Hi all! I am from Canada and have never ridden Amtrak, so forgive me if these are dumb questions.
I have two questions about Amtrak's Superliner fleet. The first is about the baggage cars and the second is about the transition sleepers.
Baggage Cars-
I am aware that some coach cars have a dedicated baggage compartment on the lower level. If these cars exist, why do long distance trains operate with dedicated baggage cars. Wouldn't baggage coach superliners make these cars redundant?
Transition Sleepers-
The original order of Superliners did not include transition cars but instead relied upon Hi-Levels to fill this role. Later, the second order included them. My question is why are transition cars necessary? Superliners are not mixed with single level equipment in regular service. In the context of existing services they are used to access the baggage cars, though on some occasions, no transition cars are used. Was there another purpose in mind for the transition cars or were they only purchased to access baggage cars?
The 'dedicated baggage compartment' is for carry-on luggage that passengers want to access during the trip. It does not substitute as a place for all the checked baggage and express.
The Bombardier transition cars, which include crew dorms, are a way to let the Superliners operate in a consist with single-level cars. They have a door at high level in one end, and at normal 'vestibule' height at the other. Presumably if any access were needed to Viewliner cars (or coaches that might be added for peak service or other times), one of these would be necessary.
While I'm not sure how large a Superliner's baggage compartment is, I do know that none of them have dedicated large baggage doors. As Amtrak still allows large objects like coffins and bicycles to be shipped as regular baggage the small door size could sometimes become a problem. EDIT: see photos below, they do have larger doors.
In the past Amtrak has run some trains with a combination of Hi-Level/Superliner and single level equipment, besides the aforementioned baggage cars. I'm not aware of any trains that currently operate in this configuration, but the proposal from a few years ago for Chicago-New York through sleepers on the Pennsylvanian and Capitol Limited would have created such a consist between Pittsburgh and Chicago.
Santa Fe had some funny looking single level baggage cars with a height extension at one end to 'streamline' the transistion to Hi-Level equipment. I'm not sure if they had a raised vestibule at that end or if a separate Hi-Level transistion car was still required.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
JPS1 although I am not sure about the passage through the locomotive to the cab.
although I am not sure about the passage through the locomotive to the cab.
The GE passenger units have a rear door and a walkway through the engine room, I suspect it's similar to a cowl Dash-8 inside.
I'd recommend some heavy duty ear protection when using this passage while the engine is running.
They do not have a front door, so it would not be possible to get to the cab from the coaches if the train had more than one locomotive.
'
JPS1One of the coaches is a coach baggage car. The door to the baggage compartment appears to be wide enough to accept some pretty large pieces. According to a San Antonio conductor that I have known for years, the coach baggage car can handle the Eagle’s checked baggage 95 per cent of the time. However, during heavy travel periods, i.e., holidays, it was chockers. This presumably is why the Eagle had one of the new baggage cars prior to the COVID-19 pullback. On several occasions I looked in the baggage car; it was almost nearly empty.
The Supperliner Coach-Baggage below. Car has a plug door that can handle large items. See photos below.
http://www.trainweb.org/amtrakpix/locoshots/supcoach/31002A.html
http://www.trainweb.org/amtrakpix/locoshots/supcoach/31041A.html
II'm not shure how the station baggage handlers like them as the floor is at platform height and if the station has an old style baggage cart, all luggage have to be transitioned to/from one height to the other.
Well, you learn something every day. I'd never seen a photo of the Superliners with the larger doors before.
SD70DudeSanta Fe had some funny looking single level baggage cars with a height extension at one end to 'streamline' the transistion to Hi-Level equipment. I'm not sure if they had a raised vestibule at that end or if a separate Hi-Level transition car was still required.
It does seem that during the pandemic the superliner coach baggages are getting a workout. Most of the superliner equipped trains are running without a separate baggage car and just utilizing the baggage compartment in a superliner coach.
OvermodSD70Dude Santa Fe had some funny looking single level baggage cars with a height extension at one end to 'streamline' the transistion to Hi-Level equipment. I'm not sure if they had a raised vestibule at that end or if a separate Hi-Level transition car was still required. All the references I've seen say there was no raised vestibule access from the six baggage cars with the fairing (some references call it a 'spoiler'); it is just visual (and marginally functional) streamlining. You'd still need a transition car to match vestibule height on the fairing-equipped cars, as noted.
Santa Fe had some funny looking single level baggage cars with a height extension at one end to 'streamline' the transistion to Hi-Level equipment. I'm not sure if they had a raised vestibule at that end or if a separate Hi-Level transition car was still required.
