Passenger Trains > Weird consist on the corridor

What’s with the weird capital corridor consists lately. One just pass me in push mode with 4 California cars, a new Amtrak baggage car and a viewliner with an F59PHI for power.

Posted from iPhone

Axle count cars ?

Yes a viewliner diner and bag have been  seen in these consists, that switch between the capital and San Joaquin.  Axle counts.

A photo of the diner in Los Angeles was posted a few weeks back enroute north.

mundo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes a viewliner diner and bag have been  seen in
> these consists, that switch between the capital
> and San Joaquin.  Axle counts.
>
> A photo of the diner in Los Angeles was posted a
> few weeks back enroute north.

So happy to know that the Cardinal soldiers on with a 38 year old diner lite while brand new 3.5 million dollar diners are being used as axle count cars. Our tax dollars at work?

Posted from iPhone

alan2955 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mundo Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yes a viewliner diner and bag have been  seen
> in
> > these consists, that switch between the capital
> > and San Joaquin.  Axle counts.
> >
> > A photo of the diner in Los Angeles was posted
> a
> > few weeks back enroute north.
>
> So happy to know that the Cardinal soldiers on
> with a 38 year old diner lite while brand new 3.5
> million dollar diners are being used as axle count
> cars. Our tax dollars at work?
>
> Posted from iPhone

Could it be that Amtrak California is leasing them?    Sitting in storage = zero income. 

Why all of a sudden the need for axle counts. Did U P and BNSF upgrade the software in their crossing gate protection system or is this a PTC thing?

Posted from Android

alan2955 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> mundo Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Yes a viewliner diner and bag have been  seen
> in
> > these consists, that switch between the capital
> > and San Joaquin.  Axle counts.
> >
> > A photo of the diner in Los Angeles was posted
> a
> > few weeks back enroute north.
>
> So happy to know that the Cardinal soldiers on
> with a 38 year old diner lite while brand new 3.5
> million dollar diners are being used as axle count
> cars. Our tax dollars at work?
>
> Posted from iPhone

It just gets better and better. A brand new Viewliner Diner should not be used an axle count car. It could be used on the Cardinal as a "Sleeper Lounge" to "attract" riders to take this train, and with its double row of windows, make for a GREAT experience with its scenery between Cincy and  Washington DC. Even the PIP report for the Cardinal projected that if a descent "viewing car" was added to the Cardinal, as opposed to a car that has Amslit windows, it would gain more riders. And it would if the second sleeper was added to the Cardinal's consist. 

Crossings circuits; here on the coast UP was mandating 30 axles on all trains about a month ago (metrolink excluded), then that rule was removed about 3 weeks ago and is said to be reenacted soon. 

D0wnt1me Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Crossings circuits; here on the coast UP was
> mandating 30 axles on all trains about a month ago
> (metrolink excluded), then that rule was removed
> about 3 weeks ago and is said to be reenacted
> soon. 

Stick the baggage cars on it. Amtrak could easily take 10 baggage cars out of service and replace them with Viewliner Bagg/Dorms (re-locating crew there) and the Superliner Trans/Dorm becomes a pure revenue selling car, with the crew having their own car once again. The California Zephyr requires six trainsets (there's six baggage cars), and the Capitol Limited as three trainsets, even though there's only like two rooms that the crew needs. But this would allow a the Bagg/Dorms to be interchanged to get to DC where they could interchange and run to Florida. Perhaps this idea is as crazy as using a Viewliner Diner for axle count, but it would find a more positive use for the Bagg/Dorms. The Superliner Trans/Dorms could then be used as pure revenue based cars and the crew using the Viewliner Bagg/Dorm. There's no way the Capitol Limited carries a full load of baggage in the baggage car, and same even for CA Zephyr. If needed, put a Superliner Coach/Baggage Car in the consist. 

We could put those Baggage-Dorms on the Coast Starlight and Sunset Limited.
And that would give these two routes more sleeper space


jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> D0wnt1me Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Crossings circuits; here on the coast UP was
> > mandating 30 axles on all trains about a month
> ago
> > (metrolink excluded), then that rule was
> removed
> > about 3 weeks ago and is said to be reenacted
> > soon. 
>
> Stick the baggage cars on it. Amtrak could easily
> take 10 baggage cars out of service and replace
> them with Viewliner Bagg/Dorms (re-locating crew
> there) and the Superliner Trans/Dorm becomes a
> pure revenue selling car, with the crew having
> their own car once again. The California Zephyr
> requires six trainsets (there's six baggage cars),
> and the Capitol Limited as three trainsets, even
> though there's only like two rooms that the crew
> needs. But this would allow a the Bagg/Dorms to be
> interchanged to get to DC where they could
> interchange and run to Florida. Perhaps this idea
> is as crazy as using a Viewliner Diner for axle
> count, but it would find a more positive use for
> the Bagg/Dorms. The Superliner Trans/Dorms could
> then be used as pure revenue based cars and the
> crew using the Viewliner Bagg/Dorm. There's no way
> the Capitol Limited carries a full load of baggage
> in the baggage car, and same even for CA Zephyr.
> If needed, put a Superliner Coach/Baggage Car in
> the consist. 

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

This might be a twisted example in which things might be better if the inmates ran the asylum.   Another example of ineptitude further feeding the cynicism.