Amtrak Equipment Questions

[wholeman]

I have never been on an Amtrak train yet.  It is on my to do list after I graduate from college.  I have a few questions.  These questions have stemmed from the Amtrak website and I detailing some HO scale Superliner cars.

Transition Sleeper

What is the room that is at the stairs end where the baggage car is located.  There appears to be a triangular room with a window.  What is in there?  Storage?

P42

I know that pretty much all road diesel locomotives have a toilet onboard.  I know that all hood units have the toilet in the nose in front of the cab.  Where is this located on the P42 and the F40PH for that matter?

Music

On Amtrak's site, there is a 3D virtual tour on the site that shows a feature in the sleeper cars that allow individual rooms to hear music or something other in the rooms.  There are buttons that are channel selection and volume control.  What is Amtrak talking about on this feature?

[BlakeTyner]

 Originally, the transition sleeper was to have an office for the conductor, with a desk and lamp, where he could spread out paperwork and whatnot--a function that is normally done in the diner or lounge (thus taking a table from revenue service/passenger use.

Due to the ever-present budget issues, the offices weren't outfitted, and are now mostly used as linen closets.

 Toilets:

In the Genesis locomotives, the toilet room is located behind the cab.  You go through the door toward the engine room and there's another door off to one side--that's the toilet room.  

The F40PH had its toilet room in the nose, as per normal freight engines.  There were a few steps at the front of the cab that led down into it.

 

Music:

I've never known the music channels to do anything at all on Superliners.  As built, they probably were intended to have several channels to listen to (with headphones) much like you see on airlines.  Whether they ever actually bothered to pipe in music, I don't know.

IIRC, the Viewliner sleepers have individual television screens in each room, but I don't think those work, either.

[Deggesty]

BlakeTyner

Music:

I've never known the music channels to do anything at all on Superliners.  As built, they probably were intended to have several channels to listen to (with headphones) much like you see on airlines.  Whether they ever actually bothered to pipe in music, I don't know.

IIRC, the Viewliner sleepers have individual television screens in each room, but I don't think those work, either.

I have a vague memory of music ONCE in a Superliner. There is a small speaker in the room, so headphones were not necessary. Since, we don't bother with those controls at all, and worry with nothing more than the air conditioning and light controls.

In our four experiences with Viewliners (beginning in 2003), we have found these to be worthless. Apparently Amtrak has not believed that the travel itself is a great part of the trip--there used to be advice on the website that if your journey is going to be more than about four hours, be sure to take a best-seller with you.

Most of Amtrak's trains go through areas with great scenery. I admit that there are some areas that seem to offer little more than miles and miles of plains, but you can see far more of the country from a railroad train than you can from an airplane.

Why do people take books into the Sightseer lounges?

Johnny

[jeaton]

Deggesty

BlakeTyner

Music:

I've never known the music channels to do anything at all on Superliners.  As built, they probably were intended to have several channels to listen to (with headphones) much like you see on airlines.  Whether they ever actually bothered to pipe in music, I don't know.

IIRC, the Viewliner sleepers have individual television screens in each room, but I don't think those work, either.

I have a vague memory of music ONCE in a Superliner. There is a small speaker in the room, so headphones were not necessary. Since, we don't bother with those controls at all, and worry with nothing more than the air conditioning and light controls.

In our four experiences with Viewliners (beginning in 2003), we have found these to be worthless. Apparently Amtrak has not believed that the travel itself is a great part of the trip--there used to be advice on the website that if your journey is going to be more than about four hours, be sure to take a best-seller with you.

Most of Amtrak's trains go through areas with great scenery. I admit that there are some areas that seem to offer little more than miles and miles of plains, but you can see far more of the country from a railroad train than you can from an airplane.

Why do people take books into the Sightseer lounges?

Johnny

...and lap tops, portatble DVD players, cell phones.

[schlimm]

Deggesty

Apparently Amtrak has not believed that the travel itself is a great part of the trip--there used to be advice on the website that if your journey is going to be more than about four hours, be sure to take a best-seller with you.

Most of Amtrak's trains go through areas with great scenery. I admit that there are some areas that seem to offer little more than miles and miles of plains, but you can see far more of the country from a railroad train than you can from an airplane.

Why do people take books into the Sightseer lounges?

Johnny

 

Short attention spans?.  But I recall even in the "good ol' days" (in the 60's)  riding the CZ and El Capitan and seeing how many folks in the lounge car were pretty much oblivious to the scenery and busy with playing cards, reading, letter and postcard writing, conversation and drinking.