Amtrak has returned one of its stored Viewliner I sleeping cars to service — and introduced a new passenger-car variant of the Phase VII locomotive paint scheme at the same time.
Sleeper No. 62032, the Iroquois River, was caught by photographer Nathan Richters on the southbound Floridian at Fredericksburg, Va., on Saturday, Dec. 14. The car — which had been stored at Amtrak’s Beech Grove (Ind.) Heavy Maintenance facility since 2021, according to information obtained by Trains News Wire — was released and moved from Beech Grove to Chicago on the Cardinal on Dec. 12. It is believed to be the first of the Viewliner I cars to receive a full overhaul, since none were budgeted in fiscal years 2022-24. Sixteen of the Viewliner I cars were listed as inactive earlier this year [see “Amtrak may be planning to combine …,” Trains News Wire, July 10, 2024].
Why were 16 V1s still in storage as of this date? I support the “get a move on it” statement. And you guys tend to think WAY too big. Combining trains is ridiculous because Amtrak can barely run them as they are. The equipment that exists now cannot realistically be stretched any further. If we get all new equipment by 2039, then come back and say combine runs.
Fresh off #40 this morning, and I would’ve certainly appreciated an ‘Updated” Bedroom experience in V1 4010 … broken bed would not stay reclined, roof leak soiled all linen (incl. mattress), etc. Room “condemned”, then moved to V1 4010 H from NC to WVA, then roomette in V2 4011 from WVA to IL … H was the better experience!
The combination of the ‘Silver Star’ and the ‘Capitol’ should inspire the combination of the New York – New Orleans ‘Crescent’ and the New Orleans – Los Angeles ‘Sunset Limited’. The combined New York – Los Angeles train would be named “Sunset Limited” and retain train numbers “1&2” to continue the heritage of the oldest continuously operated named train. The ‘Sunset Limited’ becomes a daily train again on its original New Orleans – Los Angeles segment.
Equipment will be of the ‘Crescent’ with additional single-level train sets to cover the longer operation. Meanwhile, Superliner cars assigned to the ‘Sunset Limited’ are freed for other western trains. Simultaneously, the Chicago – San Antonio ‘Texas Eagle’ can be restored to a full-service long distance train with single-level cars in order to continue through sleeping car and coach service to/from Los Angeles.
Schedule adjustments would be necessary to circumvent a long layover in New Orleans as is currently the case for passengers changing between the ‘Crescent’ and the ‘Sunset Limited’.
Classy photo of the refreshed Viewliner 1 “first class sleeper”.
Dr. Güntürk Üstün
Was this just a paint and wrap job or did they upgrade the View 1 to View 2 standards removing the johns from the roomettes and creating a common bathroom in one of the rooms?
Why is that an upgrade? I think it’s a downgrade, harking back to section sleepers with a big washroom at the end. I think the toilets were eliminated on the V2’s to save money on plumbing, not upgrade the experience.
Superliner roomettes don’t have a hopper so no reason to have them in Viewliners, right?
15 to go would add one sleeper to each LD single level train except Cardinal with none as spare/
So….by this math, 70 sleepers would add FOUR to each train with 10 spares.
Nice. Exercising the 70 car option on the Viewliner 2 order would have been nice too.
One down and fifteen to go. AMTRAK: let’s get a move on on this!!!