Passenger Trains > Pacific Parlour spotted on the Cardinal

Pacific Parlour Car 39973 Santa Lucia Highlands was spotted this morning
on the Indianapolis section of Train 51(20), the Cardinal. The Indianapolis
section comprises equipment released from the shops at Beech Grove,
and is coupled ahead of the Washington engine and New York cars on the
westbound Cardinal.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/16 12:58 by GenePoon.

Pretty good chance it will be on #3 tonight then, unless it has a date with Brighton Park.

might head up on the Empire Builder to Seattle for the Coast Starlight

Well looks like it got fixed - thank goodness. Too bad it wasn't during the period when the Pacific Parlor Cars were out of service earlier in the year. Perhaps they could have even rehabbed the 5th Pacific Parlor Car that often gets ransacked for parts!

Why can't they rehab the palor car on the west coast, it would save wear and tear from the long hauls.

GG

Slightly off topic, does the entire normal consist of the Cardinal originate in NY, or are some cars added at Washington, DC?

Entire consist runs to SSY. That is why it runs north of DC - they do not maintain eastern low level LD cars in DC.

GGIBSON Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why can't they rehab the palor car on the west
> coast, it would save wear and tear from the long
> hauls.
>
> GG

When they're working, the cars cycle 2754 miles every four days between LA and Seattle.  Deadheading back and forth to Indiana for maintenance isn't any different.

Dave

The round trip from California to Indiana is still unproductive and costs a little bit of fuel to haul back and forth.
I think they should retrofit 5 SL Sightseer cars for dedicated Pacific Parlor Car service, and base the old, high-maintetance Santa Fe cars in the east, closer to Beech Grove. Assigning 3 of 5 to the Capitol Ltd as its working lounge car would be a good, low mileage life, not far from Beech Grove as these 60 year old cars become shop queens.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/16 07:48 by joemvcnj.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The round trip from California to Indiana is still
> unproductive and costs a little bit of fuel to
> haul back and forth.
> I think they should retrofit 5 SL Sightseer cars
> for dedicated Pacific Parlor Car service, and base
> the old, high-maintetance Santa Fe cars in the
> east, closer to Beech Grove. Assigning 3 of 5 to
> the Capitol Ltd as its working lounge car would be
> a good, low mileage life, not far from Beech Grove
> as these 60 year old cars become shop queens.

You make it sound like these cars are at Beech Grove frequently - from what I've seen it's a rare occurance.  Maybe someone has actual data, but my guestimate is less than once a year per car on average.

Dave

Maybe they should be there more often so they would not miss so many trips.

DavidP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The round trip from California to Indiana is
> still
> > unproductive and costs a little bit of fuel to
> > haul back and forth.
> > I think they should retrofit 5 SL Sightseer
> cars
> > for dedicated Pacific Parlor Car service, and
> base
> > the old, high-maintetance Santa Fe cars in the
> > east, closer to Beech Grove. Assigning 3 of 5
> to
> > the Capitol Ltd as its working lounge car would
> be
> > a good, low mileage life, not far from Beech
> Grove
> > as these 60 year old cars become shop queens.
>
> You make it sound like these cars are at Beech
> Grove frequently - from what I've seen it's a rare
> occurance.  Maybe someone has actual data, but my
> guestimate is less than once a year per car on
> average.
>
> Dave


This is the first time I've seen it. Can't be that often.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe they should be there more often so they
> would not miss so many trips.

Wasn't aware that they were missing a lot of trips. 

so where is the 39973 now?