Question On Amtrak Passenger Cars?

[socalwb909]

-I was wondering if anyone knows the order, if there is one, that the amtrak superliner and other versions, cars go in? In other words, baggage - coach - diner - sleeper etc!!!! How many are usually being pulled? (i think 8 in a consist but not sure) i did a quick search here on the forums, sorry if i overlooked this answer. Any help is appreciated!

-Joe

 

[WillPac]

That would depend on which train it is. Amtrak replaced many of the passenger runs, from relative short hauls, to the more famous transcontinental runs, like the 20th Century Limited and Southwest Chief. So the consist would depend on the distance traveled.

If it's a daily run, it would likely have just coaches, with one baggage or baggage/coach combine just after the motive power, like the daily that runs through Brooklyn Yard on its Seattle to Eugene schedule. Longer runs would mean adding in diners and club cars, usually cut roughly in the middle for easiest access for all. The overnighters would, of course, require the sleepers.

If a sleeper is added during the run, it is usually just tacked onto the rear of the train, for less hassle and jostling of passengers already aboard. If sleepers were part of the original consist, they would be split like the coaches (with diners, club cars, etc. in the middle), but separation would be by class (first class cars are separate from the coach class).

 

[PerRock]

well the wolveriene usually has:
P42, Horizon Coach, Horizon Coach, Horizon Coach, (Horizon Coach depends on the day), Amfleet Cafe, P42 (or Cabbage)

I used to know the Empire Builder one and probably could dig it out for you if it wasn't st patty's day.

But yes every train varries; depending on the available equipment, the time of day, week, year; the length of the route; advertised amenities; etc.

peter

 

[SuperFudd]

The one from Los Angeles to New Orleans (currently) is two trains. The back part is dropped off in San Antonio and, with motive power and perhaps baggage, becomes the Eagle, on it's way to Chicago via Dallas.
I took the trip frpm LA to Houston about 25 years ago. Bagage was followed by a crew car or two, former Santa Fe double deckers. Then came sleepers followed by coachs. After that, mid train, was the diner(s), club car(s), etc and then the sleepers and coaches for the Eagle.

 

[socalwb909]

thanx for the replies! i did not know it worked like that. I just picked up the superliner set from http://passtrainz.net/ and i was going to make a consist but i wanted it to be realistic and not just place them in anyway! does anyone know of informational websites about amtrak and its history or just amtrak.com or wiki?

 

[PerRock]

Generally speaking you have your sleepers followed by your community cars (diner, lounge, etc) followed by your coaches.

Dug these up from my files. These are the originally planned consists for the routes with the new (at the time) Superliners.
Click here for image

peter

ps: make sure you download the superliner fix pack from the passtrainz forum.

 

[socalwb909]

Generally speaking you have your sleepers followed by your community cars (diner, lounge, etc) followed by your coaches.

Dug these up from my files. These are the originally planned consists for the routes with the new (at the time) Superliners.
Click here for image

peter

ps: make sure you download the superliner fix pack from the passtrainz forum.

-That was perfect! exactly what i was looking for! thank you!
-about passtrainz, ya i found that out the hard way lol!

 

[PerRock]

Just to prove that Amrak consists change on a daily basis. The wolverine that just went thru was:
P42, P42, Super Coach-Cafe, Super Coach, Super Coach.

peter

 

[marinemania]

Just to prove that Amrak consists change on a daily basis. The wolverine that just went thru was:
P42, P42, Super Coach-Cafe, Super Coach, Super Coach.

peter

Huh 2 p42's pulling three superliners that a F59ph job.

 

[PerRock]

The line is an in and out line so they don't need to turn the whole train around they put two engines on.

Also the Amtrak F59PHIs don't get over to where we are.

peter

 

[HPR98]

Empire Builder Consist Details

For the Empire Builder, the consist goes like this
Eastbound/Westbound from Chicago to Spokane, Spokane to Chicago): P42, P42, (P42, most of the time, sometimes a dash-8), Baggage, Transition Superliner, Sleeper, Sleeper, Dining Car, Coach/Baggage, Coach/Baggage, Sightseer Lounge, Coach/Baggage, Coach/Baggage, Sleeper(sometimes, there is a surprise on the rear of all Empire Builder Trains). Also at Minneapolis/ St. Paul, sometimes they add a coach/Baggage for those going to Chicago(basically for overflowing on busy days).

Now at Spokane, the train splits. One part goes to Seattle, the other goes to Portland.

Spokane to Portland(eastbound, and westbound): P42, Sightseer Lounge, Coach/Baggage, Coach/Baggage, Sleeper.

Spokane to Seattle(eastbound, and westbound): P42, P42, Baggage, Transition sleeper, sleeper, sleeper, Dining car, Coach/Baggage, Coach/Baggage.

That is pretty much it for the Empire Builder.