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California Zephyr.........the Mafia door.

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California Zephyr.........the Mafia door.
Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, February 4, 2024 9:38 AM

So they really did use that back door.    All this time I thought it was more or less like a hood ornament.    This was taken at Glenwood Springs, CO on the D&RGW.

 

California Zephyr

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Posted by daveklepper on Sunday, February 4, 2024 10:33 AM

Wow!  Thanks

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, February 4, 2024 11:36 AM

Now THAT'S something I never expected to see!  I thought those rear doors were just emergency exits and never used for any other purpose.  

See?  It's a wasted day if you don't learn something new!  

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, February 4, 2024 2:04 PM

If it is on a train/car/locomotive - per the FRA - it must be operational.

As I recall the MILW Skytop Observation cars ran afoul of a requirement to have 'rear' exit on the cars.

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Posted by SD70Dude on Sunday, February 4, 2024 4:03 PM

BaltACD

As I recall the MILW Skytop Observation cars ran afoul of a requirement to have 'rear' exit on the cars.

That happened in Canada too some time after CN bought them, which is why they were retired and never made it to VIA. 

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, February 4, 2024 8:15 PM

BaltACD
As I recall the MILW Skytop Observation cars ran afoul of a requirement to have 'rear' exit on the cars.

So that explains the strange exit window they have now towards the rear of the car.   So why didn't the Milwaukee fix that?    Was it grandfathered in or is that Exit window use newer technology that was not available back then?

Just curious.

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Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, February 4, 2024 8:21 PM

Photos of the door I have seen show a bar across the back door.  It looked like it needed to be unlocked from the outside.

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, February 4, 2024 9:18 PM

CMStPnP
 
BaltACD
As I recall the MILW Skytop Observation cars ran afoul of a requirement to have 'rear' exit on the cars. 

So that explains the strange exit window they have now towards the rear of the car.   So why didn't the Milwaukee fix that?    Was it grandfathered in or is that Exit window use newer technology that was not available back then?

Just curious.

I could be mistaken, I believe the requirements being applied to the Skytop cars happened AFTER the start of Amtrak, thus MILW was out of the passenger business and I believe the cars had moved on to the CN by that time.  What the Canadian regulations are, I have no idea;

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Posted by 54light15 on Monday, February 5, 2024 9:53 AM

How does the term "mafia" apply?

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Posted by CMStPnP on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 1:33 PM

54light15
How does the term "mafia" apply?

It's slang...

The Mafia prefers sometimes to enter from the rear of an establishment if they can because they want the best view with no surprises when they enter an establishment or space.   Also entering from the front if there is a line out front, everyone sees you in the line and your more exposed.    Take a table in an establishment as far in the rear as possible with a view of the main entrance door and a wall at your back...........I think that is where it comes from. Big Smile

 

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Posted by aegrotatio on Saturday, February 24, 2024 12:37 PM

"URL signature expired." 

We can't see your media link.

 

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Posted by Overmod on Sunday, February 25, 2024 4:21 PM

Scenic picture with the back of the California Zephyr's round-end observation car.

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, February 25, 2024 7:20 PM

Overmod
Scenic picture with the back of the California Zephyr's round-end observation car.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by spsffan on Friday, March 15, 2024 7:45 PM

CMStPnP
54light15 How does the term "mafia" apply? It's slang... The Mafia prefers sometimes to enter from the rear of an establishment if they can because they want the best view with no surprises when they enter an establishment or space.

 

Oh! When I read Mafia I assumed it was used to dispose of dead bodies off the back of a moving train!

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, March 15, 2024 10:07 PM

spsffan
 
CMStPnP
54light15 How does the term "mafia" apply? It's slang... The Mafia prefers sometimes to enter from the rear of an establishment if they can because they want the best view with no surprises when they enter an establishment or space. 

Oh! When I read Mafia I assumed it was used to dispose of dead bodies off the back of a moving train!

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Saturday, March 16, 2024 10:32 AM

spsffan
Oh! When I read Mafia I assumed it was used to dispose of dead bodies off the back of a moving train!

No, that's what the New Jersey Pine Barrens are for!

Or the Hackensack Meadowlands.

Or the Passaic River.

Or places none of us know about!  Surprise

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