by jhdeasy
This past weekend, the Lancaster & Chester Railway conducted a mainline (Amtrak) shakedown cruise for their newly refurbished business car GOLDEN TOWER (800797). GOLDEN TOWER was built by Pullman Standard in 1954 for Rock Island as a center bedroom sleeper for assignment to the Golden State. All rooms have been removed; the car now has a kitchen and bar in the center, with dining/lounge areas on either side. Large observation windows have been cut into the blind end of the car. The crew at L&C Railway's passenger car shop did a fine job on this car.
The plan was to go north, CLT to WAS, on train 80 on Friday 3/23, spend Friday and Saturday night parked at Washington Union Station, and go home, WAS to CLT, on train 79 on Sunday 3/25. This would provide 958 miles of mainline running at speeds up to 79 MPH for the shakedown trip.
All went well thru Saturday morning. While the passengers and crew were out sightseeing in our nation's capitol, someone at Washington Union Station misread the transportation notice, pulled the car off track 30 and put it on the head end of Amtrak 79 bound for Charlotte -- the day before it was supposed to move.
Thru a coincidence of good luck, another private car owner happened to see it pass thru Alexandria, with blinds closed and vestibule doors wide open on both sides. That car owner made a quick call to an L&C Railway official, who confirmed that there was no change in plans and someone at Amtrak had indeed made a big mistake.
A call to Amtrak Operations found them equally shocked at the mistake that had been made. Although they could have apologized for their mistake and said there wasnt anything they could do now, MUCH TO THEIR CREDIT Amtrak Operations took immediate action. Train 79 was directed to setout the car during its stop at Richmond, to park the car on shore power at the Richmond station; train 80 was directed to pickup the car at Richmond and bring it back to Washington that evening. Car and owners were reunited about 6:45 PM Saturday evening at Washington Union Station.
The rest of the shakedown trip was uneventful.
No charge for the additional unplanned 218 miles and switching in The Old Dominion!
The plan was to go north, CLT to WAS, on train 80 on Friday 3/23, spend Friday and Saturday night parked at Washington Union Station, and go home, WAS to CLT, on train 79 on Sunday 3/25. This would provide 958 miles of mainline running at speeds up to 79 MPH for the shakedown trip.
All went well thru Saturday morning. While the passengers and crew were out sightseeing in our nation's capitol, someone at Washington Union Station misread the transportation notice, pulled the car off track 30 and put it on the head end of Amtrak 79 bound for Charlotte -- the day before it was supposed to move.
Thru a coincidence of good luck, another private car owner happened to see it pass thru Alexandria, with blinds closed and vestibule doors wide open on both sides. That car owner made a quick call to an L&C Railway official, who confirmed that there was no change in plans and someone at Amtrak had indeed made a big mistake.
A call to Amtrak Operations found them equally shocked at the mistake that had been made. Although they could have apologized for their mistake and said there wasnt anything they could do now, MUCH TO THEIR CREDIT Amtrak Operations took immediate action. Train 79 was directed to setout the car during its stop at Richmond, to park the car on shore power at the Richmond station; train 80 was directed to pickup the car at Richmond and bring it back to Washington that evening. Car and owners were reunited about 6:45 PM Saturday evening at Washington Union Station.
The rest of the shakedown trip was uneventful.
No charge for the additional unplanned 218 miles and switching in The Old Dominion!
