Amtrak Trainsets

Can someone post here how these Amtrak trainsets are put togetherCalifornia Zephyer
Empire Builder
Sunset Limited
City Of New OrleansChris

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RE: Amtrak Trainsets, IcyFire, Oct-15-02, 04:42 PM, (1) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, AMTK819, Oct-15-02, 05:35 PM, (2) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, IcyFire, Oct-15-02, 05:49 PM, (3) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, Texas Eagle 550, Oct-15-02, 05:55 PM, (4) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, deejay1020, Oct-15-02, 07:24 PM, (5) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, chucksc, Oct-15-02, 07:24 PM, (6) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, buzzbenz, Oct-16-02, 09:29 AM, (7) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, chucksc, Oct-16-02, 12:46 PM, (8) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, AEM7AC 920, Oct-27-02, 08:16 PM, (9) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, bnsf1959, Oct-27-02, 09:40 PM, (12) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, rjdiii, Oct-31-02, 05:44 PM, (25) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, bnsf1959, Oct-27-02, 09:36 PM, (11) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, novelty, Oct-31-02, 01:29 PM, (22) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, easagrippa, Oct-27-02, 09:29 PM, (10) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, AMTK819, Oct-27-02, 11:47 PM, (13) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, darkfyre, Oct-28-02, 04:08 AM, (14) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, easagrippa, Oct-28-02, 12:21 PM, (15) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, SouthwestChief, Oct-29-02, 07:11 PM, (16) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, highball5, Nov-01-02, 02:32 AM, (28) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, csx7381, Oct-29-02, 09:05 PM, (17) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, w2sjw, Oct-29-02, 09:58 PM, (18) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, AMTK819, Oct-30-02, 06:11 PM, (19) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, w2sjw, Oct-30-02, 07:06 PM, (20) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, AEM7AC 920, Oct-30-02, 09:00 PM, (21) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, jonstein86, Oct-31-02, 02:55 PM, (23) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, AEM7AC 920, Oct-31-02, 04:35 PM, (24) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, railguy, Oct-31-02, 05:54 PM, (26) RE: Amtrak Trainsets, imprezzed, Oct-31-02, 08:12 PM, (27)

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Yes, I'll second that! I'd like to know the consists too
Coming Soon: 2.53GHz, 1gig DDR Ram, ATI radeon 9700, All projects stoped until I get that system Built (3~4 weeks most)

Shawn "Icy-Fire" Kenselaar
ShawnSSK@Yahoo.com

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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.

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Thank you very much for that info
Coming Soon: 2.53GHz, 1gig DDR Ram, ATI radeon 9700, All projects stoped until I get that system Built (3~4 weeks most)

Shawn "Icy-Fire" Kenselaar
ShawnSSK@Yahoo.com

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Thanx a lot

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"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 ZollnerCourtesy of Amtrak Prototype and Model

Courtesy of Amtrak Prototype and Model

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Just curious but why 3 Gennies to haul 17 cars...
Shouldn't 2 be able to do it easily....
I was on a Silver Palm once that lost one of its diesels in route and the remaining P42 drug the whole damn train including the dead engine all the way to Jacksonville Fl from North Carolina some place and still stayed with in 2 hours of schedule....
BTW the Palm had about half a dozen coaches, a lounge, a diner, a dorm car and 3 viewliners and easily 8 to 10 express cars...Chuck Schneider
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
North American Locomotive Works

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May be a matter of fueling stops. Had a friend once who was on the Eagle. One of the F40s had died earlier and was removed from the train. While the F40 had no problem pulling the train, it ran out of fuel before reaching the final destination.------ BUZZ ------

-- Power For You --

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-16-02 AT 12:49 PM (EDT)

That's true Buzz. But don't the F40s have notoriously short "Legs" compared to the Gennies? Especially since their original design was for short to medium trips? Even with 1800 gals I believe I read that the Gennies can go some 2 to 3 times as far between fuelings....
Something about much better "gas milage" on the Gennies and significantly larger fuel tanks... In fact I think I read that the fuel savings between the Gennies and the F40s damn near pay for the gennies in something like 3 years.... Especially since you can easily replace 2 F40s with 1 Genny on a train and on long haul or mountain routes 3 F40s with 2 Gennies...
BTW I was just wondering why the consist quoted above was overpowered...
Chuck Schneider
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
North American Locomotive Works

