Passenger Trains > More VL2 Baggage Car Special From Wednesday

Photo #1 - departing Elmira

Photo #2 - crossing the Chemung River

Photo #3 - high balling through Smithboro

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Photo #4 - rolling through Owego in a downpour

Enjoy!

GJP

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Very nice group of pics, Wish I could get out of the city for some of my pics !!

Ed Stewart
Jacksonville, FL

Congrats to the Image of the Day! That picture was my favorite out of all those great shots as well!

John Miller
Conestoga, PA

It's interesting to me that they equipped these cars with the brake handling lights, similar (or maybe identical) to what the Superliners have. The long row of green lights made for a Christmas-like display when it came through Auburndale Fl. after dark. :>)

Makes me wonder if the whole order of new cars will have them installed, or just the bags, since they are the part of the order that will ride with both the Superliner and Viewliner trains.

BEAUTIFUL SHOTS!!! I know not what lies ahead, but (1) am glad to see new-buld construction on Amtrak (even as I wipe aside a small tear for the old Heritage Fleet Cars that will fall victim to them), and (2) the sincere hope that this revamped Phase III eventeually takes over both all single-level and Superliner rolling stock and the locomotives as well!!! [And if the decision is made to go back to Phase III, it wouldn't take long with the shoppings necessary--particulary with the locos that have to be "Zero-Lifed" every 3-4 Years at Beech Grove due to the incredible mileage they run up). Yes, a short "Rainbow/Mixed Consist Era" would lie ahead, but not that long before everything would go back to Phase III if the decision was made (or has already been made?). I LOVE the looks of these cars and their paint scheme. Former Amtrak President & CEO hated hated hated the current "Credit Card Scheme," and expressed his total disdain for it on both the locomotives and rolling stock, but "had bigger fish to fry." Which he didn't get to fry in the end. And I agreed with a lot of what he stood for since he was an operating man except for his fixation on single-unit LD/Intercity psgr trains on Amtrak. That part being stupid stupid stupid. Particularly on the City of New Orleans and especially on the Texas Eagle (the latter of which traverses some of the most rugged "Hoghback Territory," aka, up-and-down territory...on the AMTK System...but right at the 7-Car limit for a single GE P42DC). But NO TRAIN that runs even a single overnight should be subjected to a single locomotive, since "bustitution" is the only alternative if the Hotel Power goes out on that single unit! AnD I'm NOT going to risk riding a damn BUS! Sent a friend out on the Texas Eagle (me having been a patron of said train for many years and promising a "wonderful experinece" for his connection to the Sunset Limited). He ended up riding a bus to see his son in Los Angeles from Fort Worth to beyond San Antonio--and didn't speak to me for two moonths because of his miserable experience in First Class on the Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited connection!!! And I had to eat a lot of CROW for having recommended Amtrak as "the way to go." And he said: "Had I wanted to travel by BUS, then I'd have gone town to the damn BUS STATION, dammit! I'll NEVER take your precious Amtrak or a train AGAIN!! You stupid JERK!!!"

moltensulphur Wrote:
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> It's interesting to me that they equipped these
> cars with the brake handling lights, similar (or
> maybe identical) to what the Superliners have. The
> long row of green lights made for a Christmas-like
> display when it came through Auburndale Fl. after
> dark. :>)
>
> Makes me wonder if the whole order of new cars
> will have them installed, or just the bags, since
> they are the part of the order that will ride with
> both the Superliner and Viewliner trains.

molten,

It appears that all of the Viewliner II order will have the lights.

Photos in this thread, back in July, show the lights on the baggage/dorms, sleepers and diners.
http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,3459872,3459872#3459872

Bob