i don't know why they canceled this route. They stated low ridership on it. But i rode it several times (Portland to Denver), and it was packed every single time!
I heard they’re gonna restore Amtrak Pioneer route soon. I hope they go through Wyoming cause it’s fantastic to see out there and I want to take the train through there.
Unfortunately, Amtrak didn't have enough Superliners to run the Pioneer, Desert Wind, and Zephyr. By the time the Pioneer and Desert Wind were cut, the Zephyr was running 4x a week, while the Pioneer and Desert Wind ran 3x a week. Ultimately, the decision was made to cut the Pioneer and Desert Wind, so the Zephyr could run daily.
I wonder why Amtrak was short of equipment during this time. The Hi Levels had plenty of runtime left and the Superliner II order should have helped a lot to alleviate the shortage. Worst case scenario, they could have kept heritage sleepers and the Hi Levels, using them for routes that wouldn’t have Superliners available. The Viewliners would make the heritage sleepers surplus, so they could easily be used on other routes with Hi Levels.
Because there weren't enough Trans Dorms for all routes and the top of the Hi-Level Transition Cars were coaches instead of sleepers. The Viewliners were going into service at this time, but too many routes existed for too few cars.
A classic trip, & thanks for the ride along!
so glad you got those train stations thru Wyoming
i don't know why they canceled this route. They stated low ridership on it. But i rode it several times (Portland to Denver), and it was packed every single time!
Cool I wish Amtrak’s pioneer could come back in service In the near future
man I remember watching this train roll by when I was a kid.
Wow, amazing footage!
Too bad Wyoming and Idaho don’t have rail service.
Wow Amazing!
mice video--now i get to see what Amtrak was using back in 1997
They are trying to bring back the Desert Wind and the Pioneer.
there's been attempts trying to bring it back but it's not likely to return anytime soon.
Thanks for posting this Jim.
I heard they’re gonna restore Amtrak Pioneer route soon. I hope they go through Wyoming cause it’s fantastic to see out there and I want to take the train through there.
Unfortunately, Amtrak didn't have enough Superliners to run the Pioneer, Desert Wind, and Zephyr. By the time the Pioneer and Desert Wind were cut, the Zephyr was running 4x a week, while the Pioneer and Desert Wind ran 3x a week. Ultimately, the decision was made to cut the Pioneer and Desert Wind, so the Zephyr could run daily.
nice video
I wonder why Amtrak was short of equipment during this time. The Hi Levels had plenty of runtime left and the Superliner II order should have helped a lot to alleviate the shortage. Worst case scenario, they could have kept heritage sleepers and the Hi Levels, using them for routes that wouldn’t have Superliners available. The Viewliners would make the heritage sleepers surplus, so they could easily be used on other routes with Hi Levels.
Because there weren't enough Trans Dorms for all routes and the top of the Hi-Level Transition Cars were coaches instead of sleepers. The Viewliners were going into service at this time, but too many routes existed for too few cars.