Were the "good old days" really better than today? I've found that when looking back upon the past, memories of better things are what tend to live on over time. I suppose it's only natural, but it can be easy to get tricked into thinking everything was better in the past (especially when talking to railroaders and railfans). As far as crew accommodations go, I'd say things are better today. This is Room E of Amtrak Baggage Dorm 1621, former SAL 6051/SCL 5023, originally built as this car type. It slept up to four in rooms C, D, E and F, and back in they days of making everything in the Diner from scratch, you can be sure these rooms were full. Do you always get along with your coworkers? How about liking them well enough to have a sleep over with them every night? The days of sharing rooms are long gone, and now onboard crew members each get their own room with accommodations equivalent to paying customers. This particular car's career ended after being involved in the 1994 derailment of the Lake Shore Limited near Batavia, NY, but sister cars continued in service until 1996.
