Anyone know what sort of car consist the Southwest Chief normally runs with? Thanks! Mike C Phoenix Az
superliners usually in the following order locos baggage car transition sleeper sleeper sleeper diner sightseer lounge coach coach coach that's how it was for the 4times that I've caught the train, as always open to comment
I recently took the Southwest Chief from Chicago to LA about a month ago. Sten's consist order is correct. I'll add that the Chief has 3 locos on the front. In my case the were all running elephant style. We were also dead heading a 4th coach at the end of the train back to LA it seemed.
yes, 3 locos does seem to be the norm now. if this is for modelling purposes, then in the mail and express days, 4 locos was the norm for the climb over Raton and Cajon (depending on direction of travel) Once when I was on it they picked up the 4th at La Junta Co for the run over Raton pass. the last time we picked up 2 F59PHI's at Williams Jcnt - they had been used to move some stuff to the Grand Canyon RR so the loco lash up was 2 F59's and 3 P42's sweet
Certainly has changed since 2000 when I rode all the way to LA. We stopped just outside Chicago Union Sta. to pick up the rail-trailers and MHC's which were tied on the rear. I was so surprised by the rough riding just about all the way except where train had to slow to 35 mph or so in New Mexico and other places; one jolt at night near Gallup caused catsup and sauce bottles to slide off tables and break on floor of diner; had to wait for stops to exit upper berth safely. Going to diner a lurch of train caused me to fall against my wife; she still complains of shoulder pain although may be of other causes. My verdict was too high a speed in too many places. If I were Amtrak I think I would eliminate the train in favor of Denver-Albuquerque-El Paso service and re-route the KC-LA trade through Denver, Ogden, and Las Vegas. An Auto-Train could run Chicago-Grand Canyon (have seen this latter proposal elsewhere).
Certainly has changed since 2000 when I rode all the way to LA. We stopped just outside Chicago Union Sta. to pick up the rail-trailers and MHC's which were tied on the rear. I was so surprised by the rough riding just about all the way except where train had to slow to 35 mph or so in New Mexico and other places; one jolt at night near Gallup caused catsup and sauce bottles to slide off tables and break on floor of diner; had to wait for stops to exit upper berth safely. Going to diner a lurch of train caused me to fall against my wife; she still complains of shoulder pain although may be of other causes. My verdict was too high a speed in too many places. If I were Amtrak I think I would eliminate the train in favor of Denver-Albuquerque-El Paso service and re-route the KC-LA trade through Denver, Ogden, and Las Vegas. An Auto-Train could run Chicago-Grand Canyon (have seen this latter proposal elsewhere). James E. Bradley Hawk Mountain Chapter N.R.H.S.
I seriously can't see Amtrak getting rid of the SW Chief, if they won't can the Sunset they definately won't can the Chief. Everytime I've been on that train (5 times all the way) it's been pretty much a full train.
