Nostalgia & History > SP-Amtrak train NO-ONE July 1971

There wasn’t much difference between SP passenger train operation and Amtrak post May 01, 1971.  The September 1970 compromise between SP and the Interstate Commerce Commission allowed tri-weekly service on the Sunset route in exchange for resumption of sleeping car and dining car service.  That pretty much established the status quo of today.

The photos in July of 1971;
The SP-Amtrak ticket counter agents on duty at Houston,
the Houston station baggage handler, who swore things are better now than before,
the consist for Amtrak train NO-ONE.

I wish I knew what the abbreviations for MMPC & ABC meant.

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Photos in July 1971;
Dining car cooks grab some short relief from the kitchen duty.  The 20 minute stop at Houston did not allow much of a break.  SP Car Dept. provided ice, water and garbage pick-up for the train.

The SP-Amtrak sleeping car porter was happy to be back at work on the Sunset but believed that Amtrak would not last.

Early morning arrival at LAUPT was full of the normal hustle, motion and confusion. Sorry for the shaky lens motion of the camera.

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Funny, they called the cofee-shop lounge a "ABC"( automat car)

I noticed that the SP orders and consists provided a lot of word play.  I assume it was inadvertent and not poking fun or satire on part of operators.

"ABC" must mean Automat Buffet Car.  I love that term, buffet.



WAF Wrote:
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> Funny, they called the cofee-shop lounge a "ABC"(
> automat car)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/13/19 08:04 by Hou74-76.

Great series of shots. I appreciate the details about the stops and what the train crew had to say about prospects for the service and what not. Great slice of life reportage here. 

Thanks for posting the consist.  Always interesting to read old passenger train consists.   BSB

According to RR Picture Archives, SP 9401 was a 12 double bedroom sleeper.  SP 9021 and 9014 were 10 room 6 double bed passenger cars.  There are pictures of 9021 and 9401 on that site along with other SP passenger cars.

Bruce

The SP/Amtrak sleeping car porter looks like he is holding a real pillow, maybe even a feather one!  Great portrait!

For consists try        https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/passconsist/info

Great series of photos, very fortunate you were the capture this.