Passenger Trains > Lake Shore wash shuttle?

I have noticed something interesting in the past few days.  First, the Floridian, when it makes it to Chicago, appears to be getting a bath.  As does the Lake Shore.  What is interesting is that the LSL usually has a few cars that are different from the others in the sense that they are somewhat dirty.  Usually it seems to be sleepers, but this morning there was were a couple of coaches, in addition to a sleeper that looked a bit grimy, too.  

Is it possible that the Meteor and Crescent are cycling cars to Chicago on the LSL to get washed?  The Meteor has looked better lately, not sure on the Cresent.  Maybe that sort of shuffling is normal, maybe I am imagining the difference in car cleanliness because I am seeing it on camera, not from the ground, I dunno.

But if anyone has any insight, my nerdy brain is curious.

Crescent still disgusting. 

Meteor NB from MIA yesterday had been washed.

I thought the Crescent and Star used to swap in Sunnyside. No longer the case, so the Crescent never makes it to Hialeah or Chicago. . 

Nobody at Amtrak would be bothered to switch cars out to send somewhere for a wash. Nice to think about anyway.

Ha!  You are right about that!!

PumpkinHogger Wrote:
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> Nobody at Amtrak would be bothered to switch cars
> out to send somewhere for a wash. Nice to think
> about anyway.

Consists are fixed to the route - they don't interchange.

The latest rumor - could be fact, not sure, need better confirmation - that the Silver Meteor is doing a same day turn at Sunnyside, meaning they have axed this down to three consist requirement instead of FOUR, which has been in effect since 2005 (when the Three Rivers was discontinued and the Silver Meteor moved to a 3:15 pm departure - from 7:01 pm). Not sure if I totally understand why, as the main driver/reason has been said to be the East River tunnel access. But they'd still have to bring and turn at Sunnyside Yard as there's no way that Amtrak is clogging up platform space at NYP to service the equipment there. Trying to get better clarity, but word is that this may be related to the East River Tunnel construction. If true - that is an AWFULLY SHORT window to turn the Silver Meteor consist - worst then before 2005 when it would arrive into New York (per schedule) at the 9 am hour and then depart nearly 10 hours later at 7:01 pm. To have it arrive presently in the 11 am hour and go out by 3:15 pm - that's VERY VERY VERY tight. Worst than the Empire Builder turn at Seattle/Portland. If they did some interchange with the Lake Shore it may work better, but that's not what was rumored/reported. I was thinking of the Silver Meteor went down to three assigned train sets, then maybe the fourth is rotating in/out of service at Hialeah with the Floridian, but not sure about ANY of that - YET!!!!

Pre-2005, the Silver Meteor only had three train sets assigned, yet full service dining, three Viewliner Sleepers, coaches etc. If it was running late into NYP, the the Crescent consist would be swapped for the Silver Meteor set and a sleeper added to the Meteor's train set for an on-time arrival. Back then it was a MAJOR "rob Peter to pay Paul." The Crescent arrived into NYP pretty reliable in the 1 pm hour, so then if the Meteor was running extremely late, the Crescent's consist would be swapped into the Meteor's 7:01 pm departure. Crescent and Lake Shore Limited consists all had 24 hour layovers at Sunnyside. After the Three Rivers was discontinued, the three sleepers that were used to hold down that route were surrendered to create a fourth Silver Meteor consist, thus giving all eastern LD train sets that arrived or passed through Sunnyside a 24 hour layover (or nearly so). Completely horrible utilization of equipment. Think back even to when the Lake Shore operated into Grand Central - it did a same turn at Grand Central before heading back to Chicago. If eastbound Lake Shore was running extremely late, they annulled it at Albany and turned it there. But the arrival of the Lake Shore was early afternoon, while departure was in the 6 pm hour! Oh how that has all blown up with turns of equipment in modern times when you think their would be better efficiencies!!!!! LOL!!! Sad.........

OK so looking at #98's arrival at NYP today, estimated at 1:00pm (normal is 11:18am), and
it wasn't turned in MIA. Baggage & sleepers are up front. Let's keep watch to see if the consist
is turned correctly and the actual departure time from NYP.

Chessie1963 Wrote:
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> Is it possible that the Meteor and Crescent are
> cycling cars to Chicago on the LSL to get washed?

The Chicago was is in the "testing and certification" stage. I will let the group know when it is in regular service. 

sethamtrak Wrote:
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> Chessie1963 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is it possible that the Meteor and Crescent are
> > cycling cars to Chicago on the LSL to get
> washed?
>
> The Chicago was is in the "testing and
> certification" stage. I will let the group know
> when it is in regular service. 

Thought that might be happening. That's actually good news. Let's hope it goes well. As I've mentioned before, large machinery like that almost always has a test and configuration phase - you seldom can just turn it on and let it run perfectly from the get-go. I know that's not what some here want to hear, but please accept that it's good news that things are apparently in this phase. Progress is where you find it.


MC

jp1822 Wrote:
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> The latest rumor - could be fact, not sure, need
> better confirmation - that the Silver Meteor is
> doing a same day turn at Sunnyside.

