Today, December 6th, Amtrak #21 had a FRA "safety" car between the locomotive and the four regularly assigned Superliner cars. Anyone know the likely purpose of the FRA car?
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
On a different note, Nos. 21/22 has the diner/lounge car behind the locomotive, followed by the two coaches, with the sleeper at the back of the train. For most of this year the sleeper had been immediately behind the locomotive.
Someone must have told the in-charge gurus that having the sleeper immediately behind the locomotive was not a good idea, unless they thought the sleeping car passengers were rail buffs that were paying a premium fare so they could be awakened throughout the night every time the engineer sounded the horn for a crossing
PJS1they could be awakened throughout the night every time the engineer sounded the horn for a crossing
There are two volume settings for the horn on a P42 at least. Some locomotive engineers seem to be oblivious to this feature I noticed while riding the Texas Eagle. There is a night time volume setting which you can sleep through if the locomotive crews would learn it consistently.
Does not surprise me that this happens as I am always training the Sleeping Car attendants when I ride that the audio in the Superliner Compartments between Superliner I and Superliner II is two different settings entirely to listen on train intercom while your in the compartment. Frequently the sleepers were mixed on the Texas Eagle (one each model) and the Attendant would attempt to make them consistent between the two models and shut off the intercom in the compartments of one car over the other (thats if the crew even bothers or cares). Everytime I ride that train there is another passenger complaining they cannot hear the announcements and sure enough I find the setting for the intercom was incorrectly set.
Another item some of the Car attendents are clueless about are the brake indicator lights on the side of the Superliner........I've found by asking them.
Possibly Amtrak crew training is on a "need to know" basis.
The P42 horn has two volume settings, sequentially activated by pushing the horn button further down.
I don't think the foot-operated 'automatic horn sequencer' operates otherwise than at full volume, though. I can imagine this used in places with multiple crossings comparatively close together...
CMStPnPThere are two volume settings for the horn on a P42 at least. Some locomotive engineers seem to be oblivious to this feature I noticed while riding the Texas Eagle. There is a night time volume setting which you can sleep through if the locomotive crews would learn it consistently.
I'm sure they know. I don't think it's for nighttime operations, though.
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
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