6 replies to this topic

[gary99]

Hello all, I have just found this website, and it takes me back to those great days of Prodigy BB's. Thanks for setting this up. Thought I would start a new topic as the last one was sounding like a script from Grumpy Old Men! We are taking Train #2 in a couple weeks and are very excited about it. Having grown up taking train rides, mainly the Panama Limited in the 60's, this will be my second train ride since childhood. A couple years ago my wife and I took the Empire Builder and had a great time. We had a standard bedroom, but this time we will be stretching out in the deluxe bedrm. Our plan is to go from LAX to Tallahassee and then fly back home here in OKC. Had a question- We are in car 231. Does this number indicate where we are in the consist? The 2, I gather, may be the train number. Anyone with experience on this train? I'm sure it will be late, etc. but don't care. We're going to have a fine time relaxing on the rails. Gary in Oklahoma City

[ICGsteve]

Welcome aboard Gary. I for one am not grumpy nor old. Nor am I a member of the Amtrak Cheerleading Squad. The power of positive thinking will not help amtrak, it needs powerfull people coming to the conclusion that we as a nation have no choice but to support and expand Amtrak. I have not been on this train since 88, but I can tell you that it is a wonderfull journey. The train will be late as the line from LA to Elpaso is clogged with trains, and once the Sunset gets late it tends to get increasingly jammed up. I have on many occasions seen this train sitting waiting for trains ahead of it to clear the line. Have a great trip.

[gary99]

Hi Steve, thanks for the note. Surely the ICG in your name is from the railroad? What is your connection? My father was a sales manager for the IC and later the ICG, and that was my ticket to ride during my youth. Did you work for them? Gary

[ICGsteve]

I grew up living in a house overlooking the ICG Iowa division, and made well over fifty trips on the Blackhawk on that line. During this time AMtrak was crewwed by the railroad, and I got to know many ICG men who were based in Freeport. My Father ran a non profit tour group who's goal was to get people on the Blackhawk through one of our trips, and then like it so much that they would ride on their own. We did this for many years, running trips for sporting events, ice shows, and theater. During this time I was the beverage manager (Amtrak let us bring beer,soda and wine plus breakfast for the trip in), got to know the Chicago marketing people, and some of the operations people. During the overlay in Chicago I was allowed to stay with our stuff on the train in the coach yard, so I got to spend many an afternoon watching how Amtrak Chicago operated.

[KevinKorell]

Welcome, Gary, or should I say, welcome back. I assure you we're not grumpy old men, just friendly railfans with slightly differing opinions. That leads to discussion, which is what a forum or bulletin board is all about. If everyone agreed on everything, the need to post responses here would be moot. Your trip on the SUNSET LIMITED sounds interesting. Hopefully your ride will be satisfactory! Whatever you experience, please let us know about your trip when you get home. There are guidelines in the pinned note at the top of this forum that explain how you can submit a trip report for inclusion on our OTOL website. And also since you are now a member, you can participate on our member mileage tally, reporting your mileage to increase our group total of AMTRAK mileage travelled over the calendar year.

[AlanB]

Had a question- We are in car 231. Does this number indicate where we are in the consist? The 2, I gather, may be the train number. Anyone with experience on this train? I'm sure it will be late, etc. but don't care. We're going to have a fine time relaxing on the rails.

Gary,

Welcome aboard!

Now to answer your question, the 2 indeed does represent the train number. The 31 is the car number assigned to each car in that train and indicates its postion within the consist. This number should not be confused with the painted inventory numbers on the sides of all cars. The number 231 will appear in a small variable display right next to the door of each coach & sleeper.

Sleepers are numbered with the lowest number (230), closest to the diner. So you would be in the second sleeper from the diner and the next car forward would be the crew dorm. The coaches will be on the far side of the diner and the Sightseer lounge car and furthest from the engines.

Your ticket should also show a letter (A - E), which indicates the deluxe bedroom that you've been assigned. Should you wish to get a feel for the sleeping car and your bedroom's location within that car, please click here for a diagram of the car. You can also take a virtual tour of the deluxe bedrooms from the Amtrak site here.

[gary99]

Thanks Alan for the note on car numbers. And glad I got you other guys all stirred up!! I'll send in a trip report in a few weeks when we get back. Gary