Passenger Trains > The Empire Builder: still that extra sleeper

The Portland section of the Empire Builder - Train 27 - still has that second sleeper, making it a five-car train.  Is that permanent or is it still "peak" season and will be taken off soon?

Shown as it leaves Vancouver to cross the river into Portland for an early arrival.

Stan Praisewater



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/19 16:15 by sagehen.

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I believe it was Alan Boyd who created the Portland section of that train around 1981, despite a hostile Reagan, Stockman, and Drew Lewis. Smartest thing he ever did, true leadership, and wisdom. Imagine the current Clown Car implementing anything like that.

Last winter, the Seattle section went down to 1 sleeper and 1 coach. I don't remember if the 2nd Portland coach came off or not.

Posted from Android

Nice shot

I see P42 44  is still a regular on this train. It was leading, along with 821, on train 8 when I took it from Essex, MT to Chicago on August 17th. That was the train that got stuck behind the BNSF train that hit a semi carrying hazardous material in Bainville, MT and arrived into Chicago 9 hours late..

I see the not required by any rule back up hose is still common place.

YoungOldHead Wrote:
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> I see the not required by any rule back up hose is
> still common place.


To go forward, you're right. To back up, you might want to get some different rule books if you believe what you said.

sagehen Wrote:
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> The Portland section of the Empire Builder - Train
> 27 - still has that second sleeper, making it a
> five-car train.  Is that permanent or is it still
> "peak" season and will be taken off soon?
>

That past 2 #7's leaving Chicago have had only 1 Portland Sleeper on them. I'm guessing the 2nd Portland Sleeper is a peak season only thing. 

amtrak34east Wrote:
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> sagehen Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The Portland section of the Empire Builder -
> Train
> > 27 - still has that second sleeper, making it a
> > five-car train.  Is that permanent or is it
> still
> > "peak" season and will be taken off soon?
> >
>
> That past 2 #7's leaving Chicago have had only 1
> Portland Sleeper on them. I'm guessing the 2nd
> Portland Sleeper is a peak season only thing. 

Memorial Day to Labor Day it seems and that's it!

Glacier Park demand I sure is way down. Winter starts in weeks. Most of the college student employees have to be back at college the weekend before Labor Day. 

YoungOldHead Wrote:
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> I see the not required by any rule back up hose is
> still common place.

Not sure about rules but it comes in handy - The last time we traveled on No. 7, we were in the Portland sleeper. At St. Paul, the crew was advised that there was a disabled train on the Minnesota Commercial. So here comes the conductor, he opened the rear door, bled off some air, and then we made a reverse move through the Division St. Plant. Then we headed west on the BNSF Midway Sub to return to the normal route. My wife asked and was allowed to stand next to the conductor. She was really fascinated by this move.

BB

Amtrak has said they would start increeasing the number of sleepers on Auto Train for this Winter, so sure thats where the cars will be going.

Its really nothing more then what was done pre-amtrak, surplus pullmans from the peak summer western trains, went to the Florida trains.
But of  course it was a great number of cars using several trains.

But don't deplete too much from the regular stuff just in case something bad happens, Chicago, that shouldn't count since they can't properly get a train 100% ready to go in the 1ST Place!