Passenger Trains > Friday Silver Stars

Amtrak P091-06

P42DC 148
Baggage 1735
Dorm Lounge 2516 “Pacific Gardens”
Viewliner 62041 “Summit View”
Viewliner 62044 “Sylvan View”
Viewliner 62029 “Palm View”
Diner 8527
Cafe Lounge 28020
Coach 25048
Coach 25059
Coach 25114
Coach 25108

Amtrak P092-07

P42DC 5
Baggage 1762
Dorm Lounge 2511 “Pacific”
Viewliner 62009 “Evening View”
Viewliner 62025 “Northern View”
Diner 8509
Cafe Lounge 28005 “Chicago Club”
Coach 25052
Coach 25064
Coach 25121
Coach 25110

This might have been covered before, and if so, I am sorry; but aren't 10 or 11 cars a drag on a single Genesis?

TIA.

I know there is not alot of undulating track on the Silver trains route, but wouldn't 2 units reduce wear on an overworked one?

Well, the RF&P used to assign two E8s to the (generally much longer) Florida trains of the 1960s, and SCL generally assigned three Es (sometimes four). That's 4400 or 6600 HP for an 18- to 22-car train, and the Florida Special made NYP - MIA in 24 hours flat. With the 4000 HP Genesis and 10 cars, it ought to be no problem keeping the schedule -- except for CSX's dispatching and trackwork.

It just kills me to see Amtrak running Florida trains in the *peak season* with a total of seven revenue cars. In December 1970 I watched the "Silver Meteor" depart Union Station, WAS with:

Three E units
baggage
six sleepers
sleeper lounge (Sun Lounge)
diner (first class passengers only)
two sleepers
diner (coach)
five coaches
obs-lounge

Now that's a train!

rresor Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, the RF&P used to assign two E8s to the
> (generally much longer) Florida trains of the
> 1960s, and SCL generally assigned three Es
> (sometimes four). That's 4400 or 6600 HP for an
> 18- to 22-car train, and the Florida Special made
> NYP - MIA in 24 hours flat. With the 4000 HP
> Genesis and 10 cars, it ought to be no problem
> keeping the schedule -- except for CSX's
> dispatching and trackwork.
>
> It just kills me to see Amtrak running Florida
> trains in the *peak season* with a total of seven
> revenue cars. In December 1970 I watched the
> "Silver Meteor" depart Union Station, WAS with:
>
> Three E units
> baggage
> six sleepers
> sleeper lounge (Sun Lounge)
> diner (first class passengers only)
> two sleepers
> diner (coach)
> five coaches
> obs-lounge
>
> Now that's a train!


I remember seeing that even in 94 when I was in the Navy and Stationed at Mayport. When the 98/97 did the switching in Jacksonville they had like 16-18 cars combined, split they were almost even with 6-8, and ridership then was really good too. I think the late nights I stayed to see 92 show up, he was almost always 16-18 cars long!

You can thank Jet blue, CSX and Amtrak for running the ridership off.