All the references I've seen say there was no raised vestibule access from the six baggage cars with the fairing (some references call it a 'spoiler'); it is just visual (and marginally functional) streamlining. You'd still need a transition car to match vestibule height on the fairing-equipped cars, as noted.
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spookshow.net%2Fpassenger%2Fkatocap2.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.spookshow.net%2Fpassenger%2Fkatocap.html&tbnid=L7geWs4M_1ABvM&vet=12ahUKEwj-jIys8fzvAhWTE80KHZ44Ad4QMygAegUIARC-AQ..i&docid=_FcfyjC0CZPbuM&w=619&h=209&q=santa%20fe%20rr%20baggage%20cars%20el%20capitan&ved=2ahUKEwj-jIys8fzvAhWTE80KHZ44Ad4QMygAegUIARC-AQ
Yes, the transition coach was placed behind the baggage/dorm car.
The coach/bags played a larger role in years past when Amtrak ran more trains that split into sections while enroute.
The Empire Builder splits at Spokane, Wa with the power and baggage car continuing on the Seattle section. Checked bags for Portland,Or are handled in the coach/bag on the Portland section.
The California Zephyr used to spawn the Pioneer and Desert Wind, and checked bags for LA and Portland being handled in the respective sections coach/bags.
As for the transition cars, not only did they allow access to the lower level bag, but also come in handy keeping exhuast fumes from entering an exposed high level door. I experienced this many times riding the Pioneer with the lounge car directly behind the locomotive!
Slightly different topic but generally the topic of Superliner builds....
I could never understand and still do not understand why the radio channel settings in the sleeping car compartments are different for car intercom between the Superliner I and Superliner II builds. If they followed the detail in the specs 100% they should be the same. It is humorous to watch on almost every single Texas Eagle trip I take someone in the Dining car or Lounge car complaints that they cannot hear announcements in their sleeping car compartment. In almost all cases it is the radio setting set incorrectly vs it not being operable. You would have think that over 20 years Amtrak would have figured out this minor customer sat issue and fixed it so that the radio settings are intercom on or off and the same in every car in the fleet. Is this minor and tiny, low cost change.....too much to ask of Amtrak? Apparently so.
However a word of caution to the few good samaritains out there. If your in an Amtrak Superliner I and you found the correct crew intercom channel on your compartment intercom speaker. It's probably only good for your car if the next car is a Superliner II, so if you advise other passengers keep that in mind with your instructions or your just going to frustrate them more. Also, don't expect the Amtrak crew to understand the technicals here either, most do not and give the passengers the deer in the headlights look.
"The Supperliner Coach-Baggage below. Car has a plug door that can handle large items. See photos below."
No, the Supperliner is another name for the dining car- isn't it? : >
domefoamer"The Supperliner Coach-Baggage below. Car has a plug door that can handle large items. See photos below." No, the Supperliner is another name for the dining car- isn't it? : >
The plug door on the Supperliner is to load the 'Giant Baked Potatoes' being sourced from the former Norther Pacific commissary.
Superliners don't handle the potatoes.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
domefoamerNo, the Supperliner is another name for the dining car- isn't it? : >
[/quote]
Ouch. Spell Check would not catch it. But you did get a laugh out of it.
Overmod domefoamer No, the Supperliner is another name for the dining car- isn't it? : > Until they get flat wheels; then they're dinning cars.
domefoamer No, the Supperliner is another name for the dining car- isn't it? : >
Until they get flat wheels; then they're dinning cars.
When they get flat wheels they get franchised as 'Shake Shack'.
BaltACDWhen they get flat wheels they get franchised as 'Shake Shack'.
I am on the Texas Eagle on Friday from Chicago to Dallas and hope it is on time. We'll see. Certainly it should beat the time duration of Delta's transport ability from Dallas to Milwaukee on the way up.
I know there is a transdorm car on CONO between sleeper and engine, have been told when they sell out, there are extra sleeper rooms in there that can be sold too. Have never looked in it, but the conductor usually seems to come from that direction when he walks thru the sleeper car. Have not been in any sleepers on other trains except Builder, Starlight and SW Chief but that was over 15 years ago and they were all on the rear of train. Seems like sleepers are now on the head end behind engine, they are on CONO. I had asked why and attendant told me rough roadbed and passengers bounced around on rear, even falling out of bed. I know that is a very rough roadbed, I have been on many trains and it is one of the worst. I always take my luggage with me into the roomette as I do not want to go to lower level to get something, I pack light with only one bag. No problem when I rode deluxe bedroom, plenty of room. In the coach, I will put on lower level or at end of car if there is space.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.