Dome Car on CN this morning - what did I miss?

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This morning while waiting for my train to work, a South Shore (NICTD) pulled in to my station. While it was stopping for alighting passengers a fast train sped by soutbound - to fast for freight and just after the CONO would head north if just a tad light. However, over the top of the SS I spotted a Dome Car whizzing by, speeding on to points south - anybody know what that would have been? I think only the Illinois Service trains go by during AM hours (CONO southbound is in the evening) on the CN tracks.
 
The dome is in Carbondale, just saw it pull in about an hour ago. How does one know its schedule? Would really like to take a ride.
 
It was the Amtrak Dome for sure, was back again the next day,

.Comes in on 391 and returns to Chicago on 392. Have not checked for it the last few days.
 
What a strange route, scenery-wise, to run that car.....but it would be great to ride it, wherever it goes..... :)

On second thought, maybe it's a good idea to run it on all the various routes it can be used on, just to drum up some railfan ridership, and expose it to other passenger's who have never ridden a dome, as well....
 
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I agree. We have had it here before on this route, always about this time of year. They do not advertise it anywhere that I am aware of. Does anyone know where I could find the schedule?
 
Dome is back in Carbondale today. Would love to ride if it was on 390 in the morning and back on 393. Have done that a few times, nice day trip.
 
I saw the train from a different angle/side (it was hitting the mainline, sort of, just north of McCormick Place where it leaves the St. Charles airline and goes over MED on the trestle underneath McPlace). It was heading south this morning - it's the "Ocean View" Dome Car and bringing up the rear of the train was a Northeast Regional car.
 
Thats the Saluki, 391. That Northeast Regional has been on there for awhile.
 
Once, if, Dubuque and Galena service gets going a dome on that route would be good, since that is, in fact, scenic and would get a lot of tourist traffic out from Chicago.
 
This is the Great Dome, right? Why does Amtrak not publicize these runs just a bit more (maybe with a "Great Dome" page on one of its tangle of sites listing where it is/will be running)?
 
Yes, the Great Dome. Has been running from Chicago to Carbondale and back for awile. That is the same question i have, why don't they tell us what the schedule is. If you are in Chicago it would make a great day trip.
 
The dome was added to the Carbondale service to help meet a recently-imposed operational requirement from host CN. CN is requiring that Amtrak run minimum seven car trains in order to permit full track speed operation. The claim is that grade crossing detection has not been reliable with shorter trains at maximum track speed (79mph). Amtrak is scrounging any and all available equipment to meet that requirement, including use of the dome. I do not know if the dome is open or just along for the ride.

This CN requirement is also being claimed as a reason for the shortened long distance train consists. Amtrak has diverted some long distance Superliners to the other Carbondale train in order to meet the seven car requirement. This included adding two Superliner sleepers to at least one recent consist (not open). Note that the only Superliner long distance train that was not shortened was the City of New Orleans. It operates on CN and must also meet the seven-car minimum length.

Now, the obvious question is why is only CN's detection an issue with short consists? I have no answer. Is it possible that CN is playing hardball with Amtrak as a result of Amtrak's STB filing against them? I can't say for sure, but the dots do sort of connect.
 
CN appears to have seriously defective grade crossing signals. This grade crossing business came up quite a long time back. I think the requirement was "28 axles" at the time, which would be 1 locomotive and 6 cars. (Has it been upped from that to 32 now?) This predated Amtrak's STB complaint, and was actually probably one of the causes of the complaint...

CN has refused to repair or upgrade its grade crossings to work properly.

I know BNSF has imposed a 6-axle requirement on some lines, but a 28-axle requirement is bizarre. It really indicates defective grade crossing equipment.
 
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That would suck if you could not ride in the Dome! Yesterday i did notice a few people in it coming into Carbondale. I doubt that they need six cars much less seven. It has never been anywhere near full when I have been on it.
 
The dome was added to the Carbondale service to help meet a recently-imposed operational requirement from host CN. CN is requiring that Amtrak run minimum seven car trains in order to permit full track speed operation. The claim is that grade crossing detection has not been reliable with shorter trains at maximum track speed (79mph). Amtrak is scrounging any and all available equipment to meet that requirement, including use of the dome. I do not know if the dome is open or just along for the ride.

This CN requirement is also being claimed as a reason for the shortened long distance train consists. Amtrak has diverted some long distance Superliners to the other Carbondale train in order to meet the seven car requirement. This included adding two Superliner sleepers to at least one recent consist (not open). Note that the only Superliner long distance train that was not shortened was the City of New Orleans. It operates on CN and must also meet the seven-car minimum length.

Now, the obvious question is why is only CN's detection an issue with short consists? I have no answer. Is it possible that CN is playing hardball with Amtrak as a result of Amtrak's STB filing against them? I can't say for sure, but the dots do sort of connect.
The CN minimum axle requirement predates Amtrak's STB filing. I believe it resulted from some kind of grade crossing accident in Michigan. Rather that fix its gates, CN just made the axle requirement. No other railroad has such a requirement to my knowledge. It's just a lazy way to show they're proactive on grade crossing accidents without actually having to do anything.
 
Is it possible to ride in the dome?
Yes you can, and it's worth seeking it out. But Amtrak doesn't usually promote it very well except for special runs that are planned and marketed in advance (like running it for fall color viewing on the Adirondack).
 
It would be nice to know how much longer Dome will running on this route. Definitely would book a trip next month if it was still in operation.
 
The reason they don't "promote" the dome, is to avoid disappointment if they don't operate it for some reason...
 
It would be nice to know how much longer Dome will running on this route. Definitely would book a trip next month if it was still in operation.

I would too.
February 22nd is sticking out in my mind for some reason. If I'm wrong, I'll let you know. I should be able to check in by Monday.
 
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Now that would be an interesting day for me to travel that route - not a bad birthday present. :)

Hoosier State is in my upcoming trip list. Short Texas Eagle trip before that. Was hoping to head back out East next month.

But looking less likely.
 
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