Passenger Trains > Starlight Route Consists in October 1982.

Let's look at some train car consists going back to October 1982. I happen to have a copy of Amtrak's "Regular Train Consists" book dated October 31, 1982, which is NOT a peak travel period.

Here is what is listed for the Coast Starlight, #11 & #14;

2 F40 locomotives
1 70-ft Baggage-Mail
1 36 passenger Transition Dorm Coach
1 78 passenger Bag Coach-super
1 78 passenger Bag Coach-super
1 77 passenger Coach-super
1 77 passenger Coach-super
1 77 passenger Coach-super (operates 12/16 thru 1/5)
1 Lounge-super
1 Diner-super
1 44 passenger sleeper-super
1 44 passenger sleeper-super

Not that bad, except that the Spirit of California was running on the same route from Sacramento to Los Angeles. Here is that consist.

1 F40 locomotive
1 70 foot baggage
1 22 psgr sleeper 10-6
1 22 psgr sleeper 10-6 (operates 4-days a week, except daily 12/16 thru 1/5)
1 23 psgr Amdinette
1 60 psgr Amcoach
1 60 psgr Amcoach
1 60 psgr Amcoach (operates 4-days a week, except daily 12/16 thru 1/5)
1 60 psgr Amcoach (operates daily 12/16 thru 1/5)

Looks like the Coast Starlight and the Spirit of California may have been carrying a lot more passengers than the Starlight carries today. The Spirit died due to a new Governor that wasn't interested in the service (it was a 403b State supported train) and the use of amcoaches and an amdinette that were ill suited to an overnight train and held down ridership from what it could have been. The new Governor pulled the State funding and the train was discontinued --- which made SP probably quite happy at the time --- they had fought starting the overnight train for years.

FYI.

Here is the Coast Starlight consist in 1978 before introduction of the Superliners:

Baggage-Mail
Baggage-dormitory
Coach 56 seat
Coach 56 seat
Coach Dome 44 seat
Counter-diner (6/11 thru 9/10)
Coach 44 seat
Coach 44 seat
Coach 44 seat (6/11 thru 9/10)
Coach 44 seat (6/11 thru 9/10)
Coach 44 seat (6/11 thru 9/10)
Dome lounge
Diner
10-6 sleeper 22 psgr
10-6 sleeper 22 psgr
11 bedroom sleeper 22 psgr (6/11 thru 9/10)

What is (was) the difference between a "bag" coach and a coach? thanks mu

mu Wrote:
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> What is (was) the difference between a "bag" coach
> and a coach? thanks mu


Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but my recollection is that the bag-coach had a checked baggage compartment on the lower level and coach seats on the upper level spaced closer together than the coach, designed for use by day passengers. Regular coach was designed for day-night use and had seats with wider spacings on both levels.

Very interesting - thanks for posting.

Yes, the baggage/coaches have a baggage compartment on the lower level, in the same location where a regular Superliner coach has its lower-level seating. They also have a plug door on each side of the car for working that baggage compartment. This was also the area where the smoking room was on the Smoker/Coaches, which were converted from baggage/coaches and which have since been converted back to baggage/coaches. And it's the room where the snack bar is on a snack/coach.

And, yes, originally the baggage/coaches had a higher-density seating upstairs than a regular Superliner coach, but that was changed many years ago, and all Superliner coaches (except the Superliner coaches recently rebuilt for California) have 62 coach seats upstairs with identical seat spacing and pitch, regardless of whether it's a regular Superliner coach, baggage/coach or snack/coach.

What's interesting - but not surprising - is that sleeper inventory has grown while coach inventory has shrunk. Without data on load factors and revenues its hard to get a complete picture of changes in the customer base, but the anecdotal evidence is that the growth of low-fare air carriers during the 80's on the West Coast eroded the budget travel market and left Amtrak with a more leisure focused clientele.

Dave

A freight derailment on the SP caused #11 to terminate at Saramento,CA and become #15, The Spirit Of California.
From the Notebook,dated 11-12-1982
F40 251
F40 241
Baggage 1172 Silver Treasure
Dorm Coach 39932
Coach-Baggage 31031
Coach 34036
Lounge-Cafe 33013
Dining Car 38036
Sleeping Car 32042
Sleeping Car 32040
Coach 34035