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QUOTE: Originally posted by dbasenberg Please help me on this question. Why are sleepers positioned up front, next to the engine? In the "glory days" of passenger travel, we know, they were positioned at the rear.
QUOTE: Originally posted by smalling_60626 In the era of the dedicated end-of-train streamlined observation car, you would have been well-advised not to occupy the very end of the train. On curves, a distinct crack-the-whip effect made travel more jiggly, though probably not more dangerous. On the other hand, what is more fun than sitting in the observation (club) car and watching the engines up front negotiate curves? Way cool!
I wondered about this because both times I have rode City of NOLA, sleepers were on the front. I love train horns but not when I am trying to sleep, was really bad on a recent trip, almost continuous in MS. Next time I will bring ear plugs, They were on rear for Builder and Starlight in 2003 and Chief in 2005. Have read crew car is now on the head end, so they keep sleepers there too. pre-Amtrak I don't even remember crew having a car, they slept in a seat usually at rear of coaches. From what I have been reading, most of Amtrak trains are now at the head end. Dad always said they kept the Pullman coaches on the rear as less chance of going off the tracks during an accident or derailment. I rode in a sleeper with 2 friends to San Fran on UP/SP City of St. Louis, and we had the last car coming home. When we backed into our Union Station, which was stub end, got to see the N&W conductor come back and toot the whistle as we backed in, the Pullman conductor stepped aside. Had heard the passenger conductor was in charge not the Pullman one and saw this was true. He only took care of our Pullman cars.
In steam days, first class cars (sleepers or parlor cars) were generally towards the rear most likely so they were farthest away from the smoke and noise of the engine. Pre-air-conditioning, I would imagine the cars close to the engine got a lot of gritty soot in the windows (and on the passengers).
Before Amtrak, the diner was often in the middle of the train so it could keep the coach passengers in the cars ahead of the diner away from the first class passengers in the sleeping cars in the rear of the train. On some trains, only the first class passengers could go to the observation car / lounge at the rear; coach passengers weren't supposed to go beyond the diner.
It may be, since neither situation applies to Amtrak, that they just set up each train in whatever manner works best for switching or assembling that particular train.
wjstixPre-Amtrak, the diner was often in the middle of the train so it could keep the coach passengers in the cars ahead of the diner away from the first class passengers in the sleeping cars in the rear of the train. On some trains, only the first class passengers could go to the observation car / lounge at the rear; coach passengers weren't supposed to go beyond the diner.
In the spirit of efficiency - Amtrak in many cases do not turn trains at the destination. What arrives destination with sleepers on the head end, departs back to the other end of the line with the sleepers on the rear end.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
On my last few trips, the sleepers on the Califronia Zephyr and Capitol Limited were at the head of the train both ways. The Lake Shore Limited has the coaches between the sleepers, with all the Boston cars together--and the meal car next to the New York sleepers and a lounge next to theBoston sleeper.
Last spring, when I went to Meridian, the sleepers and baggage car were on the rear both ways.
Two years ago, when I rode the Texas Eagle from Los Angeles to Chicago, my sleeper was on the rear.
Johnny
Not all trains had the sleepers on the rear--the Silver Meteor had the Miami ciaches on the rear, next to the observation car. The St. Petersburg and Venice cars were more in the center, and the Miami sleepers, with their lounge, were at the head end. That arrangement expedited the switching that was done in Wildwood; a combine for St. Pete was added to the West Coast cars in Wildwood.
I rode the Silver Meteor in the middle 1960's. I believe its car palcement was due to its being split in Wildwood, FL between the train's east & west coast parts.
Yes; having all of the West Coast cars together made it possible for quick work--uncouple everything behind the Miami sleepers, move over and couple the West Coast cars to their engine and combine, bring the Miami diner and coaches back and couple them to the forward cars--and away you go!
jeatonIf it is important enough, you can ride the Capitol Limited from Washington to Chicago with the sleepers at the rear.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
The last few times that I rode the Capitol Limited, I walked backto the diner for all of the sleepers were rught behind the baggage car. The same arrangement holds for the California Zephyr. Four years ago, except for the car with crew accommodations, the sleepers on the Zephyr were on the rear (I had roomette in that car, and had to walk through the coaches to get to the diner). On that trip, one of the coach attendants also attended the roomettes in that car.
It is my impression that both trains are turned at both ends of their runs.
On Superliner equipped trains, it's been my experience over the years that the sleepers are always in the front of the train. For the Sunset, Texas Eagle, and Empire Builder, this is a necessity as those trains split and the rear cars either switch trains (train 421/422 SL<->TE) or go to separate destinations (27/28 to Portland). The consists are turned at each end to prevent sleepers in the middle, etc.
But why does the Southwest Chief, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, City of New Orleans and Capitol Limted have the sleepers in front? My guess is that it simplifies 'train swaps' (minus cars split off - 27/28 & 421/422) at their endpoint cities (except EMY and WAS) should it become necessary due to late trains and whatever else pops up. The downside of this is that except at SEA, the sleepers and therefore the dining car are farthest away from the statioin which requires a longer walk by the passengers as well as for the food supply vehicles to travel.
On single level trains, except for the Boston section of the Lakeshore Limited, the sleepers are usually (and I emphasize USUALLY) at the rear. However, except for the Lakeshore Ltd, sometimes the consists will be reversed for 6 months, or maybe a year or longer, presumably to 'balance out' any direction-of-travel related 'wear and tear' issues, particularly on the trucks, wheels, etc. On occassion, due to late trains, substitute trains, etc, it may not be possible to turn the train at the endpoint, thus necessitating all the seats to be manually turned around. But that's a rarity, in my opinion.
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