The first time I saw this - I just figured it was a "Cab Car deadhead move" from the Springfield Line to Washington DC. But then I noticed this again tonight - Thursday 12/14.
The Vermonter had a cab car in its consist, but the "Cab" was not facing in the right way for it to be used for push-pull operation. That's the best I can describe it. In addition, the coach had its lights on, but was not being used. Didn't count the number of cars in the consist of the Vermonter this evening, Thursday 12/14. I know over Labor Day weekend it was certainly short cars, but Amtrak did find a car to add to the southbound run at New Haven.
So what is going on with this cab car observation I am noticing?
As an FYI - I've seen the Vermonter run Cab Car first from Palmer, MA to New Haven, to eliminate the "over-powering" of this trainset by putting two Genesis units on both ends for the reverse move necessary at Palmer. That's why I laugh when this is brought up as an excuse for the Vermonter to be turned into a DMU trainset.
But again, the Cab Car this evening (and the other time I noticed it) was facing in towards the trainset, AND adjacent to the Business/Cafe car. Vermonter operates with a 1/2 business and 1/2 cafe car for reference. So event the positioning for it to be used as a revenue coach, let alone cab car makes no sense.
Am I just catching the Vermonter on off days when Cab Cars are being dead-headed from say the Springfield Line to Washington DC for maintenance purposes (at DC or Delaware shops). Then again, aren't the Cab Cars mostly maintained at New Haven?
And of course there's reports that Cab Cars in short supply dur to their new assignment now on the Keystone Line. Perhaps Amtrak needs more de-motorized F-40s (i.e. Cabbages, NPCU cars or whatever they are called).
So...confused.....with these Vermonter observations. I thought the Vermonter converted back to using 2 Genesis units after reading those articles about how the Vermonter is over-powered and would be ideal for a DMU trainset. Not in support of that by the way.