Is there a website somewhere, or other reference that would list the average consist of Amtrak’s long distance trains, like the Empire Builder or the Coast Starlight? Do they run material handling cars with these?
I’m looking at this from a modeler’s point of view.
Tom – I think there was a thread on this, quite some time back. You might try searching for it.
I don’t know about MEC cars, but I do know some trains still have the ExpressTrak reefers on the tail end, because they had a 5(?) year lease/agreement thing to keep them on the trains, even if Amtrak decided to exit the Material Handling Business, which they did.
I’ve been able to find LOTS of info on the individual cars, but nothing on the consist of individual trains. Our club layout is large enough to run a prototype sized train and I wanted info on how many and what type locomotives, quantity and type of car in the consist and the order in the train. Problem is I live too far from the Amtrak routes to make a trip railfanning and collect the info myself.
Tom,
When the CZ runs by my house I’ll get its consist.
Jim
Amtrak’s No. 5 just passed my house at Lawton, NV (MP 236) on Union Pacific’s Nevada Sub at 10:22 AM. I was not able to get car numbers because it went by to fast for my slow note taking.
2 P42s
1 baggage car
1 transitional sleeper
2 sleepers
1 dinning car
1 coach
1 sightseer car
2 coaches
2 express refers
1 PV Tioga Pass
Hope this helps. When No. 6 passes the house tonight I’ll check its consist if I’m home.
Jim
Thanks Jim. I’ve been trying to put together believable consists in HO scale for operation at my model railroad club. Eleven cars seems easy enough to model without “selective compression.” Like I said, unfortunately, I live too far from any Amtrak route to do the railfanning myself.
What is a sightseer car???
The lounge car that is operated on the trains with Superliner consists is called a “sightseer car.” It is, of course, a bilevel car with seats arranged for looking out on the upper level, and tables for eating, along with a snack bar, on the lower level. The windows on the upper level curve overhead, so you can not only see to the sides of the train without turning your body or head, but also overhead. Some call it an “observation car,” but to many people who are familiar with the equipment operated before Amtrak came into being, an “observation car” is one that allows a view to the rear, often while sitting facing the rear (which the sightseer car does not). It also is not a dome car, which provides a view to the front and to the rear, as well as overhead and to the sides.
That’s an interesting arrangement, Jim, because the lounge is usually right behind the diner (the three times we rode #5 last spring–and many other times) when the coaches are operated at the rear.
Of course, if the Empire Builder is being modeled, there will be a different arrangement, because the sightseer car runs between Portland and Chicago, along with a baggage coach and a sleeper (we also rode Portland-Chicago and Chicago-Portland last year, but I do not have the listing of the cars handy). And the Sunset Limited, between San Antonio and LA is different because the Chicago-LA cars of the Texas Eagle are in the consist. The Capitol Limited, which has essentially the same consist as the California Zephyr, is also easy to model. And the City of New Orleans, except for the number of cars, is also similar.
Incidentally, none of the trains we rode last year had material handling cars in the consist.