ROBERT WILLISONHere a quick question for the group. Why are they putting names on the cars? This was s practice they began with the view liner sleepers but later removed.
Like always - Flavor of the month with management.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Here a quick question for the group. Why are they putting names on the cars? This was s practice they began with the view liner sleepers but later removed.
rcdryeConfirmed that 68001 "Annapolis" is on 98. The only question is whether it's doing meals. Second-hand report (now third-hand) says "people were eating".
It is moving as the 5th car of a 10 car train.
L01 AMTK 73L02 AMTK 174001 AMTK 61006002 AMTK 62045003 AMTK 62026004 AMTK 62027
005 AMTK 68001
006 AMTK 28014007 AMTK 25110008 AMTK 25074009 AMTK 25058010 AMTK 25093
Confirmed that 68001 "Annapolis" is on 98. The only question is whether it's doing meals. Second-hand report (now third-hand) says "people were eating".
Unconfirmed report that diner "Indianapolis" is on today's Silver Meteor #98 in revenue service serving diners.
blue streak 1How about the banner saying the " Lake shore limited to Chicago sponsored by ABC company " or " Silver Meteor to Miami sponsored by DEF company "
I see it more like the NASCAR model, with bigger naming rights and some color choices on the head end (and drumhead) going along with large contributions, and smaller details in different places on the consist for others. Watch for the interesting graphics and lighting effects used to call attention to some of the little items.
Thing is, with full active the skin becomes like one of those addressable billboards - you can vary an ad pitch over time, or run several different versions sequentially, even have a 'miniseries' that tells a story people will watch for. So now you can ask more when the train is being seen by more 'eyeballs' in the target audience, whatever that might be.
Some people will have deep enough pockets to name (and style) a whole train, even if it's only for one or two dwell periods or run segments. But I'd ask a premium for that.
How about the banner saying the " Lake shore limited to Chicago sponsored by ABC company " or " Silver Meteor to Miami sponsored by DEF company " ?? Sponsor pays for all installation and maintenance + daily fee.
ORNHOOHow about getting ones as long as the cars themselves and mounting them on the sides? The whole train could be an illuminated billboard saying "Lake Shore Limited", "Silver Meteor", "Crescent", etc. with custom color sceme and graphics for each train.
The idea seems ... unambitious. When I did a proposal for the 'new London bus' a few years ago, it was already practical to embed both electrochromic "e-ink" and LEDs/laser diodes, and the power and logic to address them, into the kind of film used for 'vehicle wraps'. THAT is what you do for the color scheme and graphics that will be custom, as well as any advertising (yecch, but think of the fun if done well, and the additional revenue for Amtrak or regional agencies!), emergency messaging, boarding notices or route information, etc.
Only has to be set up and tooled once for a given carbody configuration (and yes, it easily includes windows, which need only have a few small mirror-backed 'spots' if indium tin oxide leads or fine wires are used).
Hopefully by the time we have the hotrod GG1 rebuilt (with AEM-7 or HHP8 components; I'm happy with whatever y'all want to choose) we can have a train of these that we can set to "Congo mode" for the excursions. It'll be fun.
In the past they have sold these kinds of cars at an auction.
RME MikeF90 IMO they could simulate drumheads with programmable LED screens, provided they were covered with thick bulletproof glass. Now, figure how to mount them on on a non-square ended car ..... hmmm .... Simplest thing in the world. Flatscreen TV panel made to the appropriate dimensions, enclosed in a weatherproof and shockproof enclosure, with tabs that can attach it to a gate or diaphragm frame or whatever. Program it off a memory stick ... or animate graphics for a 21st-Century improvement on the idea. One basic unit works for any train; only the choice of thousands of images on the $5 stick has to change... I'd use polycarbonate as part of the bulletproofing, but even if some idiot succeeds in shooting the panel, how much could it cost to replace?
MikeF90 IMO they could simulate drumheads with programmable LED screens, provided they were covered with thick bulletproof glass. Now, figure how to mount them on on a non-square ended car ..... hmmm ....
Simplest thing in the world. Flatscreen TV panel made to the appropriate dimensions, enclosed in a weatherproof and shockproof enclosure, with tabs that can attach it to a gate or diaphragm frame or whatever. Program it off a memory stick ... or animate graphics for a 21st-Century improvement on the idea. One basic unit works for any train; only the choice of thousands of images on the $5 stick has to change...
I'd use polycarbonate as part of the bulletproofing, but even if some idiot succeeds in shooting the panel, how much could it cost to replace?
The idea seems...unambitious. Programmable LED screens are made that stretch the length of football field sidelines. How about getting ones as long as the cars themselves and mounting them on the sides? The whole train could be an illuminated billboard saying "Lake Shore Limited", "Silver Meteor", "Crescent", etc. with custom color sceme and graphics for each train.
