I'm one of them, too. Foamers, that is.)

 

[TiBike]

It occurred to me that only hopeless foamers could find baggage cars interesting. (I'm one of them, too. Foamers, that is.)

Bike geeks too, and I'm of one those .

 

[CCC1007]

Does anyone know how much baggage can one of the viewliner baggage cars hold, weight wise?

 

[Thirdrail7]

The number 52,000 is etched in my mind so I'm going with 52,000 pounds.

 

[CCC1007]

If someone can confirm then I will be greatful.

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[Acela150]

The number 52,000 is etched in my mind so I'm going with 52,000 pounds.

That is the correct number. It's written in nice big letters over the doors.

 

[AmtrakLKL]

The number 52,000 is etched in my mind so I'm going with 52,000 pounds.

That is the correct number. It's written in nice big letters over the doors.

And now that many conductors have been issued hand scales they can individually weigh and tally each bag to ensure they don't go over the limit. :giggle:

 

[Thirdrail7]

This seems like an appropriate place to put these pictures:

 

[AmtrakBlue]

7 days till the last 12 bags are delivered?

 

[Thirdrail7]

7 days till the last 12 bags are delivered?

You must have been a master at the game show

. (The link is clean. I used to love this game.)
Ryan, are you prepared? If all goes according to plan, you have work to do next WED,THU and FRI. ^_^

 

[Ryan]

An Eagle Scout is always prepared. h34r:

 

[AmtrakBlue]

7 days till the last 12 bags are delivered?

You must have been a master at the game show

I do seem to have a ability to remember some stuff I read online. I remembered reading recently that the last bags would be delivered this month. Now if I could figure out what type of job this talent would be good for as I think I need to change my career.

 

[Acela150]

An Eagle Scout is always prepared. h34r:

So is a good sailor! Better get back from Iceland!

 

[neroden]

I do seem to have a ability to remember some stuff I read online. I remembered reading recently that the last bags would be delivered this month. Now if I could figure out what type of job this talent would be good for as I think I need to change my career.

Procurement, or personal shopper, perhaps. Boss asks for something specific, you figure out where to find exactly what they want, and you remember where to find it.

 

[neroden]

I'm struggling to find a use for the bottom shelves, though. They would have been nice to keep bags off the wet floor in leaky Heritage cars. In the Viewliners, they just take up space. Using them greatly reduces both vertical and horizontal storage space.

Maybe the floor will get wet and muddy when winter comes in the Northeast and snow starts being tracked in.

Meanwhile, while it's nice to see all the baggage cars delivered, I'm really wondering about the fact that the other models have not come out for "second round testing". I hope there are no significant design flaws still left to be corrected at this point!

 

[StriderGDM]

I'm struggling to find a use for the bottom shelves, though. They would have been nice to keep bags off the wet floor in leaky Heritage cars. In the Viewliners, they just take up space. Using them greatly reduces both vertical and horizontal storage space.

Maybe the floor will get wet and muddy when winter comes in the Northeast and snow starts being tracked in.

Meanwhile, while it's nice to see all the baggage cars delivered, I'm really wondering about the fact that the other models have not come out for "second round testing". I hope there are no significant design flaws still left to be corrected at this point!

I may have asked, but isn't this where the rear tires of bicycles go when "mounted"?

 

[AmtrakLKL]

I'm struggling to find a use for the bottom shelves, though. They would have been nice to keep bags off the wet floor in leaky Heritage cars. In the Viewliners, they just take up space. Using them greatly reduces both vertical and horizontal storage space.

Maybe the floor will get wet and muddy when winter comes in the Northeast and snow starts being tracked in.

Meanwhile, while it's nice to see all the baggage cars delivered, I'm really wondering about the fact that the other models have not come out for "second round testing". I hope there are no significant design flaws still left to be corrected at this point!

I may have asked, but isn't this where the rear tires of bicycles go when "mounted"?

When in the up, or closed, position, the lower luggage rack protrudes out far enough that it blocks the lower tire hook, thus the rack must be lowered. IIRC, the bike doesn't touch the luggage rack, or if it does the rack isn't providing any additional support/securement. I believe bikes are fully secured by the hooks and a Velcro strap. I'll pay closer attention next time.

So... I'm still looking for a reason to use the lower racks. :unsure:

 

[PaulM]

When in the up, or closed, position, the lower luggage rack protrudes out far enough that it blocks the lower tire hook, thus the rack must be lowered. IIRC, the bike doesn't touch the luggage rack, or if it does the rack isn't providing any additional support/securement. I believe bikes are fully secured by the hooks and a Velcro strap. I'll pay closer attention next time.

May I ask which trains are you talking about?

 

[AmtrakBlue]

When in the up, or closed, position, the lower luggage rack protrudes out far enough that it blocks the lower tire hook, thus the rack must be lowered. IIRC, the bike doesn't touch the luggage rack, or if it does the rack isn't providing any additional support/securement. I believe bikes are fully secured by the hooks and a Velcro strap. I'll pay closer attention next time.

May I ask which trains are you talking about?

I think he's talking about the new baggage cars.

 

[PaulM]

When in the up, or closed, position, the lower luggage rack protrudes out far enough that it blocks the lower tire hook, thus the rack must be lowered. IIRC, the bike doesn't touch the luggage rack, or if it does the rack isn't providing any additional support/securement. I believe bikes are fully secured by the hooks and a Velcro strap. I'll pay closer attention next time.

May I ask which trains are you talking about?

I think he's talking about the new baggage cars.

I realize he's talking about the new baggage cars. But which trains?

bikes are fully secured by the hooks and a Velcro strap

made it sound like the bike racks are actually being used for their original intended purpose somewhere.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

When in the up, or closed, position, the lower luggage rack protrudes out far enough that it blocks the lower tire hook, thus the rack must be lowered. IIRC, the bike doesn't touch the luggage rack, or if it does the rack isn't providing any additional support/securement. I believe bikes are fully secured by the hooks and a Velcro strap. I'll pay closer attention next time.

May I ask which trains are you talking about?

I think he's talking about the new baggage cars.

I realize he's talking about the new baggage cars. But which trains?

bikes are fully secured by the hooks and a Velcro strap

made it sound like the bike racks are actually being used for their original intended purpose somewhere.

Ah. Sorry, I misunderstood. I thought all trains were transporting bikes now. I think he's on the east coast trains.

 

[AmtrakLKL]

The trains in question are the Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Silver Star.

May I ask which trains are you talking about?

I think he's talking about the new baggage cars.

I realize he's talking about the new baggage cars. But which trains?

Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Silver Star.

 

[neroden]

Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor and Silver Star.

There's been quite an expansion in "unboxed bike service" lately. The Lake Shore Limited really ought to be next.