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Can someone please tell me what the consist for the Amtrak Autotrain is

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AMtrak Auto Train;2 Genesis P42's
39001 Transition Sleeper
32116 Sleeper W.V.
32089 Sleeper Mass.
32501 Deluxe Sleeper Palm Beach
33034 Sightseer Lounge
38053 Dining Car
32503 Deluxe Sleeper A. Philip Randolph
32087 Sleeper Maine
38047 dining Car
34125 Coach
34130 Coach
34121 Coach
38029 Sightseer Lounge
34127 Coach
34126 Coach
34123 Coach
38067 Dining Car
23 Amtrak Auto carriers40 car consist with 2 Genesis P 42 LocomotivesCourtesy of Model Railroader Magazine; May 2000Ken
Keep Amtrak
"United We Stand."
"Love America or Get Out!"

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>
>BTW I was just wondering why the consist quoted above was
>overpowered...
>I don't think it's necessarily overpowered given that Amtrak doesn't seem to be in the operating mode of adding helpers only when they're needed. While the CZ is certainly no speed demon, there are many miles of +/- 2% grades between Denver CO and Roseville CA and not apriori knowing how many express cars may be tacked on in Denver or Oakland (as has been said the trainset that goes westbound returns eastbound) I think it prudent to have that cushion of both and power and dynamic braking. The Southwest Chief has 4 P42s and the only time there are any grades of consequence are on Raton and that's less than 20 miles up and 20 miles down, but the string of express cars and Roadrailers has been longer than the passenger portion of the train when I've seen it and that trains moves.That trainset description matches exactly, except we had an additional F40 that smoked soooo much, on my eastbound CZ trip last november. I'll be doing it again eastbound leaving next saturday.
Richard

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Thanks for the info. I was looking for this, too. I wrote to the guy at Amtrak prototype and models and he couldn't answer all my questions. He told me to ask you guys but, you beat me to it. Thanks again!Ken
Keep Amtrak
"United We Stand."
"Love America or Get Out!"

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-31-02 AT 01:33 PM (EST)

Thanks a lot for that info,
I was thinking about puting together an activity featureing the Empire Builder,just as soon as I get the P42 set to work!
Novelty.

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I'd disagree on the CZ consist you gave. It is correct in number and type of cars, but the location seems all wrong to what it was when I was on it in June. When I was on it, we had 3 P42's, 1700 series baggage car(rebuilt heritage car), transistion sleeper, two sleeping cars, diner, lounge, coach(with smoking lounge downstairs), 2 regular coaches. Then in Denver(we were East Bound), a coach and a sleeper were added, the sleeper should be last because they don't want coach passengers in the sleepers. We had four express boxcars on the end, came of in Denver, replaced by a mix of five MHCs and Express boxcars. Oh and on one last note, the P42's should all be run facing forward, this is because a few years back snow built up underneath the plow of a rear facing F40, the snow build up was so great that it finally lifted the rear truck off the track and the engine derailed.Okay, auto train! Two P42's, dining car, three coaches, rebuilt lounge(Superliner 1 diner), two or three coaches, another diner, two standard sleepers, deluxe sleeper, diner, lounge(Superliner 1 diner), standard sleeper, deluxe sleeper, standard sleeper, transistion sleeper. I know the number of auto racks, but not the positions. Three bi-level auto racks, for Vans and Suv's, 5 tri-level auto racks for smaller cars, 14 ex-CN auto racks (they look kinda like autoparts boxcars) these are bi-level and carry mid-sized vehicles and smaller SUVs.Hope I could be of some assistance.Nick Gotwalt
www.purduerailroadclub.org
Support Amtrak!

