I will be going north on the Eagle in a few days. Are the sleepers in the front or back of the train? Is the transition car always connected to the other sleepers? And… are the rooms in the transition car considered "undesirable" and only sold after the rooms in the full sleepers are sold? Thanks.
Texas Eagle Cars
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I believe the consist has the transition sleeper up front, followed by the full sleeper. I have ridden in the transition sleeper on that and several other trains, and I don't mind it at all. It's one car closer to the locomotive, so you get slightly more noise from the horn, but 80 feet doesn't make a whole lot of difference. And there are a LOT of crossings between East Texas and Chicago!
Some of us like the transition sleeper because there is usually less traffic and there is at least one shower upstairs.
Some of us like the transition sleeper because there is usually less traffic and there is at least one shower upstairs.
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Steve pretty much covered the Transition Sleeper.
A few other tips, it is located between the Baggage Car (if it has one) currently a Heritage relic, and the Revenue Sleeper. Since the Eagle runs with one P-42 you won't have another buffer up front. Occasionally you'll smell diesel fumes because the seal to the transition door on the front is worn.
Some of the trans dorms have 2 showers/bathroom combos upstairs, one for the crew by the stairs and one for passengers, and also the Regular shower one downstairs along with the four bathrooms.
The Transdorm is usually very quiet since the OBS work long hours and when in their rooms usually sleep and relax during their brief time off duty! ( the LD OBS are only guaranteed 4 Hours of rest time a night!
The Conductor has an office where the Downstairs and Family Bedroom is located on Revenue Sleepers. The H Room.is sometimes occupied by a Crew Member but usually used for storeage.
Other considerations include the fact that your SCA works 2 Cars, either the Revenue Sleeper or a Coach and aren't around much!( their is No call button for them in your room)
Also the Diner LSA sometimes forgets to take your Rez for meals ( Dinner only on this Route) and Announcements aren't always heard over the PA!
One last thing, depending on the Conductor, you may have to use the Revenue Sleeper Door @ Station Stops to get on/off since the Doors don't always open in the Transdorm.
Overall it's a good expierence and most of us enjoy it, sort of like being in a Private Car when the Roomettes aren't full!
A few other tips, it is located between the Baggage Car (if it has one) currently a Heritage relic, and the Revenue Sleeper. Since the Eagle runs with one P-42 you won't have another buffer up front. Occasionally you'll smell diesel fumes because the seal to the transition door on the front is worn.
Some of the trans dorms have 2 showers/bathroom combos upstairs, one for the crew by the stairs and one for passengers, and also the Regular shower one downstairs along with the four bathrooms.
The Transdorm is usually very quiet since the OBS work long hours and when in their rooms usually sleep and relax during their brief time off duty! ( the LD OBS are only guaranteed 4 Hours of rest time a night!
The Conductor has an office where the Downstairs and Family Bedroom is located on Revenue Sleepers. The H Room.is sometimes occupied by a Crew Member but usually used for storeage.
Other considerations include the fact that your SCA works 2 Cars, either the Revenue Sleeper or a Coach and aren't around much!( their is No call button for them in your room)
Also the Diner LSA sometimes forgets to take your Rez for meals ( Dinner only on this Route) and Announcements aren't always heard over the PA!
One last thing, depending on the Conductor, you may have to use the Revenue Sleeper Door @ Station Stops to get on/off since the Doors don't always open in the Transdorm.
Overall it's a good expierence and most of us enjoy it, sort of like being in a Private Car when the Roomettes aren't full!
If you book the 422 sleeper ("through" sleeper which originates from LA), you are likely to be at the rear of the train. That is where I have been on three trips including three weeks ago.
the_traveler
Engineer
On the days the TE does NOT go to LAX (it's only train 21/22 to/from SAS) both the trans-dorm and revenue sleeper are train 21/22. On the days that it DOES go, 421/422 is the revenue sleeper and 21/22 is the trans-dorm.
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That is the Normal consist most days for the Eagle CHI-SAS. This train needs 2 P-42s!
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This June, the 2130 and the 2230 Revenue Sleepers were positioned at the rear car of the train and the TransSleeper was up front and next to the DC. The consist was TransSLeeper, DC, SSL, 3 Coach, Sleeper. Same consist I have seen pass by several times as recent as last month. The SCA has a room in the Revenue Sleeper so can be around if needed, depending on the how good the person is, but also, since the car is at the rear, the SCA must pass through 4 cars when getting food from the DC or taking their break. If you do not want to walk through all the coaches, the TransSleeper is good as it is next to the DC. Personally, I like the walk, have done it many times on the Boston section of the LSL. There are fewer people and no coach access, so rooms are very quiet. The rear sleeper had coach passengers wanting to look out the rear of the train throughout the trips. One SCA tried to keep them out, and another would be an escort, that was only when they were aware or in the car.
About 10 days ago I was on the 21 out of CHI to FTW and I was surprised to be separated from the other sleepers - we were the second-last car until STL and then we were the last. The next car up from us was a coach car and after that the dining car. I'd never seen an arrangement like it.
Rail Freak
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I'll be on the #422 next month. What time does the dining car open for breakfast, leaving SAS for CHI?
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DC opened about 15 minutes after departure from SAS this summer. My guess after the Conductors had gone through the train scanning tickets.
I took train 22 from SAS to CHI Saturday. I was in car 2220, room 7. We were the last car on the train. Next was a coach which was not used until St. Louis. Then, the dining car, lounge, coaches…
Great trip and the best train crew ever. My granddaughter was disappointed that she was not on the train with "Stacy from the Dining Car". She loves her announcements.
Great trip and the best train crew ever. My granddaughter was disappointed that she was not on the train with "Stacy from the Dining Car". She loves her announcements.
I'll be on the #22 and #21 twice in Oct. between SAS and CHI.
When I called AGR I asked to be put in the Transdorm because I don't like having the Sleeper be the Tail that wags the dog,! Got Room #17 and #19, next to the CCC and behind the bag car!
Sometimes the #322/#321 Coaches ( STL-CHI) are cut out/added in STL, sometimes they dead head all the way to/from SAS!
When I called AGR I asked to be put in the Transdorm because I don't like having the Sleeper be the Tail that wags the dog,! Got Room #17 and #19, next to the CCC and behind the bag car!
Sometimes the #322/#321 Coaches ( STL-CHI) are cut out/added in STL, sometimes they dead head all the way to/from SAS!
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