Passenger Trains > City of New Orleans consist

Does anyone know what consist is for the tri-weekly train now?  I am wondering if has two sleepers and carries a baggage car still. Thank you for your help.  

TexasChief Wrote:
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> Does anyone know what consist is for the
> tri-weekly train now?  I am wondering if has two
> sleepers and carries a baggage car still. Thank
> you for your help.  

I am pretty sure that it mirrors the Texas Eagle and Capitol Limited:

- Sleeper
- Cross Country Cafe
- Coach/Baggage
- Coach

Just four cars. 

Wow that is interesting. thank you. 

7 cars
Sleeper
Sleeper
Diner
Lounge
Coach
Coach
Coach -Bag

Posted from iPhone

2904 how recent is this consist ?

Have you seen it ?

If this is the last few days.  That would be larger then most.

I saw 58 and 59 yesterday.

Posted from iPhone

We hear about tiny consists on the Capital limited, Crescent, Tx Eagle. The SWC, City of NOLA seem to have full normal winter consists if not a car more. I'm curious about the CSL and EB, I assume these would be full winter consists as well.

Perhaps this is a look into Amtrak's mind as to what they see as their weakest trains. I'm surprised the SWC has been going out as big as it has so far. The SWC was the number one train on managements sh*t list two years ago. 

Flyer92122 Wrote:
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> We hear about tiny consists on the Capital
> limited, Crescent, Tx Eagle. The SWC, City of NOLA
> seem to have full normal winter consists if not a
> car more. I'm curious about the CSL and EB, I
> assume these would be full winter consists as
> well.
>
> Perhaps this is a look into Amtrak's mind as to
> what they see as their weakest trains. I'm
> surprised the SWC has been going out as big as it
> has so far. The SWC was the number one train on
> managements sh*t list two years ago. 

Don't think it was the train that is the problem, it's the route, aka Raton Pass...

Thanks 2904, thats sure big compared to others of 4 & 5 cars.

Sure we would like to hear from others, current, not a week ago.

It was pretty well sold out but it also has to have 7 superliners to run track speed on the CN.

Posted from iPhone

Today’s eastbound Cardinal in West Virginia was reported as having 3 coaches, diner lite, sleeper, and baggage dorm car.

Posted from iPhone



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/25/20 11:48 by alan2955.

Maybe some deadheading cars to make counts for crossings..

They are all being used but there is an axle requirement.

Posted from iPhone

Very surprising as the City of New Orleans had been operating with a Cross Country Cafe, and may still be. Surprised Amtrak hasn't just concetrated all food service out of it - and maybe they have? And just running the Sightseer Lounge as part of axle count and good & welfare for those aboard!

East of the Mississippi (including City of New Orleans), Amtrak wanted to have just one LSA handling the cafe/diner (for coach and sleeper passengers), no Superliner Sightseer Lounge operating, and only one Sleeping Car Attedant (two sleepers - two sleeper car attendants?). Nice that CN has that little 7 car rule I guess!!!

2904 Wrote:
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> It was pretty well sold out but it also has to
> have 7 superliners to run track speed on the CN.

In this case I like CN's requirement. 

Maybe we can get other Amtrak hosting railroads to adopt that rule.

Over the past months, I have been watching the Virtual Railfan webcam at Flagstaff, AZ.
during the evening stop at Flagstaff.
The crowds can be quite large at times.

James R.(Jim) Baker
Whittier, CA

Ive heard some airline flights to smaller cities have been full.  What with smaller a/c and less frequency.   SWA says they are going back to selling middle seats.
I would not sit on and airplane for any length of time sitting so closely to someone I dont know... 

At any rate...seems travel is picking up to small cities right now.     Otoh, the upper midwest is having a surge of the covid right now, so thats not good.

Be safe out there...if not for yourself, than for the others around you.

Consist is as follows for the time being:

39000 series transition dorm - Up to 8 rooms sold if demand calls for it
32000 series sleeper
38000 series diner (NOT Cross Country Cafe, sleeper meals only)
33000 series lounge (snack counter with LSA downstairs)
32000 series lower level coach
32000 series lower level coach
34000 series coach/baggae

All three coaches are in service.  While there is a 32 axle requirement for operating over CN (locomotive + seven Superliners), none are there for axle requirement.

Mary McPherson
Dongola, IL
Diverging Clear Productions

MaryMcPherson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Consist is as follows for the time being:
>
> 39000 series transition dorm - Up to 8 rooms sold
> if demand calls for it
> 32000 series sleeper
> 38000 series diner (NOT Cross Country Cafe,
> sleeper meals only)
> 33000 series lounge (snack counter with LSA
> downstairs)
> 32000 series lower level coach
> 32000 series lower level coach
> 34000 series coach/baggae
>
> All three coaches are in service.  While there is
> a 32 axle requirement for operating over CN
> (locomotive + seven Superliners), none are there
> for axle requirement.

I don't get why this consist gets a better consist than the Capitol Limited and the Capitol Limited is running with better (higher) load factors. For example THIS Friday/Saturday - the SINGLE sleeper on the Capitol Limited is SOLD OUT westbound on Friday and eastbound on Saturday!

The Cross Country Cafe that is used on the Capitol Limited is a joke, and there's no reason then why the Capitol can't get a Sightseer Lounge, Texas Eagle either. I agree that sleeper and coach consist should expand and contract in size. But Amtrak doesn't appear to be doing that.

At minimum, these trains - Texas Eagle, Capitol Limited, City of New Orleans could all run with an 37000 (CCC) or 38000 (Diner) and then a Sightseer Lounge Car. If they want to limit the attendant to just ONE food service person (LSA), then just operate things out of the CCC or Diner, and leave the LOWER level of the Sightseer Lounge CLOSED. That's been done before. The Sightseer Lounge offers passenger an amenity that is unique from the plane and bus. Gives Amtrak perhaps a competitive advantage. 

EDIT - and it's only worse for the Capitol Limited on its westbound departure from Washington on Wednesday, 10/28 (coach sold out!), and eastbound departure on Thursday, 10/29 (train TOTALLY sold out). That's with the four car consist - one sleeper, two coaches. Anyone look to walkup and get a reservation at intermediate stops - they are OUT of luck! There's not an extra coach car of all the ones that are stored right now? Go Amtrak!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/27/20 21:09 by jp1822.