Announcement that Amtrak is going to refurbish AM-1s' interiors.
http://projects.newsday.com/lirr/lirrs-summer-hell-trackwork-penn-station/
Here is Amtrak's announcement
https://media.amtrak.com/2017/09/amtrak-introduces-new-era-modernization-customer-comfort-interior-overhaul-northeast-midwest-trains/
blue streak 1 Announcement that Amtrak is going to refurbish AM-1s' interiors. http://projects.newsday.com/lirr/lirrs-summer-hell-trackwork-penn-station/ Here is Amtrak's announcement https://media.amtrak.com/2017/09/amtrak-introduces-new-era-modernization-customer-comfort-interior-overhaul-northeast-midwest-trains/
Good information! I like the proposed changes; they look pretty neat.
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
Ehhhh, what disturbs me most about those pictures is the lack of the recline button for the seats. I hope they recline still. Short distance or not the seats should be somewhat adjustable.
Also, granted Amtrak is short of money and we are fortunate for at least this minor upgrade but why not also add some wiring for mobile device recharge and maybe a CRT touchscreen on the back of each seat for dispensing station information, cafe car menu, directions to cafe car, etc?
CMStPnP Ehhhh, what disturbs me most about those pictures is the lack of the recline button for the seats. I hope they recline still. Short distance or not the seats should be somewhat adjustable. Also, granted Amtrak is short of money and we are fortunate for at least this minor upgrade but why not also add some wiring for mobile device recharge and maybe a CRT touchscreen on the back of each seat for dispensing station information, cafe car menu, directions to cafe car, etc?
The lower right hand picture in this link shows a button on the end of each arm rest, which I presume allows a passenger to recline the seat.
http://blog.amtrak.com/2017/08/amfleet-refresh/
I'd prefer if they ditched the reclining feature.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
JPS1 CMStPnP Ehhhh, what disturbs me most about those pictures is the lack of the recline button for the seats. I hope they recline still. Short distance or not the seats should be somewhat adjustable. Also, granted Amtrak is short of money and we are fortunate for at least this minor upgrade but why not also add some wiring for mobile device recharge and maybe a CRT touchscreen on the back of each seat for dispensing station information, cafe car menu, directions to cafe car, etc? The lower right hand picture in this link shows a button on the end of each arm rest, which I presume allows a passenger to recline the seat. http://blog.amtrak.com/2017/08/amfleet-refresh/
Amfleet I and II cars are already equipped with outlets for mobile device recharge.
Buslist JPS1 CMStPnP Ehhhh, what disturbs me most about those pictures is the lack of the recline button for the seats. I hope they recline still. Short distance or not the seats should be somewhat adjustable. Also, granted Amtrak is short of money and we are fortunate for at least this minor upgrade but why not also add some wiring for mobile device recharge and maybe a CRT touchscreen on the back of each seat for dispensing station information, cafe car menu, directions to cafe car, etc? The lower right hand picture in this link shows a button on the end of each arm rest, which I presume allows a passenger to recline the seat. http://blog.amtrak.com/2017/08/amfleet-refresh/ Amfleet I and II cars are already equipped with outlets for mobile device recharge.
They are the original seats. Only getting new cushions and appolstery.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
It would be nice to see an ‘Amfleet Sleeper’ again configured with the economy rooms similar those Amtrak used in the Amfleet cars in the late 70’s
ghCBNS It would be nice to see an ‘Amfleet Sleeper’ again configured with the economy rooms similar those Amtrak used in the Amfleet cars in the late 70’s
Johnny
Deggesty ghCBNS It would be nice to see an ‘Amfleet Sleeper’ again configured with the economy rooms similar those Amtrak used in the Amfleet cars in the late 70’s Yes, those old roomettes were nice, even though you had to move outof the before you lowered the berth. And, the bedrooms were nice, too; you could put your suitcase on top of the annex if you needed the floor space.
