Anybody know why Amtrak took off the old Desert Wind passenger train?
Would think the Vegas and or/ California interests ( ie. Casinos or Chambers of Commerece) would try to revive passenger service to Vegas and back, a la metro-link type of arrangement.
Id Up really that busy on that section of their mainline?
Check out this thread
You would think so. I have driven from LA to Vegas several times and I could not believe the amount of traffic between them. It seems to me like a no brainer, but what do I know.
Bert
The Desert Wind was a Chicago-Los Angeles operation that happened to go through Las Vegas. It was combined with the California Zephyr between Chicago and Salt Lake and operated tri-weekly. As such, it duplicated a lot of existing service and was discontinued in 1997.
In the early 90s the Wind was a daily train and the east & westbounds would often meet at Cajon Summit around 2pm (I have several pics that are not uploaded yet. From what I hear (I never rode the wind) the train was usually packed between LA and Vegas but virtually emptey between Vegas and Salt Lake / Ogden. If Amtrak would have focused on Vegas bussiness out of LA there is no doubt it could have been a success, just like the Reno fun trains out of Oakland. But Amtrak dropped the ball on this one. I hear talk about train service to Vegas returning from time to time but nothing ever happens. These days they are talking about a new high speed line that would run down the center of I-15 most of the way, but would only go as far south as Victorville and that would mean from LA you would still have to fight the worst of the traffic in and leaveing the Basin. Not a very attractive plan. I think just like all the other plans this one will die in short order.
It was axed by Amtrak budget cuts and the need to find trains that could be cut without totally emasculating the entire system, a tough thing to do. The other branch of the Zephyr, up to Portland and Seattle, was similarly axed. I rode the old City of LA on the UP at least twice, possibly more, and the Desert Wind several times. At various times its dining service was curtailed in the interest of economy. It certianly served a useful function as a scenic alternative Chi - LA to the Southwest Limited. I understand that the UP is nearly at capacity on the Salt Lake City - LA line now, so restoration might not be all that easy.
My family rode the Desert Wind alot of Times, it was one of the best trains amtrak had. We always Take the Sleeping Car on are Trips Amtrak. The Desert Wind always a Full train all the time with 2 or 3 Sleeping Car, 4 Coaches, Diner, Lounge Car, Dorm Car, and Baggage Car. We rode alot of Times to Las Vegas and LA. I wish Amtrak Brings back the Desert Wind Sometime in Future. I really miss that Train alot.[:D][8D]
That must have been a different era. I have seen 100s of Desert Winds in the 90s and it never had more then 4-5 cars tops and ran with as little as 3 cars.
That train always had on 6 to 10 Cars from the 80s into 90s when amtrak cut the train in 1997.
I respectfully disagree. I have many pictures taken 91’ to 96’ and they are 4-5 cars at the most.
This is the only one I have uploaded.
Again the train ran with 6 to 10 Cars They are in Railnews Maz Back in 90s before they went of Business plus I have amtrak post card with Desert Wind with 6 cars.[:)]
Well I’m not saying I don’t believe you. If you say there have been 10 cars then I’ll take your word for it. I’m just saying the normal consist was only 4-5 cars. I will try and post some more pictures of the Wind tommarrow.
Here are a couple more Desert Wind shots.
OK this one has 6 cars but one is a PV and doesn’t count.[;)]
I took the Desert Wind out of LAUPT once on the return part of a cross country trip. I remember them telling people they could run into Vegas to pull a few slots, but be aware that if they weren’t back they WOULD leave them. My most vivid memory is waking up as part of the California Zephyr and seeing my formerly small train had turned into a MASSIVE train. One look out the window on a curve confirmed this.
I remember the CZ/Desert Wind/Pioneer Concest was as of 1995 was
3 F40’s
3-5 MHC
1 Baggage
1 Coach-Dorm
2 Sleepers
2 Coaches
1 Diner
1 Lounge
2-3 Coaches
1 Sleeper
2 Coaches
1 Diner
2 Sleepers
1 Coach CHI-DEN
Nice Pictures Chad.[:D][8D]
I think that the confusion lies in the fact that the Desert Wind westbound out of Chicago was part of a three-train consolidation, not unlike UP in the late 1960’s. The only part of the route where the Desert Wind operated separately was between Salt Lake and Los Angeles.
I dug up a few more Desert Wind photos. I can’t say exact dates but they were all taken between 91’ and 95’.
Here is an eastbound aproaching Summit.
Here east meets west exactly at Summit. Back in those days about 1-2 pm would be dead on the pass till the Winds went by then the floodgates would open. It made for a good opertunity to run down to the Silverwood store and get lunch.
Here is a westbound with 2 F40PHs up front.
Here is an eastbound at Swarthout Canyon Rd.
Conrailman, can you post your pictures?
I ever Post Pictures before, how do you do that? What kind Computer Stuff you need to post Pictures? If don’t have Stuff, I will try post Pictures at my Friends House this Week sometime.