Looking at this photo again. I get the impression it is not very roomy, for legs. See at left how close are their knees. And how close to the wall/windows, that the one fellow must put his foot up on the sill to stretch out just a bit.
Saturday's northbound Silver Star ran 8-1/2 hours late, so I staked out this rare spot at Lugoff, SC where I could capture the entire train without trees blocking the view. I was happy with the gray overcast, as I'd have been shooting into the sun otherwise. Normal train time here is 4:30 AM. Recently, Amtrak removed the Silver Meteor from the ACL main and combined it with the Star's train on the SAL, creating a "Super Star" as named by fans. The Star's small consist of one unit and cars has grown nicely. I think the merging of the trains is a test. The ACL main continues to be served by the Palmetto, a convenient daytime run. We're 330 miles from the SAL's northernmost point at Richmond, VA.
Does the combined train now run as one from point of origin to terminal? Or does it split at some point, much like the Empire Builder?
With Amtrak's website no longer providing timetables in pdf format or displayed, I'm not sure. Nowadays, all you get is this -- an invitation to "Create your personalized timetable". ATK is of firm belief that the sole interest of passengers is getting from A to B, without any interest in what lays between. Maybe in this modern era, they're right.
Not as much leg room as a standard coach seat but it is adequate for most folks. You usually have to stand up to let someone next to you out. Kind of cosy but after all it is a train. Historically "non revenue" cars were not meant for people hang out for long periods of time so they did not want them to get too comfortable. Those seat backs are still much higher than most lounge seats in heritage equipment. I guess you were suppose to mingle a little and then move on.
Temple, Texas in March of 1990. The Texas Eagle on its way from San Antonio to Chicago pulls into the old Santa Fe depot. Scruffy looking F40PH. An ex Santa Fe Hi-Level transition car.
Best I can find, it is rostered as a Coach/Baggage car so seems like you are right on the money Kurt.
Amtrak's short-lived Gulf Breeze on the former L&N at Letohatchie, AL, July 1990. It ran between Birmingham and Mobile.