It would be nice to see an ‘Amfleet Sleeper’ again configured with the economy rooms similar those Amtrak used in the Amfleet cars in the late 70’s Yes, those old roomettes were nice, even though you had to move outof the before you lowered the berth. And, the bedrooms were nice, too; you could put your suitcase on top of the annex if you needed the floor space.
Yes, those old roomettes were nice, even though you had to move outof the before you lowered the berth. And, the bedrooms were nice, too; you could put your suitcase on top of the annex if you needed the floor space.
No....not the old style Roomettes and Bedrooms....but the Economy Rooms built into the new Amfleet cars in the late '70s
ghCBNS Deggesty ghCBNS It would be nice to see an ‘Amfleet Sleeper’ again configured with the economy rooms similar those Amtrak used in the Amfleet cars in the late 70’s Yes, those old roomettes were nice, even though you had to move outof the before you lowered the berth. And, the bedrooms were nice, too; you could put your suitcase on top of the annex if you needed the floor space. No....not the old style Roomettes and Bedrooms....but the Economy Rooms built into the new Amfleet cars in the late '70s
If I recall, Amtrak modified a couple of amfleet coaches by installing two small roomettes, one on each side of the aisle at the restroom end of the car. I think they used them on the Washington to Cincinnati via the B&O train (Shenandoah) and sold them for a small upgrade over coach fare. I don't think they had toilet facilities and there was only one berth in the room. According to wikipedia, the Shenandoah began operating on October 31, 1976 and was discontinued on September 30, 1981.
Per Wikipedia:
Uniquely, the Shenandoah equipment pool in 1978–1979 included a pair of converted Amfleet sleepers (dubbed "Ampad") in response to equipment shortages and a Congressional requirement that overnight trains including sleeping accommodations.
Per another web page I found this line:
Each of the two "sleepers" were modified 60-seat Amlleet I's which already had a two wall panel "dresing room" with no facilities connected to (but separate from )each of the existing stndard restrooms.On the non-rest room end were two heavily modified single bunk Suoerliner modules.The need for the sleeper occupant to traipse to the restroom in the other end was a real negative.
I think the train ran with a snack bar coach and the one modified coach/sleeper. Nicknamed the Stagers Special. The room walls were very thin and I don't think the walls went all the way to the ceiling.
DeggestyYes, those old roomettes were nice
Deg, I think you are referring to the older "Heritage" cars of the fifties in the 10-6 configuration. Made by Budd, Pulman, & ACF. They got replaced by the superliners & viewliners.
Electroliner 1935 Deggesty Yes, those old roomettes were nice Deg, I think you are referring to the older "Heritage" cars of the fifties in the 10-6 configuration. Made by Budd, Pulman, & ACF. They got replaced by the superliners & viewliners.
Deggesty Yes, those old roomettes were nice
Somehow, I missed the "ampads" one poster mentioned. From his description, I do not think I really missed anything--except knowledge of the accommodation.
[quote user="Deggesty"]
Yes, I am referring to what I consider to be a "real" roomette. [end quote user="Deggesty"]
Deg, If you go to Canada, Via Rails' Canadian cars still have Budd built sleepers with Double Bed Rooms, Sections and Roomettes (What were originally called duplex roomettes) plus Drawing Rooms. Plus the train has Budd short domes. And the PARK car is a DOME OBS SLEEPER. Unfortunately, they have converted the Park car's sleeping rooms to be larger Prestige Rooms. I also find that they still call the Section spaces Upper Berth and Lower Berth, Roomettes are "Cabin for 1" and the others are "Cabin for 2" or "Cabin for 3" My wife and I took the Canadian back in the '90's and it was a most enjoyable trip. Took it in three parts, staying two nights each in Winnepeg, and Edmonton, enroute to Vancouver. Leaving Toronto,it was the longest passenger train I have ever been on consisting of 3 FP40's, baggage, two coaches, Skyline dome diner (for coach) three groups of 8 cars (3sleepers, diner, skyline lounge, 3sleepers) plus a Park car on the end for 29 car total. The following trains were shorter but wow 29 cars. I tried to get a Park car bedroom but there was a honeymoon couple and they bumped us for them. That was ok. My family had had the CZ's drawing room back in 68 (kids were 3 & 6) and it was perfect. Back then, it was still running three nights out but today it has been degraded to four nights and is rarely on time. (See Fred Fraileys discussions) Riding in a Budd dome at night watching the signals change,etc. I won't go on but I'm sure you get the passion.
