A Dirty CZ

[Midlands Steve]

Last month, my sister and her husband took a rail tour from Chicago to San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and return. Most people on the tour were seniors. Leaving Chicago, the sleeper they occupied on the CZ was filthy--the floors had not been vacuumed nor were the windows washed. Food had been dropped onto the floor by previous passengers. Equipment was old and battered. By the time the train reached the Rockies, it was almost impossible for passengers to take any photos (in the sightseer lounge) because the windows were so dirty. It seems like the train could have been washed somewhere, but it never was. Many irate passengers vowed never to use Amtrak again. Why would a train leave its origin in this condition and who gets the blame?

[Backshophoss]

Seems like they short turned the consist at Chicago and bypassed the car washer,hopefully the car attendant reported to their boss the cars were not cleaned.

[electricron]

When I have ridden the Zephyr, they wash the windows during the long stop in Denver. Don’t they do that anymore?
https://youtu.be/1NZ6MFnK1Pg

[Backshophoss]

Would not surprise me if the window washing was canned by Mr Anderson,the SW Chief would get a wash from a Forklift mounted power brush
at ABQ service stop.
That has been discontinued as well.

[bubbytrains]

When we rode the CZ to California in March, they washed the windows in Denver during our stop there.
A.S.

[chuchubob]

When I rode the eastbound Zephyr from California a couple weeks ago they washed the windows in Denver.

[Amtrak706]

Rode the SWC and CZ this August. At ABQ, the windows were washed, but with a hand held brush on a pole and only on one side of the train. Snatching a defeat from the jaws of victory as Amtrak does so well, they managed to use a dirty brush which ended up smearing more grime around then there was before. We got in early so they weren't rushing or anything - not to suggest that Amtrak ever does make an effort to make up time.

On the Zephyr, the windows got the same treatment at Denver but the brush was clean and they did both sides.

[mmi16]

Would not surprise me if the window washing was canned by Mr Anderson,the SW Chief would get a wash from a Forklift mounted power brush
at ABQ service stop.
That has been discontinued as well.

You can't run off passengers if they can actually see what they expect to see on their journey.

[JimBoylan]

Are there any more car wash water spray nozzles at the ends of Mofat Tunnel?

[bratkinson]

One of my reasons for always taking a lower roomette on Superliner equipped trains is that I can wash my own window as needed at any stop where the platform is on the same side as my roomette. I've washed the windows in both doors at stops as well.