Why Dome Cars Are COOL

[WhoozOn1st]

Though the interest and attention from my ever-growing legions of rabid fans is always appreicated, I point out that this is not "Whooz Unlimited."

 

[chuljin]

Thanks also to SoCal AU member and pal chuljin (Chris), who on Saturday gave the heads-up that the dome was in town.

One is glad to be of service. Admittedly, I first saw it on Friday morning (and rode in it for 10 minutes Friday night, BUR-GDL, on one of my insane short turns), but absentmindedly neglected to inform anyone until my post Saturday afternoon.

Is there any rhyme or reason governing when the dome makes an appearance?

Memorial weekend rush?

It's been my understanding (confirmed by our Amtrak shop tour guide during last year's AU Gathering at L.A.) that the Great Dome these days spends much of the high season running with the 799/798/792/592 Surfliner consist. You guys weren't paying attention, huh?
Otherwise, I know it runs with the Adirondack, Albany-Montreal-Albany, for a time during fall leaf-peeper season. Beyond that I don't know, and guess we'll have to wait for Alan to fill us in, which he surely will if he can.

I'm not aware of any other times or places where the dome regularly pops up, beyond the two you've listed Patrick.

I don't think it amounts to as much as 'much of the high season'; rather, holiday and holiday-adjacent only. I'm fortunately in a position to do domewatch almost every day. I specifically remember it being on 79x the last week of August and first week of September in 2008 (but they took it off the day before my birthday, the *******s), roughly coinciding with Labor day, I guess, then went east for the leaves thing and came back a couple days before Thanksgiving and stayed until Sunday or Monday after, then disappeared (AFAINoticed) until this past Friday. It is now off again, as observed this morning. I would guess it was on yesterday, but didn't see. Prior to August/September last year is more hazy, but I vaguely remember it being on sometime during the summer. I didn't take much note because I wasn't aware, at that time, of its significance.

During what is now its second-most-recent tour (Thanksgiving 2008), I took it to Ventura the day after Thanksgiving (my first visit to that rather attractive city); a brief trip report (further linking to some pics and videos) is here.

I was in it again, OXN-GDL, on Saturday, but this time no pictures; I just sat back and enjoyed. On this more recent trip, I did notice something I hadn't before...the three tunnels (or at least the 1.5-mile long Tunnel 26) between SIM and CWT are finished with concrete into nice, regular arches only at their ends; the rest is just the rough rock resulting from the tunneling. I'd never noticed this before because without a dome, it's not possible to see the tunnel walls illuminated by the train's headlights. Another reason Why Dome Cars Are COOL.

Whooz, I noticed your conductor on 799 on Sunday was the same as mine on 792 on Saturday. I quite like her. She calls me 'Mr. Points' and is always surprised when I show up on her train for trips longer than 10 minutes.

One little correction: 592 is not this set; it's just another of the usual comfortable-but-unremarkable 'true' Surfliner sets. 798/792 connect to it at LAX, but it is otherwise unrelated.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

One little correction: 592 is not this set; it's just another of the usual comfortable-but-unremarkable 'true' Surfliner sets. 798/792 connect to it at LAX, but it is otherwise unrelated.

The reason I've been using "799/798/792/592" is that I'm working off what the weekend schedule in the timetable says. It shows "Transfer to train" 592 at GTA - which is not the case that I've ever seen. Then it shows "Stay on train" at LAX for the run to SAN. I was under the impression that this consist doesn't operate south beyond L.A., so do we have a timetable error here? Just confusion for new passengers? Or what? I've never ridden this Surfliner consist south beyond OXN, so no experience with what actually occurs. The weekday schedule is clearly as you say, Chris.

 

[chuljin]

One little correction: 592 is not this set; it's just another of the usual comfortable-but-unremarkable 'true' Surfliner sets. 798/792 connect to it at LAX, but it is otherwise unrelated.

