Has anyone done any research on passenger (pax) preferences concerning coach accomodations? I am trying to write up a customer service survey question addressing the matter. Or, does anyone have any anecdotal evidence concerning the preference for open coaches versus air conditioned coaches?

My instincts tell me whether one wants to really and truly "turn back the hands of time" will vary by season, trip length, and target market of the trip....but I am not sure.

We have all seen pax on mostly AC equipment vote as to a preference by crowding vestibules with dutch doors, and standing two-deep in the available doorways of baggage cars serving as souvenir cars. Then, I also can recall wintertime trips in east Tennessee (Santa Special on the Clinchfield) wherein you couldn't have given away a dutch door position to more than four or five on the whole train!

I would highly value any comments and discussion from my RyPN colleagues.

http://www.rtms-movietrains.com
amiller@rtms-movietrains.com

Art,

Like everything in life, It depends.

I've seen riders turn up their noses at reasonably priced first class accommodations with A/C in favor of open window cars for a 20-minute yard shuffle behind steam. And I've seen them go for flats with tarps on them in Arizona's heat while an A/C car was right next door in the same diesel-powered train set.

My own personal perference: I like fresh air but I also like to try to sample different cars, especially ones I've never been on before. But if it's a hot July day and the trip is diesel, I might just duck into a chilly lounge car.

Good luck on the survey.. I'm afraid you may be researching an individual personal prefernce that is beyond a gauge with an accurate reading.

Jim


http://nctrans.org
Wrinnbo@aol.com

If possible, try to offer both!

For us, trying to keep additional heating and electrical systems going is not possible at this time.

Jim

Jim@psrm.org

I went for a trip on the Royal Gorge and when the train started its run I was the only person out in the open. The rest of the passngers didn't take very long to realise that the best views were to be had from the open cars. I had already bagged the best spot.....

G

gavin@hamilton.powernet.co.uk

> I went for a trip on the Royal Gorge and
> when the train started its run I was the
> only person out in the open. The rest of the
> passngers didn't take very long to realise
> that the best views were to be had from the
> open cars. I had already bagged the best
> spot.....

> G
On the Royal Hudson steam runs on BC Rail, the open car Mt. Garibaldi was always full as were the dutch doors in the vestibule of each coach. All of the coaches were air conditioned. It seems that the chance to enjoy the open air, the steam locomotive and the scenery was too great of a draw to keep passengers inside the coaches. This was true even on our rainy west coast days. At the very least one should provide good ventilation in the coaches with as many air changes per hour as your system will deliver.


gandmferguson@shaw.ca

I remember riding in open window coaches on the New York Central. This is not a great experience behind a coal burning steam engine at track speed. On the other hand, today I will choose a vestibule on a steam run, just for the photo ops. Got goggles for myself but none for the cameras.

Fitz's Steam Railfan page
fitzrr@pioneer.net

Just had a travel writer from the Connecticut Post ride with us and do a nice article. Caption on the front-page photo of coach interior says "The train features restored coaches from the 1920s with windows that actually open."

In the northeast, we have a/c commuter trains and plenty 'o Amtrak. Many of our passengers have ridden those trains, and I think the expectation is that they are coming to experience an "old" train, and the open windows help that enhance that experience. When asked if the train is air conditioned, some of our conductors will explain very seriously that we have "40-25 air conditioning". "What's that?" "40 open windows at 25 mph", they are told with a smile (gotta love that dry Yankee humour!).

HP
(an HVAC contractor in real life)

Railroad Museum of New England
hpincus@mindspring.com

Another factor with A/C cars is your average tourist RR needs HEP to make A/C work account average train speed isn't enough to keep batteries charged using historical systems.



Electric City Trolley Museum Association