Originally Posted by
zephyr17
The onboard service crew for 7 & 8 is based in Seattle, and 27 & 28 is based in Chicago.
The main maintenance base for the train is Chicago, where it lays over overnight.
7's consist arriving in the morning in Seattle is turned to go out as 8 that afternoon. A new onboard service crew goes out with it. 27s consist arriving in the morning in Portland is turned to to go out that afternoon as 28. I think the incoming OBS crew still overnights in Portland as their "away" terminal, and the previous day's 27 crew goes out on 28.
If the westbound trains arrive late, the eastbound trains' departures may be delayed. If the westbound train is severely late, the still-combined consist is frequently held and turned in Spokane, and passengers bustituted between Seattle/Portland and Spokane.
That sounds exactly like what the sleeper attendant told me. Also, we were bussed this morning from Everett to Seattle because of a mudslide and BSNF won't allow passengers on the track for 48 hours. After the passengers were off loaded, the train and crew continued on to Seattle. I'm heading back to Chicago tonight and they are going to bus us to Everett to catch the train.