Maybe that's how they will scrape up 4 coaches for the Mardi Gras train sets, and cycle the cars on and off the Crescent for maintenance. . 

Per Amtrak.com/train-status today 7/7/25:

Delay Notification: As of 3:11 PM ET, Train 97 will be delayed approximately 1 hour departing New York (NYP) due to equipment adjustments and a late release from the maintenance facility. We apologize for the delay and any inconvenience this may cause. 


jeff56 Wrote:
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> OK so looking at #98's arrival at NYP today,
> estimated at 1:00pm (normal is 11:18am), and
> it wasn't turned in MIA. Baggage & sleepers are up
> front. Let's keep watch to see if the consist
> is turned correctly and the actual departure time
> from NYP.

prech786 Wrote:
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> Per Amtrak.com/train-status today 7/7/25:
>
> Delay Notification: As of 3:11 PM ET, Train 97
> will be delayed approximately 1 hour departing New
> York (NYP) due to equipment adjustments and a late
> release from the maintenance facility. We
> apologize for the delay and any inconvenience this
> may cause. 
>
>
> jeff56 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > OK so looking at #98's arrival at NYP today,
> > estimated at 1:00pm (normal is 11:18am), and
> > it wasn't turned in MIA. Baggage & sleepers are
> up
> > front. Let's keep watch to see if the consist
> > is turned correctly and the actual departure
> time
> > from NYP.

49 is also delayed, although no estimate is provided. Maybe they are swapping sets?

#97 departed NYP at 4:06pm and it's always the same delay notice with the equipment
adjustments. But I will say it was a quick 3 hour turn around from #97's arrival of 1:04pm.
There must be more to the story as how fast they can turn, clean and stock the train.

I have no idea how many users of TO look at the british network rail media website. it's a model which amtrak might follow to tell the taxpayers who finance the stumbling agency what's going on. it reports what repairs are going on and why. when there was a sinkhole on the rural route which runs through my cousin's small village, network rail reported it and even had a picture showing why repairs were desperately needed. what's going on along amtrak's post road? what is the status of those cars pulled out of service because they are apparently falling apart? there are innumerable questions which amtrak avoids. i don't want to say network riail is always informative, given the politics in britain, but, it tries. amtrak doesn't even try, angering the group it desperately needs for support in difficult times. the network rail site is also just interesting as it celebrates two centuries of railroading. information would be helpful.
observer

jeff56 Wrote:
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> #97 departed NYP at 4:06pm and it's always the
> same delay notice with the equipment
> adjustments. But I will say it was a quick 3 hour
> turn around from #97's arrival of 1:04pm.
> There must be more to the story as how fast they
> can turn, clean and stock the train.

asm.transitdoc said 97 left at 4:35pm (2 hr 5 late) and 49 left at 5:21pm (1hr 41  late).
48's equipment had arrived NYPS at 7:51pm Sunday night.
That no doubt made life hell for the Penn Station Control Center with these trains hogging NYPS rush hour station slots against NJT. 

It sounds like Amtrak, for practical purposes, has four trainsets in the Silver Meteor rotation, though it might be able to get by on three if everything was perfectly on time or if the "extra set" had to cover a late Lake Shore. Unfortunately, these worsening delays caused by weather, crew rest and trespassers sometimes make even 24-hour equipment layovers not enough.  I wonder if, given the current equipment shortages, Amtrak should for now just give up on extra trainsets and concentrate on making doable short-turn plans for all the long-distance trains (Spokane for the Empire Builder, Jacksonville or Washington, DC for the Florida trains, Reno/Sparks for the California Zephyr, etc) and figure on just using them regularly for now when problems arise.

NPRocky Wrote:
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> It sounds like Amtrak, for practical purposes, has
> four trainsets in the Silver Meteor rotation,
> though it might be able to get by on three if
> everything was perfectly on time or if the "extra
> set" had to cover a late Lake Shore.
> Unfortunately, these worsening delays caused by
> weather, crew rest and trespassers sometimes make
> even 24-hour equipment layovers not enough.  I
> wonder if, given the current equipment shortages,
> Amtrak should for now just give up on extra
> trainsets and concentrate on making doable
> short-turn plans for all the long-distance trains
> (Spokane for the Empire Builder, Jacksonville or
> Washington, DC for the Florida trains, Reno/Sparks
> for the California Zephyr, etc) and figure on just
> using them regularly for now when problems arise.

Speaking of that, I was expecting them to turn 40 at Jacksonville, FL since it was almost 11 hours late, but it's going thru to Miami, currently over 11 hours late. I doubt it will leave Miami ontime tomorrow.

Back to the topic of the Chicago wash rack, just watched the Floridian go thru Chesterton, IN. A car or two looked decent, but overall the train was filthy.

ST214 Wrote:
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> Back to the topic of the Chicago wash rack, just
> watched the Floridian go thru Chesterton, IN. A
> car or two looked decent, but overall the train
> was filthy.

Yep, Chicago wash rack not in regular service. Once we start seeing different clean trains (in person and not one offs) then they must be using it regularly.