Passenger Trains > The Coachella Express out on time Via the LA Sub

With Amtrak 458 on the point

Following Metrolink

parts545 Wrote:
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> With Amtrak 458 on the point


458 is the "National Train Day" promotional unit. It's wrapped in Purple and White with Amtrak's current logo (not Surfliner Paint) with the words "Get Your Choo-Choo On" on the sides.

How is this train operating for the turnaround move??
Is the train sandwiched between 2 locomotives or do they have a Cab-Car on the west end???
I do not think they will run the extra 110 mile round trip to turn at the Niland wye track.
Thank you kindly for any additional information and reports!
---Daniel

From other posts this equipment made a few trips to San Diego with an F59 on each end
So on the return trip (if you have a scanner) listen for AMTK 4??

One F59PHI on each end.

West Riverside at 2:53pm.

Here is the consist as observed by yours truly at Union Station today:

458 - F59PH
6807 - Pacific Surfliner Business Class
6303 - Pacific Surfliner Coach Cafe
6404 - Pacific Surfliner Coach
6411 - Pacific Surfliner Coach
6953 - Pacific Surfliner Coach-Bagg. - Pt. Conception
6901 - Pacific Surfliner Coach-Bagg.
33049 - Superliner Lounge
450 - F59PH

Besides what is already mentioned in one of the posts above, on the left side of the 458, the words Coachella Express were printed on the lower portion of the engine near the front.

ken15

Beaumont at 3:37pm.

UP is doing a pretty good job so far.

How did they get Surfliners for this trip?
Amtrak seems to barely have enough as of now.

coaststarlight99 Wrote:
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> How did they get Surfliners for this trip?
> Amtrak seems to barely have enough as of now.


As previously mentioned on this board, they put a trainset of Amfleet & Horizon cars & the Great Dome into Surfliner service and used the newly free'd-up Surfliner trainset for the Coachella Express. As a classy bonus, they seem to have added a Superliner Lounge to it! I can't wait to see some pictures of this train out on the Yuma Sub.

-scax330

ken15 Wrote:
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> Here is the consist as observed by yours truly at
> Union Station today:
>
> 458 - F59PH
> 6807 - Pacific Surfliner Business Class
> 6303 - Pacific Surfliner Coach Cafe
> 6404 - Pacific Surfliner Coach
> 6411 - Pacific Surfliner Coach
> 6953 - Pacific Surfliner Coach-Bagg. - Pt.
> Conception
> 6901 - Pacific Surfliner Coach-Bagg.
> 33049 - Superliner Lounge
> 450 - F59PH
>
> Besides what is already mentioned in one of the
> posts above, on the left side of the 458, the
> words Coachella Express were printed on the lower
> portion of the engine near the front.
>
> ken15

Is 33049 the only lounge that can be used in push-pull service? I once photographed a SL lounge on a Surfliner - wondering if this would be the same one.

Sal Garcia
Pico Rivera, Ca.

Sal Wrote:
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> Is 33049 the only lounge that can be used in
> push-pull service? I once photographed a SL lounge
> on a Surfliner - wondering if this would be the
> same one.

I believe 33025 is the other.

Both were used on the San Diegans before the Surfliners arrived.

Garnet (Palm Springs) at 4:15pm.

I thought all Superliner IIs were capable of push-pull, like the ones that are used on the Vancouver BC run, etc.

David.Curlee Wrote:
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> Garnet (Palm Springs) at 4:15pm.

Wow, should be right around on-time into Indio...

Sal Garcia
Pico Rivera, Ca.

I guess UP 'can' move a passenger train over the Sunset line if they put their minds to it. Perhaps their getting a better-than-Amtrak incentive from the Coachella sponsor of this train?

-scax330

Additional info on today's "Coachella Express" to Indio:

AMT948 24 P-passenger

AMTK458, F59PHI in Special "Get you Choo-Choo on" National Train day paint scheme (wrap)
6 Surfliners
1 Superliner Sightseer Lounge
AMTK450, F59PHI

Event City/State Date/Time Loads Empties Gross Weight
(tons) Length
(ft.)
Accomplished Events
Call Train Launistat, CA 04/24/08 14:00 0 0 0 0
Arrived Losangele, CA 04/24/08 13:41 7 0 0 0
Call Train Losangele, CA 04/24/08 12:30 0 0 0 0
Departed Losangele, CA 04/24/08 13:42 7 0 0 0
Passing Npomona, CA 04/24/08 14:08 0 0 0 0
Passing Lomlinda, CA 04/24/08 15:11 0 0 0 0
Arrived Indio, CA 04/24/08 16:58 7 0 0 0

David.Curlee Wrote:
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> Garnet (Palm Springs) at 4:15pm.

Did it go through the Amtrak Station?

David.Curlee Wrote:
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> Beaumont at 3:37pm.
>
> UP is doing a pretty good job so far.


Sadly I think there is not as much freight traffic to interfere these days with the bad economy

Now I am totally confused. Is the Coachella Express using a Surfliner set, or an Amfleet set??