New consist for TE ??

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Riding the TE to CHI 6/18 and to SAS 6/22 I found the Sleeper on the rear instead of its previous location sandwiched between the DC and the Transition Sleeper. Additionally, I observed passing three TE consists going the opposite direction having the SC on the rear. Just wondering if this is permanent or not. None of the crew knew anything, in fact both SCA were not told in advance, and Attendants making announcements were still thinking the SC was next to the DC.
 
In past years, this has been the "summer consist" - the transdorm where it normally is but the regular sleeper on the rear. A few times when I traveled in the summer I found out I had to hike through several coach cars to get to the diner. Not so bad at dinner but I kind of hated walking through at 6:30 am for breakfast....
 
Normally on #421/#422 days the Revenue Sleeper has been on the rear next to the Cutout Coach between CHI and SAS.

It would be rare for the Revenue Sleeper to be on the rear of #21/#22 on non Sunset Ltd. days.

This is easier for the yard crews in CHI and SAS that do the switching with the Sunset Ltd.in SAS.

When the Sleeper is on the front behind the Transdorm they have to do two switching moves. The #421/#422 Sleeper is always on the back behind the Cutout Coach when running on the Sunset Ltd. between SAS and LAX.
 
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A few times when I traveled in the summer I found out I had to hike through several coach cars to get to the diner. Not so bad at dinner but I kind of hated walking through at 6:30 am for breakfast....
I've been on the TE a few times LVW-CHI and back in late Sept/early Oct. Only once was the sleeper on the back but the walk through three coaches early in morning in the dark for breakfast was difficult as we tried not to wake people who were spread out into the aisle.

The advantage of coach in the rear is the great railfan window in the rear. I spent quite a bit of time there. :)
 
Two round trips LAX to TPL in the 421/422 sleeper, it has been located in each position twice in the consist for the TE portion north of SAS. On the SL portion is is, of course, on the rear. Loved the railfan window too!
 
Both of the TE consists I was on were non-connecting trains, SAS-CHI and CHI-SAS, only. I saw the consists that arrived SAS on the 18th and 19th, 23rd and the consists departing SAS 18th,22nd,23rd All had the Sleeper on the rear. It would make sense to make the consist with the sleeper on the rear all time to make the SAS switching on Tue, Thu, Fri, and Sun morning more efficient.
 
I just traveled on the TE, departing LAX 6/24 and arriving CHI 6/27. I was in the rear sleeper. The consist between SAS and STL was locomotives-baggage-sleeper-sleeper-CCC-lounge-coach-coach-coach-sleeper. An additional coach was added on the end at STL for STL-CHI.
 
I just traveled on the TE, departing LAX 6/24 and arriving CHI 6/27. I was in the rear sleeper. The consist between SAS and STL was locomotives-baggage-sleeper-sleeper-CCC-lounge-coach-coach-coach-sleeper. An additional coach was added on the end at STL for STL-CHI.
Unless it was something really special, there would have only been one sleeper up front. The transition sleeper.
 
I could certainly be mistaken, and I didn't take any pictures so I can't check, but I am pretty confident about it.
 
I've been on the Eagle, in both directions, hundreds of times and can count on one hand the number of times I've seen more than a Transdorm Sleeper and Revenue Sleeper, whether front or back, in the consist!

Same thing for the Engine, this train needs 2 P-42s!!!!
 
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ESPECIALLY in the summer the train needs two P-42s! I've heard a few horror stories about people being stranded in the heat....

I wonder if Amtrak has enough sleepers that they could add one on routes getting heavy vacation travel. (Could it have been a broken one being taken back to Beech Grove and the TE was just a convenient carrier? Once or twice I've been on the TE when they were deadheading a coach where the brakes or something had gone out....)
 
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