Deg, FYI, VIA's brocure for their accomodations is here. http://www.viarail.ca/sites/all/files/media/pdfs/111139179-1-Sales-tools_Anglais_WEB.pdf
Yes, my wife and I enjoyed several trips between Vancouver and Toronto, making use of a lower (one night each way between Vancouver and Jasper), bedrooms, one compartment (F in a Manor car is a compartment) from Jasper to Toronto, and drawing rooms from Vancouver to Jasper, Jasper to Toronto--and from Montreal to Moncton. Coming back from Moncton, we had to put up with a Renaissance sleeper. Three years ago, I added a bedroom from Vancouver to Edmonton, a roomette from Edmonton to Jasper (day trip), and another compartment from Jasper to Vancouver.
When making my reservations I alsways asked for the accommodations by their old names--and was understood by the agent. Even though F is larger than a bedroom, it is sold simply as a cabin for two, just as the bedrooms are sold.
The cars (except the observation cars) were built with four sections; one has been removed and replaced with a nice shower room.
We were able to get the drawingrooms in the Park cars by making our reservation six months in advance. We also took advantage of the VIA-Amtrak pass the last year it was offered.
In this country, I have slept in Slumbercoaches, uppers, lowers, duplex roometttes, roomettes, bedrooms, bedroom suites, and one drawing room--as well as all of the variety that Amtrak now offers. My first upper (in 1965) was in UP's American Sailor--which was a part of the consist of the first daily City of Portland. The uppers had windows.
I tried to book one of those "Ampads" once for a trip on "The Shenandoah". There were supposedly two available but was told that they were reserved for the crew to use not the passengers. Anyway once on-board I asked the conductor about availability and he said that I would be getting off the train in Grafton, WV at about 2:00 AM and taking a bus the rest fo the way to Cincinnati. So I jumped off the train in Cumberland, spent the night in a hotel, and took the train back to DC the next day. No way I'm sitting up overnight in a coach.
Electroliner 1935 If I recall, Amtrak modified a couple of amfleet coaches by installing two small roomettes, one on each side of the aisle at the restroom end of the car. I think they used them on the Washington to Cincinnati via the B&O train (Shenandoah) and sold them for a small upgrade over coach fare. I don't think they had toilet facilities and there was only one berth in the room. According to wikipedia, the Shenandoah began operating on October 31, 1976 and was discontinued on September 30, 1981. Per Wikipedia: Uniquely, the Shenandoah equipment pool in 1978–1979 included a pair of converted Amfleet sleepers (dubbed "Ampad") in response to equipment shortages and a Congressional requirement that overnight trains including sleeping accommodations. Per another web page I found this line: Each of the two "sleepers" were modified 60-seat Amlleet I's which already had a two wall panel "dresing room" with no facilities connected to (but separate from )each of the existing stndard restrooms.On the non-rest room end were two heavily modified single bunk Suoerliner modules.The need for the sleeper occupant to traipse to the restroom in the other end was a real negative. I think the train ran with a snack bar coach and the one modified coach/sleeper. Nicknamed the Stagers Special. The room walls were very thin and I don't think the walls went all the way to the ceiling.
Yep. Rode in one from Chillicothe OH to DC in early 1979.
Wow, today I learned there were Amfleet sleeper rooms called "Economy Rooms."
Still trying to find a photograph, though.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2017/09/28/amtrak-interiors/712594001/
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
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