Passenger Trains > A clean Cardinal

A late Cardinal went past the cam in Covington, KY about 6:12 am today.  The train was clean.  That is nice to see, and a real change from my trip in May, when the train was filthy.

Rode it last week, westbound.  Right side of the trian was somewhat clean,  left side was filthy. 

Good to hear. Such potential on this route. The train is constricted by Amtrak's refusal to add another coach. It has been running with two full Viewliner sleepers the last few weeks and a full baggage car. It had been running with one sleeper and a bag dorm.

Back in the mid and late 90s, before and after the temporary conversion to Superliners, the Bird routinely ran 4 coaches and two 10 & 6 sleepers, and i believe a Slumbercoach. In spite of a very slow and circuitous route and hitting the two largest intermediate markets (Cincinnati and Indianapolis) at horrible times, this train ran and runs full most of the year.

New Years to Easter can be very slow on this train but nothing some creative marketing couldn't take care of. That's assuming Amtrak cared, which they don't.

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I remember riding the Cardinal on Easter Sunday in 1991.  I came down the escalator at Penn Station with a ticket for a slumbercoach.  I walked toward the sleepers and looked for the staggered windows of the slumbercoach.  My heart sank when I did not see the expected consist.  I assumed the car had been bad-ordered, and I was likely to ride coach.  I showed my ticket to the sleeping car attendant to see where I should go.  Without saying a word, he pointed to the last car on the train, which was clearly a 10-6 sleeper.  I stated that I had a slumbercoach, and he surly replied, "That is the slumbercoach!".   I walked down the platform and entered a roomette matching my ticket number.   I expected to catch it from the conductor when he came by to lift tickets, but nothing was said.  This turned out to be my best ride on the Cardinal.  The rear window was immaculately clean.  I spent the day enjoying the view.  

The Cardinal was a real pleasure cruise back in the early 90's.
It was a complete train with leg rest coaches; lounge car; dining car; sleepers and a slumbercoach.
Boarding in Trenton NJ around 10am Friday - had a roomette and lunch would be available by Wilmington DE.
By the time we cruised through Orange Va, I went to vestibule and opened up the upper dutch door, with the
blessing from the conductor. This was the highlight of the trip, the bolted rail and you better hold on tight -
it was such a great experience. When we arrived Charlottesville, I went back to my room and washed my
face and hair to get ready for dinner. From Chicago it would be the Broadway which arrived Trenton at decent hour.
 

Last time I rode it was from Cincinnati to Indianapolis in June. Train was full or nearly full leaving Cincinnati going west. I was quite surprised as to how many people (including myself) connected to the Burlington Trailways operated Thruway connection toward points along I-74 in Illinois.

I wish stupid Amtrak would put the third coach back on the Cardinal.

Jim



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/24 17:43 by tq-07fan.

Yes, but then performance would be better, and we cannot have that on ANY long distance train.  That might divert resources from the NEC.  Of course Acela II is coming soon.  Just wait!!!  Then everything will be ok!

BTW, we need more money...


tq-07fan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Last time I rode it was from Cincinnati to
> Indianapolis in June. Train was full or nearly
> full leaving Cincinnati going west. I was quite
> surprised as to how many people (including myself)
> connected to the Burlington Trailways operated
> Thruway connection toward points along I-74 in
> Illinois.
>
> I wish stupid Amtrak would put the third coach
> back on the Cardinal.
>
> Jim

Amtrak has way too many Amfleet II coaches on medium-distance day trains in the east.  A lot of those assignments should be covered either by Northeast Regional Amfleet Is or Northeast Regional Amfleet Is coverted to Amfleet II seating.  I still say only Congressional intervention is going to fix this.