The Three Rivers is courtesy of Amtrak Prototype and Model: http://www.trainweb.org/asamtrak911/

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I don't mean to be argumentive, but I was not entirely wrong in my description. The Zephyr's consist can vary from day to day. If you rode the Zephyr in June, that was before the derailment of the Captiol Limited in Kennsington and Amtrak's major equipment crisis. After the derailment, the Denver sleeper no longer ran and instead they dropped off only a coach. As far as the placement of coaches and sleepers goes, it also varies each day and depends on if the train is wyed or not when it arrives in Chicago. In the Oakland yard, only the locomotives, baggage car, and trasition sleeper are wyed from the inbound number 5, so if the train arrived in the evening with sleepers in front, it would depart the next morning with the sleepers in the rear, and if this happens, there is no other place for the Denver coach to go but behind the sleepers. I'm pretty sure that you're right about the engines running elephant style, but when there is no heavy snow, on of the p42's often runs backward. Here's a link to a website that has a lot of pictures of the zephyr taken over the summer. They show that the consist can be different almost everydayhttp://www.simpson.edu/~tinderand here's a pic from that site that shows the consist as I described it above. You can tell that the last car is the Denver coach becasue it lacks the window where the family bedroom would be on a sleeper.

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Hmm..Is it normal to run a train going that direction on the left track? I had eard that normally trains go on the righthand track...Or is that track occupied/under repairs?

"Be Excellent To Each Other."

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-28-02 AT 12:23 PM (EDT)

I didn't know they didn't turn train on West Coast, I got on in Sacramento, oh well. I was on last east bound CZ and last CZ for that matter before Glenwood Canyon was shut off because of the Wildfires. It was interesting. Yeah I was going to mention the sleeper being dropped and transferred to Capital Limited/Auto Train Service. Well hopefully those will be readded soon, I think there will be repaired equipment soon. Anyhow thats my $.02. Hope I was of some assistance.Nick Gotwalt
www.purduerailroadclub.org
Support Amtrak!

The Three Rivers is courtesy of Amtrak Prototype and Model: http://www.trainweb.org/asamtrak911/

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Anybody know, which Superliner train (besides the Starlight and Auto Train), have the largest percentage of Superliner II's in it's usual pool? From my experiences on the Southwest Chief, it seems this train usualy has some II's in the consist, but rarely if ever does it have a II coach.

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I have to say that easagruppa's signature train does look about like the #5 Zephyr
between Chicago and Omaha. Lots 'o express boxes and roadrailers!

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-02 AT 09:11 PM (EST)

I want to know why Amtrak put more baggage cars and Roadrailers then Horizon/Amfleet/Viewliner cars on the Three Rivers & Pennsylvanian
Mike
Future Norfolk Southern or Amtrak's Three Rivers Engineer
(I am eleven)

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Are they currently pulling the superliner Phase IV's with the new Phase V cabs as a standard now? I've put together a beautiful Empire Builder, but it's all Phase IV. If the combo of paint schemes is the norm now, I'd like to set up one that way as well...

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yeah, phase IV superliners with phase V p42s is pretty much the most common combination now. Most of amtraks p42s are in phase V now, but there are still a good number of phase IV, and a few phase III, although the III's are becoming rare.

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Thank you very much for the info!

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Does anyone know how to put together a capitol's limited transit or Maple Leaf Thanks.

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Captiol 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 CoachMaple 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.

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Doesn't the Maple leaf use F40's to

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Why 3 locos? Well, they don't add helpers at Denver, for example on No. 5 west--and there are 2% grades. That was mentioned elsewhere. The other issue: don't forget that one of the locos has a bunch of horsepower chewed up supplying head-end power to the train. I believe the prime mover on that loco usually runs constantly at about three-quarter throttle for that purpose. By the way, I modified the sound file on one of my Amtrak so it doesn't drop below about 3/4 throttle (it's my HEP loco now).

ww

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>Why 3 locos? Well, they don't add helpers at Denver, for
>example on No. 5 west--and there are 2% grades. That was
>mentioned elsewhere. The other issue: don't forget that
>one of the locos has a bunch of horsepower chewed up
>supplying head-end power to the train. I believe the prime
>mover on that loco usually runs constantly at about
>three-quarter throttle for that purpose. By the way, I
>modified the sound file on one of my Amtrak so it doesn't
>drop below about 3/4 throttle (it's my HEP loco now).
The Maple Leaf occasionally uses VIA F40PH's as well. Good pic of it here:It's not my pic, but it's a good one nonetheless.

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