As for the Federal, the name, and its Viewliners, aren't going to be returning any time soon.

As someone else had mentioned, I was hoping Amtrak might implement a "run-through" between the Boston Viewliner of the Lake Shore and the Federal (i.e. same day inbound Boston Lake Shore Viewliner being the outbound Viewliner on the Federal). No such thinking - instead no sleepers to Boston any more. Too bad!

From my trip last week on #49(25), I would guess 449 from BOS arrived ALB with as many "faces in the windows, fannies in the seats" as did 49 from NYP. I recall several parties boarding the NY sleepers @ ALB account no space in the Boston line.

I realize that Amtrak has an obversion to doing what railroads routinely did even in the "bad old days" - switch cars in and out of consists, but at some point in time someone at 60 Mass must recognize that a passenger railroad should be run for the convenience of its passengers, and not its operating department.

Also effective tomorrow, note that Dining service is only offered West of Albany. On my ast trip, I noted they had a seating between NYP-and ALB; now when are those folk i.e. Sleeper passengers originating at ether Penn or Harmon, going to eat?

Possibly the Diner is going to be assigned to crews based in Chicago who will go off duty at Albany. If that be the case, it may not be the "end of the world", as the NY based crews assigned to the Lake Shore have long been noted as being "law unto themselves". I've never been known as a slow eater in this life, but this was the first I have EVER been "run out of" a railroad Dining Car anywhere in the world.