Memory check (mine)

[Rich Murray]

It seems to me that in prior years when the passenger count didn't justify double heading the total number of cars was 7 (3 coaches, 1 concession, 1 gon, 2 premium), with 8 cars once in a while.
This year it seems 8 cars are the norm.

[Jack Spencer]

It seems to me that in prior years when the passenger count didn't justify double heading the total number of cars was 7 (3 coaches, 1 concession, 1 gon, 2 premium), with 8 cars once in a while.
This year it seems 8 cars are the norm.

Maybe it is because either rider numbers have been greater than last year, subsequently an 8th coach would be needed if the rider total meant that more than 7 cars are required; or because the Dalton (#517) has been downgraded to a spare coach with the entry into service of the Big Horn II (#524), thus one of the sets would remain at 8 cars.

[Sharon Evans]

As they rebuild some of the older coaches to resemble the newer ones, they planned to increase the coaches to 4 on the trains. The set that went out this morning as 216 had one of the rebuilt coaches on it.

[Rich Murray]

My question is, "are there truly more 8 car trains this year versus prior years or is my memory playing tricks on me?"
I understand that if there were more 8 car trains that would be because there were more passengers. (Cause/affect) That is the good thing that I'd like to substantiate.