The reason I've been using "799/798/792/592" is that I'm working off what the weekend schedule in the timetable says. It shows "Transfer to train" 592 at GTA - which is not the case that I've ever seen. Then it shows "Stay on train" at LAX for the run to SAN. I was under the impression that this consist doesn't operate south beyond L.A., so do we have a timetable error here? Just confusion for new passengers? Or what? I've never ridden this Surfliner consist south beyond OXN, so no experience with what actually occurs. The weekday schedule is clearly as you say, Chris.

Oooh, sharp eyes. Yes, 592 is LAX-SAN only, every day. 798 connects to it at LAX on weekdays, and 792 connects to it at LAX on weekends. I assume you mean p. 19 of the glossy thick booklet from Amtrak California, the Fall 2008/Winter 2009 one with the California set, Lady, Surfliner set on front, and boy, AmBus, and older couple on the back. I'd never noticed that before. In the like-all-the-others thin paper one, they've shown it correctly.

And yeah, it's confusing, but probably among the least confusing things they do.

Funny how I didn't notice that, but I did notice, on the cover, partially obscured by the photos, a ticket between

XXXXX,NH and

XXXXXX NRTH STA,CA

(X's representing hidden characters) It looks like they took a Downeaster ticket (the first X's being Dover, Durham, or Exeter, but probably DOVER, so the characters still line up, and the second X's being BOSTON) and hastily photoshopped® in 'CA'. IIRC, BON is the only station in the whole system whose name includes the word 'N(o)RTH' (if you don't consider the name of the state).

 

[GoldenSpike]

Speaking of dining in the dome I mentioned earlier...this is what is offered in October pulled by steam on the EB route, and another hooked onto the EB. Now, if they could invent sleepers IN the dome.

 

[sunchaser]

Speaking of dining in the dome I mentioned earlier...this is what is offered in October pulled by steam on the EB route, and another hooked onto the EB. Now, if they could invent sleepers IN the dome.

Great pic! Dining in that would be very cool!!! Now that is a GREAT idea!!!!! Dome sleepers!!! What a cool & unique idea! Maybe Amtrak should try it!!

 

[JayPea]

One of my earliest (and still fondest) memories of train travel was the trip my mom, sister, and I took from Spokane to Chicago (and back) on the Great Northern's version of the Empire Builder in 1965. What made it so fond was sitting in the dome car. My sister and I sat in the dome car for a lot of the trip while my mom napped downstairs in our sleeper car. A win-win for both of us.....Mom got to nap without us bothering her and we got to be by ourselves without Mom bothering us!!! I'm not sure nowadays unaccompanied children like that are not looked too highly upon. I still recall being in the dome car on the return trip and seeing the Rockies come slowly into view as we were traveling westward in central Montana. I also still remember falling down the stairs of the dome car...thank goodness the carpet was well-padded!!!!!!!! If I went back further into the far reaches of my mind, I'd probably find that my sister pushed me, though. :angry:

 

[GoldenSpike]

Speaking of dining in the dome I mentioned earlier...this is what is offered in October pulled by steam on the EB route, and another hooked onto the EB. Now, if they could invent sleepers IN the dome.

Great pic! Dining in that would be very cool!!! Now that is a GREAT idea!!!!! Dome sleepers!!! What a cool & unique idea! Maybe Amtrak should try it!!

More cool pics....

Or this...acquired from Amtrak in 1995:

Below in this car:

The dome area seats 20 for viewing or 16 for formal dining. Beautiful cherry paneled lounge (lower level) seats 15 including 8 for dining. At night, 1 master bedroom with queen-size bed plus shower and 2 deluxe bedrooms with full-size double beds plus shower can accomodate 6 guests. Sleeping accomodations for an additional 4 people can be provided in the lounge. Stainless steel kitchen for full meal service, beverage-serving area, crew room, washer and dryer, 40" HDTV, DVD, and stereo. This car is unique for its large lounge, ability to seat 24 for dining and its queen and double sized beds

====

And this, DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........................................

Dome set up for dining

Two master bedrooms each with a shower and a queen size bed; 2 staterooms with 2 lower twin-size beds, each with a bathroom but share a shower and dressing room. Dome-lounge/dining room, full kitchen, large open platform; TV, DVD, CD, Satellite, Karaoke, MP3 player outlet and full sound system for your entertainment. Mahogany paneled throughout.

