Crescent ATN & TCL
OBS Chief
The Crescent that left New York on Feb 29th had a problem with HEP in the dining car at Washington DC. A passenger told me that when they tried to cook the first meal in the diner the wiring shorted out and the coating on some wires started melting. She was in the sleeper and was going to eat supper in the diner before they left Washington. They cut power to the whole train and sprayed the wiring with a fire extinguisher. This all took place after Baltimore. When they got to DC they made the sleeping car passengers de-train while they set off the diner, got food from the station food court and added extra supplies to the snack car. This delayed the train about 3 hours. She said the train took on fast food at various stations along the way. When the northbound came into Tuscaloosa they took a few flats of drinks and some boxes of different food from the snack car to add to the diner-less southbound when it came through a little later.
Here's my question do they not have a spare diner at DC or at least a cafe to store extra food and provide seating and workspace when they have to remove a diner? Do they have a spare at New Orleans or will this consist go with out a diner until it gets to New York?
Here's my question do they not have a spare diner at DC or at least a cafe to store extra food and provide seating and workspace when they have to remove a diner? Do they have a spare at New Orleans or will this consist go with out a diner until it gets to New York?