[AmtrakLoverAndHater]

Amtrak.com still lists the Parlour Car as an amenity available only to first class passengers.

[AlanB]

Guest, on Fri, Oct 6, 2006, 11:51 PM, said:

What is the Parlor Car??? Is it on the SW Chief or the Lakeshore Limited?

No, it doesn't run on those trains. The Parlour car is a 50+ year-old railcar that Amtrak spruced up to run on the Coast Starlight several years ago. It runs as a special lounge car available only to sleeping car passengers and serves snacks, drinks, and other neat things during the journey.

[jccollins]

Here's the current status of the five Pacific Parlour cars courtesy of a poster on "another" railroad discussion site:

Quote

39970: Was in service until arrival in SEA on 9 August. Then shopped for wheel work, and moved back to LAX 19 August. 90 day inspection completed, freon leaks repaired, and shoe holder pin replaced. Reported with b/o air conditioning on 10 September. Car still parked at LAX.

39972: Currently in service with Los Angeles arrival on 8 October.

39973: Last service in January, 2006. Removed from train at KFS for broken pipe. Debris damage repaired at KFS and car returned to LAX on 5 January. Deadhead to BEE on 13 Jan. Currently shown as stored with no work being done.

39974: Last trip terminated at Portland on 24 June. Pending investigation re suspension on 26 June. Moved deadhead to SEA, and back to LAX on July. Reported with b/o air conditioning. Still out of service in Los Angeles.

39975: In service until LAX arrival on 2 October. Currently in LAX for preventive maintenance.

[Trogdor]

The rumor is, as they're due for any significant maintenance, they're being parked.

[AlanB]

rmadisonwi, on Sun, Oct 8, 2006, 06:28 PM, said:

The rumor is, as they're due for any significant maintenance, they're being parked.

Well that rumor certainly parallels the reality of the Heritage crew dorms, as well as those Amfleets that got mothballed this year. So it may well be more than rumor, sadly.

[Anthony]

No more parlour cars or kiddie cars as of the new sched change. This is backed up by their omission in the new system timetable.

[The Metropolitan]

Allright then, so how many of us are going to fly west after arriving on the last "Metroliner" and ride on the last Parlor Car voyage? j/k!

Shame to see them go, but I think I can honestly imagine the headache they may have been to maintain as of late.

[Anthony]

Well, with only 39972 operating at present, I suppose it'd be dishonest to continue advertising them. :-\

[AlanB]

The Metropolitan, on Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 09:34 PM, said:

Shame to see them go, but I think I can honestly imagine the headache they may have been to maintain as of late.

Well the real headache is Amtrak's failure to dedicate enough resources and money to keep them running. Amtrak has made things even worse of late, since in the past they used to substitute an extra Sightseer Lounge when a Parlour car was blanked. Now they are basically doing nothing, since setting up the lounge attendant in the A room of a sleeper with a few snacks and drinks hardly compares to having the actual Parlour car.

[Trogdor]

The Metropolitan, on Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 08:34 PM, said:

Allright then, so how many of us are going to fly west after arriving on the last "Metroliner" and ride on the last Parlor Car voyage? j/k!

The one problem with that plan is that it would be difficult to predict which consist would have it, or whether it will even make it to the end of the month.

I've personally ridden the Coast Starlight (part or all of the route) six times. Four of them in a sleeper (well, technically three; once I voluntarily downgraded to coach after Amtrak screwed things up during the mudslides a couple years ago, and reduced the Starlight to one sleeper after having sold two full sleepers worth of tickets...long story). Four times, my consist has had the Parlour car. Two of those times were while I was riding coach. My first two sleeper trips (including the downgrade to coach) on the Starlight were Parlourless. My third one was when I was finally able to ride in the Parlour car. The fourth time was just a short trip from Seattle to Portland, and, unfortunately, I was far too sick to leave my room and enjoy the rest of the train (another long story).

So, that hit-or-miss record is an example of how unreliable those cars have been in recent years.

I'd be curious to know if someone plans to buy one and make it their own personal private car. Any bi-level PVs out there?

[Anthony]

Well, the one currently operating Parlour has been following a pretty predictable schedule for its past few runs. leave LAX on 14, arrive SEA, spend the night and return back to LAX on 11, skip a day, then leave on 14 again. If that maintains for the rest of the month, it might be possible to make a reservation with a reasonable likelihood of catching it.

[battalion51]

Cincy Railway bought a large number of pieces for use on their line including Hi-Liners and Amtrak F-40's. There is a very detailed list of where every Hi-Liner is and/or what happened to it. It should also be noted that some former Gallery Cars have gone into PV, particularly with Wisconsin Southern (I believe), but I don't believe there's as detailed of a list out there of those since so many were built and have been retired over the years.

[rmgreenesq]

Anthony, on Fri, Oct 13, 2006, 09:26 PM, said:

No more parlour cars or kiddie cars as of the new sched change. This is backed up by their omission in the new system timetable.

Silly question time: What is a "kiddie car"?

Rick

[battalion51]

A few years back the managers for the Coast Starlight converted 5 Superliner II Coaches to what have been dubbed Kiddie Cars. Basically they removed the seats from the downstairs seating area and turned it into a small play area for kids. I believe the room had board games, room to color, and other such ammenities. Anyone who's traveled with a child (as you full well know Rick) knows that having room for them to be able to move around and just be kids is vital, especially on long train rides. The other added bonus is that this is an environment that has a door so the kids can do as they wish and parents don't have to worry about disturbing fellow passengers.

[AlanB]

They also have it set up to show kiddie movies in that same room.

[AmtrakFan]

When I rode the Parlor's 3 Years ago the car we had 39975 NB we had a Lounge going back long story why, was just out of Beech Grove with only interior upgrades, the eletrical panels and the eletrical cabinet were all the same from before and the AC took a dump on the 2nd day, hotter then hell. They didn't replace the AC or anything esle eletrical, so I can see where Amtrak would park them. Are the Kiddie Cars going in Storage or will they be reconverted back to full Coaches?

This post has been edited by AmtrakFan: 14 October 2006 - 09:34 PM

[battalion51]

I'd be willing to guess that they'll be converted back to normal coaches.