How about the longest Amtrak train?

[Dmac844]

Interesting discussion of short Amtrak trains, how about the longest (expect Auto-Train) that anyone has experienced?

Mine was a 1973 trip on the Coast Starlight from Seattle to LA. After 6 cars were added in Oakland we were an amazing 22 cars long, pulled by 2 of Espee's SDP40's. I believe there was at least 7 different paint schemes on the cars, mostly UP and Santa Fe, but some BN and pre-BN colors here and there.

[bedell]

We traveled on the CZ/Pioneer/Desert Wind in 1988 and 1991. Between Chicago and Salt Lake (or Denver) all three consists were together but I don't remember how many cars total. The coaches and sleepers were dedicated for each train number and I remember two diners in operation at one point during the trip in 88.

[travelingengineer]

This topic was well covered and answered in the following Passenger forum thread of last year, to wit: http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/174945/1919823.aspx#1919823

[Dragoman]

Actually, the thread referred to by travelingengineer is "Longest Passenger Train Route" (my emphasis). and has very little discussion of the length of trains per se.

[Deggesty]

bedell

We traveled on the CZ/Pioneer/Desert Wind in 1988 and 1991. Between Chicago and Salt Lake (or Denver) all three consists were together but I don't remember how many cars total. The coaches and sleepers were dedicated for each train number and I remember two diners in operation at one point during the trip in 88.

A diner-lounge, which operated Denver-Los Angeles (summer season), was the second diner between Denver and Salt Lake City. The Pioneer's diner-lounge was operated Salt Lake City-Seattle.

[conrailman]

The longest is the Auto train, 44 to 46 car train.