Passenger Trains > Tonight's Cardinal/Hospital train with an IPH dome

I posted the (always) odd consist of the combined Cardinal/Hospital Train that runs to Indianapolis last Saturday. Today I was able to take video. The consist was almost as strange - this time it features a SLRG superdome. Last week the PV was on the rear as part of the Cardinal, this week a PV is... going to Beech Grove? Also, does the hospital equipment only run on the Saturday train?

Otherwise, 350 was following 50(16) a few minutes later, as scheduled. After they cleared, a CN freight got the light across the Amtrak diamond at 21st St. and the Metra diamond at 16th. It is show here o9n the now single track portion of the St. Charles Air Line, approaching the new Kelley interlocking, which is just around this curve.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/16/19 18:27 by inCHI.

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SLRG Summit View is being interchanged to CSXT at IND.

Adam

AltiplanoRailtours1 Wrote:
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> SLRG Summit View is being interchanged to CSXT at
> IND.
>
> Adam

Oh, thanks for that info! Wonder where it heads from there.

In addition to the Cardinal needing a dome car Chicago to Washington DC (wishful thinking - yes!), the Cardinal needs the Viewliner II "Sleeper Lounge." Amtrak could actually try and integrate coach and sleeper passengers with the flex meal plans.

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> In addition to the Cardinal needing a dome car
> Chicago to Washington DC (wishful thinking -
> yes!), the Cardinal needs the Viewliner II
> "Sleeper Lounge." Amtrak could actually try and
> integrate coach and sleeper passengers with the
> flex meal plans.

They changed their minds about doing that.  Have no idea why.

Yes, I know. It needs to be changed back. Instead Amtrak uses these nice new and expensive cars for axle car count CLEAR ACROSS the country when they could be used righ there on this train where there's a need and descent chance of it being liked for this particular train! Ugh!

sums007 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In addition to the Cardinal needing a dome car
> > Chicago to Washington DC (wishful thinking -
> > yes!), the Cardinal needs the Viewliner II
> > "Sleeper Lounge." Amtrak could actually try and
> > integrate coach and sleeper passengers with the
> > flex meal plans.
>
> They changed their minds about doing that.  Have
> no idea why.

sums007 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > In addition to the Cardinal needing a dome car Chicago to Washington DC (wishful thinking - yes!), the Cardinal needs the Viewliner II
> > "Sleeper Lounge." Amtrak could actually try and integrate coach and sleeper passengers with the flex meal plans.
>
> They changed their minds about doing that.  Have no idea why.

It comes down to a dollars and cents decision.  Considering that the Cardinal almost always runs with a single Viewliner sleeper, that's a maximum of 30 passengers.  Adding an extra car to the train for the benefit of only 30 passengers is a major cost not only for wear and tear, but fuel as well to haul it.  It could concievably require a 2nd locomotive as well just to make it through the mountainous areas of the route at acceptable speeds. 

Consider, too, that sleeper passengers are free to use the cafe section of the split cafe/BC car just ahead of the sleeper as a lounge.  And, of course, sleeper passengers can simply take their contemporary dining meal to the quiet cafe section and eat it there.  No need to alter the consist for what is more like 15-20 passengers in the sleeper.

BRAtkinson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sums007 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jp1822 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > In addition to the Cardinal needing a dome car
> Chicago to Washington DC (wishful thinking -
> yes!), the Cardinal needs the Viewliner II
> > > "Sleeper Lounge." Amtrak could actually try
> and integrate coach and sleeper passengers with
> the flex meal plans.
> >
> > They changed their minds about doing that. 
> Have no idea why.
>
> It comes down to a dollars and cents decision. 
> Considering that the Cardinal almost always runs
> with a single Viewliner sleeper, that's a maximum
> of 30 passengers.  Adding an extra car to the
> train for the benefit of only 30 passengers is a
> major cost not only for wear and tear, but fuel as
> well to haul it.  It could concievably require a
> 2nd locomotive as well just to make it through the
> mountainous areas of the route at acceptable
> speeds. 
>
> Consider, too, that sleeper passengers are free to
> use the cafe section of the split cafe/BC car just
> ahead of the sleeper as a lounge.  And, of
> course, sleeper passengers can simply take their
> contemporary dining meal to the quiet cafe section
> and eat it there.  No need to alter the consist
> for what is more like 15-20 passengers in the
> sleeper.

