Passenger Trains > Whudid Eye See? GSO, NC

Just got off the road from driving across the country from CA to NC.  After 6 days stuck in a car, I can just walk a mile from Sedgefield (Greensboro NC) to the tracks at MacKay near Gate City Blvd.  Around 11:20 am, I see a northbound Amtrak.  Not having checked any schedule, I thought it would be a regular Piedmont and didn't even take my camera out of my pocket. This train had 2 GE's, multiple low level Budd coaches (Metroliner style) then 2 sleepers and baggage.  This train looks like a long distance train.  I thought LD traversed High Point in the middle of the night.  Now I view local Amtrak info through google maps and it just a train which is 12 minutes late.  I was under the impression that the Carolinean stops in High Point at 8 am, especially since I've ridden it twice to Raleigh. I've never seen sleeper equipment on the Carolinean since it is an all day affair with no overnight running.  What did I see?  Was this a late running Crescent?  Or was it a miscreant?  Coffee humour.  Thanks in advance.

Terrapin Station

"Long train running from coast to coast
Bringing 'long the party where they need it the most
Work on the box car, beat on the bell
Nothing else shaking so you might just as well"

TerrapinStation Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------
       Northbound Crescent running about five hours late.

> Just got off the road from driving across the
> country from CA to NC.  After 6 days stuck in a
> car, I can just walk a mile from Sedgefield
> (Greensboro NC) to the tracks at MacKay near Gate
> City Blvd.  Around 11:20 am, I see a northbound
> Amtrak.  Not having checked any schedule, I
> thought it would be a regular Piedmont and didn't
> even take my camera out of my pocket. This train
> had 2 GE's, multiple low level Budd coaches
> (Metroliner style) then 2 sleepers and baggage. 
> This train looks like a long distance train.  I
> thought LD traversed High Point in the middle of
> the night.  Now I view local Amtrak info through
> google maps and it just a train which is 12
> minutes late.  I was under the impression that
> the Carolinean stops in High Point at 8 am,
> especially since I've ridden it twice to Raleigh.
> I've never seen sleeper equipment on the
> Carolinean since it is an all day affair with no
> overnight running.  What did I see?  Was this a
> late running Crescent?  Or was it a miscreant? 
> Coffee humour.  Thanks in advance.
>
> Terrapin Station
>
> "Long train running from coast to coast
> Bringing 'long the party where they need it the
> most
> Work on the box car, beat on the bell
> Nothing else shaking so you might just as well"

Crescent running four hours late this morning, on top of the fact that #20 is less of a "middle-of-the-night" train now in NC since the schedule change. It leaves New Orleans two hours later and has more generous "recovery time" between Meridian and Atlanta. If on time, it leaves Charlotte at 5:31 and Greensboro at 7:29.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/21 11:18 by Dcmcrider.

NS slowed the schedule by HOURS, and they still cannot operate on time...................

Thanks for the prompt responses..  If anyone hears of the Crescent or Carolinean pulling any private cars between now and Dec 3, please post and I'll try to get photos.

If anyone knows of heritage painted locomotives traversing between High Point and Greensboro, also please post here.  Last time I was here, I got surprised by one at Pomona Yars.

Terrapin Station



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/21 13:03 by TerrapinStation.

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> NS slowed the schedule by HOURS, and they still
> cannot operate on time...................

That never works. They have not eliminated what is causing the train to be late and "need more time."

tAW

To get a sense of what was added the #20's schedule. 2020 versus 2021 on train 20:

(Dep. times except Washington)

Station            2020    2021 Diiference
New Orleans    7:00    9:15 (+2:15)
Meridian         11:07   1:37p  (+2:30)
Birmingham    2:24p   5:24p (+3:00)
Anniston         3:59p   6:59p (CT) (+3:00)
Atlanta            8:04p 11:29p (ET) (+3:25)
Charlotte        1:21   5:06 (+3:45)
Lynchburg      5:56  9:41 (+3:45)
Charlottesville  7:09 10:49 (+3:40)
Alexandria     9:32   1:22p (+3:50)
Washington    9:53  2:12p (arr.) (+4:19)





 

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Dcmcrider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> To get a sense of what was added the #20's
> schedule. 2020 versus 2021 on train 20:
>
> (Dep. times except Washington)
>
> Station            2020    2021
> Diiference
> New Orleans    7:00    9:15 (+2:15)
> Meridian         11:07   1:37p  (+2:30)
> Birmingham    2:24p   5:24p (+3:00)
> Anniston         3:59p   6:59p (CT) (+3:00)
> Atlanta            8:04p 11:29p (ET)
> (+3:25)
> Charlotte        1:21   5:06 (+3:45)
> Lynchburg      5:56  9:41 (+3:45)
> Charlottesville  7:09 10:49 (+3:40)
> Alexandria     9:32   1:22p (+3:50)
> Washington    9:53  2:12p (arr.) (+4:19)
>

As has been pointed out, and I will gladly point this out again, as I and other riders were apart of this routine - the new schedule KILLS the convenient overnight Washington DC to Atlanta market that existed via Amtrak. It was the perfect hotel on wheels so that you boarded in either Atlanta or DC - had dinner, read for a little bit, went to bed, and woke up for arrival in the morning city limits. Yes, I guess it is a bit nostalgic to the 1950s, but it worked for the Southern, and it worked for Amtrak till just recently.

Why the Crescent is still lacking a Viewliner II Diner (only has a Amfleet II Diner Lite car) is another curious item on the list. With the lengthened schedule, more of the Crescent's good scenery gets to be viewed in daylight regardless of the season (but especially summer!). Amtrak wrecked the timetable/schedule, and then sticks it to the sleeping car passengers - no "Sleeper Lounge" where said passengers are supposed to get there Flex Meals and have lounge space. Instead all food service is stuffed into an Amfleet II tuna can.

It makes NO SENSE. Staffing or no staffing - the equipment is there, the wording is there in the "LD trains East of the Mississippi" with its "Sleeper Lounge." Same for the Cardinal. It doesn't cost Amtrak that much to insert one car into the consist. It would actually help attract passengers in my opinion, especially for the Cardinal, which lacks a good "viewing car" in its meandering route from NYC to Washington DC to Chicago via Cincy! 

Amtrak is SURE charging a LOT for private rooms (sleeper space) and part of the deal was a "Sleeper Lounge" for the single level LD trains. Crescent used to be a top notch train. Now its relegated to circling the bottom of the barrel. And in previous holiday periods, the Crescent was carrying a third sleeper line!!! I am sure demand is there and i KNOW where the equipment is. Amtrak is doing no justice to the Crescent train consists. 

   And now Amtrak has turned the nortbound Crescent into a local regional north of Washington. Now receiving passengers at BWI, Princeton Junction, and New Brunswick, along with the regular stops !

curt416 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>    And now Amtrak has turned the nortbound
> Crescent into a local regional north of
> Washington. Now receiving passengers at BWI,
> Princeton Junction, and New Brunswick, along with
> the regular stops !

It's supposed to be discharge only north of Washington DC. How does that work out? SO DUMB!

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> curt416 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >    And now Amtrak has turned the nortbound
> > Crescent into a local regional north of
> > Washington. Now receiving passengers at BWI,
> > Princeton Junction, and New Brunswick, along
> with
> > the regular stops !
>
> It's supposed to be discharge only north of
> Washington DC. How does that work out? SO DUMB!

  Amtrak eliminated the discharge only policy , and added the additional stops north of Washington, in October or late September.
No more leaving ahead of schedule from Washington and stops to the north. The southbound Crescent is not making these additional stops. More confusion for passengers !