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  1. Maglev

    Coast Starlight discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

    3. When the Superliner I's first came out, the accommodations were called "Deluxe," "Economy," "Special," and "Family;" all with the suffix "Bedroom." The fixture you saw labeled "Economy Bedroom" in a Family Bedroom was undoubtedly a replacement using excess or salvaged stock. Also, the...
  2. Maglev

    50th anniversary's bucket trip sleeper questions

    For a truly luxurious experience, get a Bedroom (or two joined as a Suite if you can afford that). On June 1, one Bedroom for two seniors is $3,453 from Chicago to Emeryville.
  3. Maglev

    Empire Builder discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

    Last time I rode the Empire Builder to Portland, my Bedroom A was on the end--not the Roomettes--and it gave me a private view out the railfan window. From watching the Empire Builder as well as other trains quite regularly in videos posted on Facebook, I think the orientation of the Portland...
  4. Maglev

    Budd RDC technical stuff

    I recall riding a diesel rail car on British Railways on a branch line in Cornwall around 1990 that had a manual gear shift of sorts. But my impression from riding RDC's was that they had an automatic shift. I hope it's not too far off-topic to add that I had a fleet of HO scale RDC's that...
  5. Maglev

    Empire Builder discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

    It is not possible to book a Roomette on a certain side, since it is uncertain which way the car will be oriented,
  6. Maglev

    Help needed with long distance Amtrak trip planning

    I have traveled in the Family Bedroom three times: once (San Jose-Seattle) with my wife, once (Seattle-St. Paul) alone, and once (St.Paul-Seattle) with my sister. The room is very spacious, and has (small) windows on both sides. When traveling with someone else, we each tended to each sit by a...
  7. Maglev

    Amtrak Cascades Service discussion

    Another landslide...
  8. Maglev

    Amtrak Cascades Service discussion

    I am making a complete guess here--you have been warned. Maybe they're fixing that awful siding for the station itself, which is possibly jointed rail even. Last time I came through on the northbound Starlight, the switch at the south end malfunctioned and we had to go past the station then...
  9. Maglev

    First long trip on Amtrak (SAS to VAC)

    Breakfast is not served in the dining car on initial departure of the Coast Starlight.
  10. Maglev

    Videos/Pictures of Combined Zephyr/Pioneer/Desert Wind?

    When I rode, the Pioneer was combined at Denver (from the Museum of Railway Timetables, The Museum of Railway Timetables (timetables.org)) : The consist the day I rode (May, 1994) included what I considered to a a new and interesting Transdorm in a Phase IV paint scheme. This remains the...
  11. Maglev

    Videos/Pictures of Combined Zephyr/Pioneer/Desert Wind?

    It was not really allowed, but I think rules were a little more relaxed then. I stopped doing it after 9-11; transportation rules in general were tightened then. On this trip, I also opened the door of my sleeper to let a passenger off when our SCA was nowhere to be found at the other...
  12. Maglev

    Videos/Pictures of Combined Zephyr/Pioneer/Desert Wind?

    From the photos posted above and my memory, the consist of train 6 in May, 1994, in Colorado, on a day the Pioneer was not operating: Genesis Loco Pepsi Can Loco 3 MHC Baggage Transdorm Superliner II Sleeper (my car, forget the name) Sleeper Coach Coach Sightseer Lounge Diner Coach Coach...
  13. Maglev

    Videos/Pictures of Combined Zephyr/Pioneer/Desert Wind?

    The day in May, 1994, I rode the eastbound California Zephyr, the Pioneer was not operating, but we added cars and locomotives from the Desert Wind in Salt Lake City. The combination of these photos shows the whole train:
  14. Maglev

    Riding Amtrak for fun?

    Many of my Amtrak trips had some purpose other than just riding trains. But I'm going to comment on three trips that were for pleasure only. In January 2019, I rode the full routes of the Coast Starlight, Texas Eagle, and Empire Builder. My wife likes train travel, but really wasn't...
  15. Maglev

    Tipping on Amtrak

    $21 per hour is not much above minimum wage. Housekeepers here typically make $35 per hour, and are not asked to perform services 24 hours a day nor travel far from home and sleep in cramped quarters.
  16. Maglev

    Tipping on Amtrak

    Custodians deserve a tip when they do a good job. I'll give a $10 tip if I see them and the restrooms are clean in a station or airport. I like to smell bleach. Bleach kills norovirus.
  17. Maglev

    Hello

    We all love Amtrak here, but can be as critical as anyone out there. I hope you share some photos!
  18. Maglev

    Electric and Hybrid road vehicles

    During the recent cold spells, electric vehicles are being hit with the triple-whammy of reduced battery performance, slower charging rates, and increased demand for cabin heat...
  19. Maglev

    NH Native

    I think it was called the Wolfeboro Railroad. It hauled freight--we picked up a boxcar of excelsia, as they call it in New Hampshire.
  20. Maglev

    Proposed Boston-Concord NH Route

    It costs $800 for my wife and me to fly round trip to Seattle from here, about the same distance as Concord to Boston (there does happen to be an intervening ocean here...). And we are sometimes willing to pay that. I wonder how much people plunk down to fly from Boston or New York to their...
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