Passenger Trains > Amtrak Hi-Level Diner/Lounge cars

I'm looking for information and interior pictures of Amtrak's ex-ATSF hi-level Diner/Lounge cars. When did Amtrak convert these diners into Diner/Lounge cars? What trains did they run on? I remember seeing them filling in on San Joaquins until Amtrak California received their café cars.

Look for a post by boilingman on the history board a couple of days ago.

Dave

Thanks, I guess I missed that in my search. Still looking for pictures.

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4232418,4232418#msg-4232418



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/24/17 08:47 by jkchubbes.

They were converted for use on 35-36 in about 1985 or 86.  LA to SLC,in the off season, LA to Denver in the Summer.  One Christmas they were used for about 2wks on the Starlight as a second diner for the holiday crowd.  10yrs later they ended up in Oakland and were used, as you said, on the Capitols & SJ with the California Cars for about a year- the CA diners were delivered later than the rest of the fleet. As far as I know that was their last assignment.
SR

Just to be clear:  ATSF built six hi-level lounge cars in 1956.  Five of the six are now Pacific Parlor Cars.

ATSF built six hi-level 80 seat dining cars in 1956.  After the arrival of Superliners they were stored.  Later a conversion of some sort was done; someone can fill you in on those details.

All of the above text is referring to the dining cars, not the lounges. 


One diner lasted a while later in service. Saw it on the Empire Builder in the late 1990s. 

I believe one of the diners was at Big Bayou Canot, I'm pretty sure it didn't go in the water and was returned to service.
Nick

NGotwalt Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I believe one of the diners was at Big Bayou
> Canot, I'm pretty sure it didn't go in the water
> and was returned to service.
> Nick

​There was a hi-level lounge on the train at Big Bayou Canot, but it stayed on the bridge and did not go into the water. The diner was a regular Superliner diner and also stayed on the rails. The equipment that went into the water were P40 819, F40s 212 and 312, baggage car 1139, hi-level trans/dorm 39908, and Superliner coaches 34083 and 34068. Superliner coach 34040 was left hanging off the bridge but was repaired and returned to service. The remainder of the train (hi-level lounge 39973, Superliner diner 38030 and Superliner sleeper 32067) did not derail and were returned to service.

Here is one of the diners at Beech Grove in 1984 prior to HEP!
I regretted never riding them in the late 80's and early 90's.  Too busy working!

---