No extra car being added - it was to be a substitution and it would have been a standardization. I don't buy the dollar and cents decision either, or they would have added a second Viewliner Sleeper onto this train's consist to increase and meet sleeper demand and dollars and cents.  

They run an Amfleet Cafe Car and an Amfleet Diner Lite on the Cardinal. The former is a relatively "new" concept (last two years). The Amfleet Cafe Car is 1/2 business and 1/2 cafe. ONE of these cars could come off (the Amfleet Diner Lite) and the Viewliner Sleeper Lounge added. Hence you have no additional cars, just a substitute and hopefully a better product and more appealing sightseeing from the Viewliner Sleeper Lounge (aka VIewliner Diner). The Viewliner Sleeper Lounge is a much more appealing car than anything Amfleet for sightseeing along the Cardinal route - likely the most scenic single level overnight long distance train out there right now. Instead of trying to enhance and standardize "the product" Amtrak detracts. The sleeper runs full and has lots of turnover enroute. You have to book way in advance to try and get space at times. Long need for a second sleeper on this route, as it used to have at least during peak season and Anderson crushed that. The Amslit windows don't compare to using the Viewliner Sleeper Lounge.

No need to be running Viewliner Diners (aka Viewliner Sleeper Lounges) as axle count cars when they could be used in revenue service or used to do what they are supposed to be used for - enhance the eastern single level LD experience for the millenials - as Amtrak touted. This dog won't hunt. Only 11 Viewliner Sleeper Lounges being used in regular assignment out of a potential 26 (including the prototype Viewliner Diner). Better to use them as axle count cars getting needless wear and tear - no! Send the Amfleet Cafe car out there thats 30 years old instead.      

BRAtkinson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> sums007 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jp1822 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > In addition to the Cardinal needing a dome car
> Chicago to Washington DC (wishful thinking -
> yes!), the Cardinal needs the Viewliner II
> > > "Sleeper Lounge." Amtrak could actually try
> and integrate coach and sleeper passengers with
> the flex meal plans.
> >
> > They changed their minds about doing that. 
> Have no idea why.
>
> It comes down to a dollars and cents decision. 
> Considering that the Cardinal almost always runs
> with a single Viewliner sleeper, that's a maximum
> of 30 passengers.  Adding an extra car to the
> train for the benefit of only 30 passengers is a
> major cost not only for wear and tear, but fuel as
> well to haul it.  It could concievably require a
> 2nd locomotive as well just to make it through the
> mountainous areas of the route at acceptable
> speeds. 
>
> Consider, too, that sleeper passengers are free to
> use the cafe section of the split cafe/BC car just
> ahead of the sleeper as a lounge.  And, of
> course, sleeper passengers can simply take their
> contemporary dining meal to the quiet cafe section
> and eat it there.  No need to alter the consist
> for what is more like 15-20 passengers in the
> sleeper.

If they'd add a second sleeping car, then this train would be the same consist as the Silver Star will be when they add the sleeper lounge to it next year.

sums007 Wrote:

> If they'd add a second sleeping car, then this
> train would be the same consist as the Silver Star
> will be when they add the sleeper lounge to it
> next year.

It could also be made standard to the Lake Shore Limited (the NY section) if an Amfleet Cafe or Amfleet Diner Lite is added to the Lake Shore Limited. Then you'd have the Lake Shore, Cardinal, and Silver Star with uniform consists. That would really give Sunnyside some leeway to "rob Peter to pay Paul."