Zephyr Timetable - Omaha and Lincoln, NE

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acelafan

acelafan

Conductor
Joined
May 24, 2009
Messages
1,044
Location
Atlanta, GA
I was recently on the Zephyr, and without a working cell phone for several days, I had plenty of time to study its timetable.

Are Omaha and Lincoln crew change points? I ask because both cities, not separated by any intermediate stops and only 55 miles, list both the arrival and departure times.

I know it's not an absolute rule, but it seems that when an AR and DP time is listed in a LD train timetable odds are that the crew changes at that stop or that some servicing is done.

Is this true for OMA and LNK? I wasn't awake to observe out the window. :giggle:
 
If I recall looking at the crew diagram a while back, the train crew changes at Omaha, having come from Chicago. The engineer changes at Ottumwa, IA and then again at Lincoln. These things interest me as i used to be a crew dispatcher. If anyone knows this to be different, let me know.

About a year and a half ago, having come from the Gathering, I was on the Zephyr and the diagram indicated that the engineer changed at Helper, Utah. We only stopped there that morning going east for about 30 seconds, which would have been a pretty rapid change of engineers. I spoke with the Conductor later and he said that for some time 2 engineers had operated Salt Lake City to Grand Junction, with no change at Helper.
 
I'm pretty sure the only crew change in Omaha is the Conductor and Asst. Conductor. They are Omaha based. Going to CHI and returning back to Omaha the next day. They've been taking applications for the job off and on for about the last year. Most recently last month. The app. always states that you would be based out of Omaha-no relocation required. With that said I think the DEN-OMA crew is Denver based. Getting to Omaha at 5:00 a.m. and then leaving westbound back to Denver at 10:55 or 11:00 p.m. Pretty sure this is correct, but I'm not an Amtrak employ either. Just leave and return to Omaha a few times a year.
 
greatcats said:
If I recall looking at the crew diagram a while back, the train crew changes at Omaha, having come from Chicago. The engineer changes at Ottumwa, IA and then again at Lincoln. These things interest me as i used to be a crew dispatcher. If anyone knows this to be different, let me know.

About a year and a half ago, having come from the Gathering, I was on the Zephyr and the diagram indicated that the engineer changed at Helper, Utah. We only stopped there that morning going east for about 30 seconds, which would have been a pretty rapid change of engineers. I spoke with the Conductor later and he said that for some time 2 engineers had operated Salt Lake City to Grand Junction, with no change at Helper.
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This is entirely accurate.
 
But I do recall several years ago the single engineer crew west of Grand Junction. On one trip, our single engineer had to swap lead locos at soldier Summit in a snowstorm. He brought the conductor forward to assist in the swap. Delayed our trip another hour or so.
 
slither said:
I'm pretty sure the only crew change in Omaha is the Conductor and Asst. Conductor. They are Omaha based. Going to CHI and returning back to Omaha the next day. They've been taking applications for the job off and on for about the last year. Most recently last month. The app. always states that you would be based out of Omaha-no relocation required. With that said I think the DEN-OMA crew is Denver based. Getting to Omaha at 5:00 a.m. and then leaving westbound back to Denver at 10:55 or 11:00 p.m. Pretty sure this is correct, but I'm not an Amtrak employ either. Just leave and return to Omaha a few times a year.
Click to expand...
If this is true, it seems curious to me...why would they maintain a crew base for train crew at Omaha, and then only use them in one direction? It would seem to me to be more efficient to have the train crew's based at Denver and Chicago, and just layover and turn around at Omaha...unless it is due to union negotiations and/or politics, to "throw Nebraska a bone", so-to-speak.... :unsure:
 
The only thing I can think of is if the Conductor and Asst. Conductor were Chicago based they wouldn't have enough time off before returning to CHI. 5 arrives OMA at 10:55 pm. and 6 leaves at 5:14 am. the next morning. I don't know how their contract is set up, but my thought is not enough time off between jobs. Only a little over 6 hrs.
 
Okay....that does sound logical. Otherwise to get legal rest, they would have to layover for thirty hours. And probably have to pay some kind of additional layover pay, not to mention more hotel expense......

Your probably right. Good guess.... :)
 
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