>what are the real life consists for different Amtrak trains? Can't find the link to the earlier post but I saved it on my HD. "RE: Amtrak Trainsets" October 15th,2002
In response to message #1
Im new here, but since I have a lot of experience with amtrak, Ill answer this.
The California Zephyr consist goes like this: 3 p42's, baggage car, transition sleeper, 2 superliner coaches, 1 coah smoker, lounge, diner, 2 sleepers, 1 coach, and about ten express cars on the end. The last coach behind the sleepers only runs in the summer between chicago and denver. The Empire builder has 2 p42's, followed by a baggage car, transition sleeper, 2 sleepers, diner, 2 coaches, lounge, coach smoker, coach, sleeper, coach, and about 5 or 6 express cars. In Spokane, the train is split between the second coach and the lounge, with the front half going to seattle, and the other half going to portland. The last coach only runs in the summer between chicago and minneapolis. The sunset limited usually starts in Orlando with 2 p42's, baggage car, transition sleeper, 2 sleepers, diner, lounge, coah smoker, 2 coaches. IN New Orleans, the train switches locomotives and usually ends up with 3 p42's. In San Antonio, a coach and a sleeper, which come from chicago on the texas eagle, are added to the back of the train. The SUnset can also carry about ten express cars. The city of New Orleans hs the same consist as the Empire builder becasue the train that arrives in Chicago as the Empire Builder leaves the same night as the conl. A few cars are cut and the train's consist is as follows, 2 p42's, baggage car, 2 sleepers, diner, 2 coaches, lounge, coach baggage.
If you have any more questions about amtrak consists, feel free to ask. "The Empire builder has 2 p42's, followed by a baggage car, transition sleeper, 2 sleepers, diner, 2 coaches, lounge, coach smoker, coach, sleeper, coach, and about 5 or 6 express cars. In Spokane, the train is split between the second coach and the lounge, with the front half going to seattle, and the other half going to portland. The last coach only runs in the summer between chicago and minneapolis."
I just took the Empire Builder from Minneapolis to Portland back in June. The consist you described is exactly like it was on my trip, except for one thing. The coach smoker was the next car forward of the lounge and a coach/baggage was directly behind the lounge (our car on the way out to Portland). I think they do it that way because of when the train splits. As you stated the main baggage car, located behind the power, goes on with the front half to Seattle. I just thought I'd point that out. It was in the same location on the return trip a week later. And you also pointed out the fact that a coach is added in Minneapolis during the summer months. I was in the last compartment in the last car (sleeper) on the return trip home, starboard side. On the last day, when I woke up near Lacrosse, WI, I was suprised to see another coach behind me with quite a rowdy bunch making all kinds of noise. I had been enjoying my solitude the entire trip and woke up that last day to all that racket. Oh well. It was still a great trip. 2 Empire Builders, 2 San Joanquins, and 2 Coast Starlights. What a trip! I do have some photo albums from the trip if anyone would like to take a look. Just let me know.Regards,
Dan ZollnerOctober 31st,2002Captiol Limited:
P-42 Locomotive
P-42 Locomotive
Heritage Baggage
Superliner Transition Sleeper
Superliner Sleeping Car
Superliner Sleeping Car
Superliner Dining Car
Superliner Sightseer Lounge Car
Superliner Coach Smoking
Superliner Coach
Superliner Coach
Maple Leaf:
P-40 Locomtive (NYC-ALB P-32 Locomotive)
Amfleet Coach
Amfleet Coach
Amfleet Coach
Amfleet Coach
Amfleet Cafe/Business ClassNote that the consists may have an extra Coach or Sleeper depending on demand.November 1st,2002
Twilight ShorelinerAEM-7 (BOS-WAS)
P42 (WAS- Newport News)
Baggage car
3 amfleet 1 coaches
amfleet café/business class
viewliner sleeperSilver StarE60 (NYP-PHL)
P42 (phl-jax)
P42 (phl-mia)
mhc
Baggage car
Heritage crew dorm
2 viewliner sleepers
heritage diner
amfleet 2 lounge
4 amfleet 2 coachesSilver meteor
Same as star, except with 3 viewliners, and electric locomotive runs all the way to Washington.Crescent
Same as Star, but with only 3 coaches. In the summer, it runs with 5 coaches, with two of them running from New York to Atlanta and turning the same day.Silver Palm (Palmetto)E60 (nyp-phl)
P42 (phl-mia)
P42 (phl-mia)
Mhc
Baggage car
Amfleet business class
Amfleet 2 lounge
3 amfleet 2 coaches
several roadrailers and express carsCarolinianP42
Horizon dinette
3 amfleet 1 coaches
Amfleet 2 carolinian business class
Baggage car
MhcI took the eastbound Sunset from start to finish a few years ago. Here's the consist...
Train #2, the Sunset Limited, departing Los Angeles August 27, 2000 and arriving Orlando August 30:
P40 #842 (ph IV)
P40 #816 (ph IV) (Los Angeles–New Orleans)
P40 #835 (ph IV)
Heritage Baggage Car #1212 (ph III, corrugated)
Superliner II Transition Sleeper #39034 (ph IV)
Superliner I Sleeping Car #32048 (ph IV)
Superliner I Sleeping Car #32044 (ph IV)
Superliner II Dining Car #38044 (ph IV)
Superliner II Sightseer Lounge #33029 (ph IV)
Superliner I Snack Coach #35005 (ph IV)
Superliner I Coach #34046 (ph IV)
Superliner II Coach #34134 (ph IV)
Superliner I Coach #34032 (ph IV) (Los Angeles–San Antonio)
Superliner I Sleeping Car #32064 (ph IV) (Los Angeles–San Antonio)
Express Box Car #71113 (silver) (Los Angeles–San Antonio)
Express Box Car #71094 (silver) (Los Angeles–El Paso)
Superliner I Coach #34012 (ph IV) (Los Angeles–El Paso)A few notes....the Snack Coach was supposed to be a Coach-Smoker (converted from a Coach-Baggage); because it wasn't, we had to have "smoking stops" at specified stations along the way. The Coach at the rear that was cut off at El Paso was deadheading, obviously (no passage, or electricity for that matter, through the box cars!). The cars cut off at San Antonio were for the Texas Eagle north to Chicago. The middle P40 was cut out in New Orleans, so from that point east it was just two locomotives, the baggage car, and eight Superliners.Southwest Chief Consist4 P42DCs
Heritage Baggage
Crew Dorm/Sleeper
Sleeping Car
Sleeping Car
Dining Car
Lounge & Cafe Car
Coach/Smoker Coach
Coach
Coach/Smoker Coach
ExpressTrak Reefer
5 Material Handling Cars
10 Road Railers Ken
Alert | IP
Printer-friendly page | Edit | Reply | Reply With Quote | Top
