Passenger Trains > Ocean View on Saluki SB Sat AM

In case anyone cares, Amtrak has its Great Dome, Ocean View, on Saturday morning's southbound Saluki.

Posted from iPhone

#390 Saulki is due into Champaign-Urbana at 10:33 :08 late. The Great Dome should be on #393 Illini that leaves Carbondale at 4:15.

Ret. Navy Chief Bob Jensen
Manteno, IL

Is it open for passengers or is it being used for axle count?  Also noticed that the train has been running with 2 V-2 baggage cars on the rear for axle count.

Nope. its an axle count car. Been on there several days now. Guess they can't find enough old baggage cars to do the trick.

What a waste...

What company other than Amtrak would take a great marketing tool such as a dome car and use it as an axle count fulfillment car and not even let passengers experience it? Even after 45 years of Amtrak, it still boggles my mind.

I don't know what the axle count requirment is but maybe a car with 6 wheels trucks can replace 2 baggage cars with 4 wheel trucks to meet it. Total tonnage is cut.

WHAT a huge waste not to use this car in revenue service as just a lounge car on the Saluki. Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

The_Chief_Way Wrote:
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> Nope. its an axle count car. Been on there several
> days now. Guess they can't find enough old baggage
> cars to do the trick

Thanks for the info.

I had bought a round trip ticket from Chicago to Carbondale for today (Sunday) just to ride in the Great Dome. Got a refund on that! Seems to me if Amtrak is going to run it they ought to let folks ride in it and they should publicize it, but what do I know?.

Ret. Navy Chief Bob Jensen
Manteno, IL

Well, at least you can watch it go by, right?  Yay Amtrak.

Wait! No one has came on here to defend Amtrak for this yet?

Maybe it is just a stupidity test?

Yes, I rate Amtrak not letting people ride in the dome that already is on the train really stupid...

Jim

I would get a hold of Amtrak public relations