Now that we've eaten our hearts out...

 

[sunchaser]

Speaking of dining in the dome I mentioned earlier...this is what is offered in October pulled by steam on the EB route, and another hooked onto the EB. Now, if they could invent sleepers IN the dome.

Great pic! Dining in that would be very cool!!! Now that is a GREAT idea!!!!! Dome sleepers!!! What a cool & unique idea! Maybe Amtrak should try it!!

More cool pics....

Or this...acquired from Amtrak in 1995:

Below in this car:

The dome area seats 20 for viewing or 16 for formal dining. Beautiful cherry paneled lounge (lower level) seats 15 including 8 for dining. At night, 1 master bedroom with queen-size bed plus shower and 2 deluxe bedrooms with full-size double beds plus shower can accomodate 6 guests. Sleeping accomodations for an additional 4 people can be provided in the lounge. Stainless steel kitchen for full meal service, beverage-serving area, crew room, washer and dryer, 40" HDTV, DVD, and stereo. This car is unique for its large lounge, ability to seat 24 for dining and its queen and double sized beds

====

And this, DRUM ROLL PLEASE.........................................

Dome set up for dining

Two master bedrooms each with a shower and a queen size bed; 2 staterooms with 2 lower twin-size beds, each with a bathroom but share a shower and dressing room. Dome-lounge/dining room, full kitchen, large open platform; TV, DVD, CD, Satellite, Karaoke, MP3 player outlet and full sound system for your entertainment. Mahogany paneled throughout.

Now that we've eaten our hearts out...

Beautiful!!! Really liked the cherry wood lounge. Doesn't look like a train to me, looks like a place to call home! Amazing how much detail & care was put into building these trains.

 

[Nickrapak]

Not to move this thread OT, but what are the odds of the dome being on the 799/798/792/592 during the week before July 4? I will be in LA from 6/23-7/1 and might take an additional trip just to ride the dome.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

Not to move this thread OT, but what are the odds of the dome being on the 799/798/792/592 during the week before July 4? I will be in LA from 6/23-7/1 and might take an additional trip just to ride the dome.

Not OT at all, but I wouldn't hazard a guess on the dome's presence in your timeframe, Nickrapak. What you MIGHT try, if possible, is checking in person at Union Station. Surfliner 799 departs at 7:30 a.m. daily. 798 arrives at 7:40 p.m. weekdays, 792 at 7:15 p.m. weekends.

You can walk down the tunnel from the main hall (Alameda - front - side of station), then up a ramp or stairs to the right to get to the end of the platform tracks, from where all trains in the station are visible. Early in the morning, if you see the dome in the consist you could walk (don't run) back in to get tickets for an immediate turn. In the evening, again if the dome is spotted, you could gamble on the dome still being there for a turn the next day and get tickets for that.

Short of that tactic, you could also post while you're in L.A. to ask if the dome has been spotted recently. SoCal AU member chuljin keeps a pretty close eye on such stuff, and it was his heads-up on the dome front that resulted in this thread.

 

[WhoozOn1st]

I assume you mean p. 19 of the glossy thick booklet from Amtrak California, the Fall 2008/Winter 2009 one with the California set, Lady, Surfliner set on front, and boy, AmBus, and older couple on the back. I'd never noticed that before. In the like-all-the-others thin paper one, they've shown it correctly.

You assume correctly, and Dude, I'd never noticed either cover either before you mentioned it. Grab a new copy, flip and fold to Surfliner schedules, and that's that.

And get this: I have no idea what the lower level of the dome looks like. Boarded, went straight upstairs, stayed there, detrained at SBA. There'll be time to look around downstairs when the Patrick & Alice RailRiot 2009 rides the Adirondack after the Amtrak Unlimited Third Annual Gathering.

 

[Shanghai]

Thank you for correcting my spelling!! I'm sorry if I posted in the wrong place, but I thought I saw the photos here.