While I was standing in line for the snack bar on the train tonight, we pulled into Martinez. And at one point while we were stopped, an Amtrak Superliner passed us, and I observed all the nicely labeled cars, such as "Sleeping Car," and "Sightseer Lounge", and "Coach".
And one of the cars of that Amtrak Superliner was labeled "Smoking Coach" (Well, more accurately, the bottom half of a car was labeled Smoking Coach, while the top half was labeled "Coach")
Now, Amtrak California has a pretty serious No Smoking policy. When the train stops at a some of the longer stops (such as Stockton or Fresno), they'll allow people to get off and have a quick smoke, but that's it.
Based on the Superliner's "Smoking Coach", it seems that this no smoking policy has something to do with California's no smoking laws rather than being an Amtrak policy. And that's fine by me.
But it does kind of make me wonder what happens to a Superliner's Smoking Coach when that Superliner enters California? Does that Smoking Coach suddenly become "Smells of Stale Smoke Coach"? I wonder how train passengers who had been enjoying a Smoking Coach feel when the Superliner enters California? And there are other questions I could spell out for you, but I'm sure you get the idea.