Rhett Ross Albert I have a high presumption that Amtrak personnel have specifically been placing #8306 mid-consist as just another coach in recent years and likely continuing into the future. I’ve seen this a handful of times when I was able to catch #8306, but they’ve all been with #8306 in mid-consist and never with it as the functioning CabCar. I also haven’t been able to find any recent videos with #8306 leading within the last two years or so. I can only assume that it might be the loudness of the P5 horn that is on #8306 from complaints of the crew, or possibly other technical / mechanical problems involving the CabCar operation functioning properly on #8306. Again, these are all just personal observations, but a highly likely presumption of what’s going on operationally. I do however hope someday I’ll be able to catch it leading, that’s for sure ! Haha.
Well, recently, the exact same thing has been happening to 8304 as well, which has a Raised Letter K5LA. So, we can safely rule out the issue having anything to do with the P5, which is fortunate.
I grew up at Travis AFB, 1957-63. I was a fan of the SN, and barely paid any attention to the Espee....I would ride my bike down Peabody Rd to Vacaville, ... I think things were a lot slower then.
Xander Rodgers I have a high presumption that Amtrak personnel have specifically been placing #8306 mid-consist as just another coach in recent years and likely continuing into the future. I’ve seen this a handful of times when I was able to catch #8306, but they’ve all been with #8306 in mid-consist and never with it as the functioning CabCar. I also haven’t been able to find any recent videos with #8306 leading within the last two years or so. I can only assume that it might be the loudness of the P5 horn that is on #8306 from complaints of the crew, or possibly other technical / mechanical problems involving the CabCar operation functioning properly on #8306. Again, these are all just personal observations, but a highly likely presumption of what’s going on operationally. I do however hope someday I’ll be able to catch it leading, that’s for sure ! Haha.
Nice video! Though I have riden the Zephyr during the winter, I don’t think it was as short as the one in the video. But then again I rode it nearly 4 years ago so I can’t quite recall.
Average_ Joe Thanks ! Yes, unfortunately under current Amtrak management, some coach cars are removed from the consist if the demand isn’t warranted as a measure to save costs. It was only up until last year or so that the California Zephyr was still running with a total of 8 Superliner cars plus the baggage car.