MikeF90IMO they could simulate drumheads with programmable LED screens, provided they were covered with thick bulletproof glass. Now, figure how to mount them on on a non-square ended car ..... hmmm ....
Of Course Amtrak would be delighted that they have another manufacturer that could build stainless steel rolling stock along Budd or Pullman Standard principles. I think CAF had a significant learning curve building what is in effect a Budd design.
One question slightly off topic. After these are delivered is there any plausible chance that Wick will restore a diner to the Silver Star?
Pete-M3 A recent NARP "Hotline" online newsletter (#988) stated that the recently-delivered 68001 would be tested for an "extended" period of time to shake out any lingering issues and then the rest of the diners (24 remaining) would be delivered at the rate of 2 or 3 per month, all within the 1st half of 2017. That math doesn't work out. Even at the max rate of 3 per month only 18 would be delivered in the 1st half of '17. At the lower rate of 2 per month, it would take all year, assuming that the deliveries start in January, a shaky assumption, given the history.
A recent NARP "Hotline" online newsletter (#988) stated that the recently-delivered 68001 would be tested for an "extended" period of time to shake out any lingering issues and then the rest of the diners (24 remaining) would be delivered at the rate of 2 or 3 per month, all within the 1st half of 2017. That math doesn't work out. Even at the max rate of 3 per month only 18 would be delivered in the 1st half of '17. At the lower rate of 2 per month, it would take all year, assuming that the deliveries start in January, a shaky assumption, given the history.
NARP is sometimes pretty sloppy with numbers.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
BaltACDNow if Amtrak would have some built into square end observation lounge cars we could have 'real' trains, especially if lighted drumheads were developed for each train.
IMO they could simulate drumheads with programmable LED screens, provided they were covered with thick bulletproof glass. Now, figure how to mount them on on a non-square ended car ..... hmmm ....
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ROBERT WILLISON Either way a step in the right direction.
Either way a step in the right direction.
Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak
Kinda what I thought running on the back of the train, not the diners regular location and the experience Amtrak had with the bags.
ROBERT WILLISON Is the car in regular service or going to Hialeah for set up?
Is the car in regular service or going to Hialeah for set up?
BaltACD D.Carleton JimJCMO Thanks for the photo. Good to see they are FINALLY dribbling into service. Just an observaton - Am I the only one thinks the general shape new CAF cars resembles generic kitchen appliances? The design isn't bad or particularly striking. Maybe it'll grow on me. You are quite welcome. And yes, standing alone they are as inspirational as a rock. But string a few of them together: baggage, sleepers & diner and the uniformity is rather pleasing. A uniform front end and uniform back end of a train is nice. Getting the whole train uniform will be a miracle. Now if Amtrak would have some built into square end observation lounge cars we could have 'real' trains, especially if lighted drumheads were developed for each train.
D.Carleton JimJCMO Thanks for the photo. Good to see they are FINALLY dribbling into service. Just an observaton - Am I the only one thinks the general shape new CAF cars resembles generic kitchen appliances? The design isn't bad or particularly striking. Maybe it'll grow on me. You are quite welcome. And yes, standing alone they are as inspirational as a rock. But string a few of them together: baggage, sleepers & diner and the uniformity is rather pleasing. A uniform front end and uniform back end of a train is nice. Getting the whole train uniform will be a miracle.
JimJCMO Thanks for the photo. Good to see they are FINALLY dribbling into service. Just an observaton - Am I the only one thinks the general shape new CAF cars resembles generic kitchen appliances? The design isn't bad or particularly striking. Maybe it'll grow on me.
Thanks for the photo. Good to see they are FINALLY dribbling into service.
Just an observaton - Am I the only one thinks the general shape new CAF cars resembles generic kitchen appliances? The design isn't bad or particularly striking. Maybe it'll grow on me.
You are quite welcome. And yes, standing alone they are as inspirational as a rock. But string a few of them together: baggage, sleepers & diner and the uniformity is rather pleasing. A uniform front end and uniform back end of a train is nice. Getting the whole train uniform will be a miracle.
Now if Amtrak would have some built into square end observation lounge cars we could have 'real' trains, especially if lighted drumheads were developed for each train.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4577705
Grab shot of the 68001 coming through WPB minus the CSX business cars.
081552Cool video. Where is the location?
From other postings by the poster of the video, somewhere in the Greater DC area South of Washington Union Station.
Cool video. Where is the location?
You tube of diner on night time Meteor followed by two CSX business cars.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eJ0qv9moek&feature=youtu.be
As I was being taken to my car when I left on my last trip, I asked my friend, who sells tickets and handles checked baggage, what he thought of the new baggage cars. He told me that the baggage is cleaner than it was when it traveled in the old cars.
Johnny
Now that Amtrak has replaced its baggage cars, have the placed them for sale or just scrapped them?
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