Passenger Trains > Downeaster obs and couple questions

Yesterday when I was leaving campus for home at UNH (Durham, NH), a northbound Downeaster was at the station.  I pulled into the student commuter lot to watch it depart.  No surprise, the train was but four cars, having lost one due to the Horizon debacle.  

My first question concerns washing.  Where is the Downeaster washed?  The train that I saw was quite dirty, which is not something I have really noticed before.  Amtrak train washing seems to be like a game of whack-a-mole.  If some trains are getting cleaned, others are not.

The second quesiton concerns the lost coach.  During peak travel times, such as first thing in the morning, early evening,  or when there is a game or concert at TD Garden, I am certain a good chunk of revenue is being lost.  So with the train operating with just 75% of normal capacity, does Amtrak charge the states of Maine and Massachusetts a lower rate to operate the train?

Thanks.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/02/25 04:40 by Chessie1963.

They used to run Downeaster sets through the MBTA wash rack outside North Station, but I have no idea if they still do.  Maybe there's one at the layover facility in Maine?

I am not sure.  I know that the facility in Brunswick puts the trains indoors overnight, which is very beneficial in northern New England winter.  Perhaps there is some wash facility there, but I am not certain.

MBTA is hit or miss, in my experience, on train cleanliness.  

pennsy3750 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> They used to run Downeaster sets through the MBTA
> wash rack outside North Station, but I have no
> idea if they still do.  Maybe there's one at the
> layover facility in Maine?

Last  spring  i   rode  and  kinda  diry  exterior.  The  lost  coach is  somewhere  where  a  Horizon  car  once  served i  am  sure.
Siemens  can not  build  new  cars  fast  enough!!  Maybe  Trump  will  cacel  over  DEI!!

If the Downeaster contract is typical, one less coach is reflected in Amtrak collecting less money. More coaches for a requested longer consist, more money.

This does not apply to engines except for a prearranged heavy move. If a locomotive has to be substituted for a cab control car due to unavailability, shop work or mechanical failure, it's on Amtrak's dime.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/02/25 08:31 by GenePoon.

Gee, maybe he will.  Perhaps awarding positions on merit might actually help these companies to hire the best, rather than try to match up to the makeup of the population (which is not what they actually do).  And in that case, we just might get things on time!  No, I am not disparaging any group!  I have no idea what candidates might be best.  Nor do you.

Tell you what, cutboy, when the NBA and NFL start applying DEI to their rosters, you might get my attention on the matter.  But I guess painting slogans in the end zone is as far as they will go...  In the meantime, it might be nice to see work getting done right and on time.  How is Chicago treating you?  Merit hiring and promotions would help, but that is not the Amtrak way.  Put in your time and move up.  

cutboy1958 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Last  spring  i   rode  and  kinda  diry
>  exterior.  The  lost  coach is  somewhere
>  where  a  Horizon  car  once  served i  am
>  sure.
> Siemens  can not  build  new  cars  fast
>  enough!!  Maybe  Trump  will  cacel  over
>  DEI!!

Never more than one Horizon car per consist , always the furthest from the Club/Dinette - not openned unless needed . Have seen Downeasters with four coaches plus the Club/Dinette this year , though the normal make-up on the three consists is three coaches plus the Club/Dinette it would seem .  

Well, the Downeasters are doing better then we are in the Northwest.  Our Amfleet Cascades sets now have only two coaches, down from four at one time.

cutboy1958 Wrote:
-
> Siemens  can not  build  new  cars  fast
>  enough!!  Maybe  Trump  will  cacel  over
>  DEI!!

How many non-white males do you think have been passed over for jobs in the last 70 years.  More than  u could count,. 
If there wasnt such a feeling of white male supremecy by some in this country, there never would have been any reason for DEI to have happened. It was just a reaction to white male supremecy that has been rampant.
Blacks were not allowed to serve with whites during WW2, and there were no black ppl allowed in MLB till the 1950's, and jews were restricted from a lot of places up till the 1960's.    So what do you have to say about that?    
You want to sit back with the deniers and say it never happened, becaue, horrors, you should never have to admit that your ancestors treated other human beings on this planet really poorly.
Or maybe you just want to say "it was in the past, not my problem.  All I care about is that me and my friends dont get discriminated against."
If thats your feeling, than you are a poor excuse for an individual and a  Christian. Maybe you should take a look in the mirroi and learn something about the real teachings of Jesus Christ, instead of using His name as an excuse for poor behavior.

FWIW....any time ppl have a need to show their bigotry on this forum, I will respond.    All people should be treated equally, period.