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Amtrak #5(16) Only Has One Engine

Started by Agent , Mar 16 2017 10:08 PM

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14 replies to this topic

#1 Agent

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Posted 16 March 2017 - 10:08 PM

I caught the westbound California Zephyr come through Agency, Iowa this evening about an hour and forty-seven minutes late with only AMTK 822, the Phase III-painted P40DC, as the only locomotive.  There's a report that the other unit, AMTK 145, died after Amtrak #5 left Chicago Union Station.

 


#2 greatcats

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Posted 16 March 2017 - 11:11 PM

They better have something else to stick on it at Denver. Grab the ski train loco maybe? It will lose time with a freight loco.
I was a commuter railroad employee in NJ for many years until 2002, and have since been a tour guide at Grand Canyon National Park and Ketchikan, Alaska. Also, have been a National Park Volunteer at Hawaii Volcanoes and now Sunset Crater Volcano near my home. If not on Amtrak, also like long road trips, camping some of the time.

#3 dlagrua

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Posted 17 March 2017 - 01:34 PM

They better have something else to stick on it at Denver. Grab the ski train loco maybe? It will lose time with a freight loco.

Depending on the loco freight trains are capable of going over 80 mph but are restricted to FRA  lower speeds. The Cardinal runs one locomotive and I have been on it when my GPS read over 100 mph. As I understand it, the problem with running one loco is that you lose time during the acceleration phase. This does slow down a trip  that has many station stops .


#4 greatcats

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Posted 17 March 2017 - 01:58 PM

My point is I don't believe that train will make it over the mountains with one engine!
I was a commuter railroad employee in NJ for many years until 2002, and have since been a tour guide at Grand Canyon National Park and Ketchikan, Alaska. Also, have been a National Park Volunteer at Hawaii Volcanoes and now Sunset Crater Volcano near my home. If not on Amtrak, also like long road trips, camping some of the time.

#5 A Voice

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Posted 17 March 2017 - 02:06 PM

My point is I don't believe that train will make it over the mountains with one engine!

 

Think that's why #6 made a donation.....  


#6 dlagrua

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Posted 17 March 2017 - 02:17 PM

My point is I don't believe that train will make it over the mountains with one engine!

Yes you are correct. One engine won't do it.  Its a steady 2% grade for about 35 miles before you reach the Moffat tunnel and even with two engines they must handle a heavy workload.


#7 AmtrakBlue

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Posted 17 March 2017 - 03:09 PM

They better have something else to stick on it at Denver. Grab the ski train loco maybe? It will lose time with a freight loco.

Depending on the loco freight trains are capable of going over 80 mph but are restricted to FRA  lower speeds. The Cardinal runs one locomotive and I have been on it when my GPS read over 100 mph. As I understand it, the problem with running one loco is that you lose time during the acceleration phase. This does slow down a trip  that has many station stops .
You must have clocked that on the NEC. Aren't LD trains restricted to 79 or 90 on some small stretches.

#8 Ryan

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Posted 17 March 2017 - 03:23 PM

Technically the NEC is "behind one locomotive). ;)

Yes, between WAS-CHI 50/51 are limited to 79.
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#9 Agent

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Posted 17 March 2017 - 06:31 PM

 

My point is I don't believe that train will make it over the mountains with one engine!

 

Think that's why #6 made a donation.....  

 

 

Right.  #6(15) only had AMTK 154 when it came through Agency, Iowa five and half hours late.  Then it stopped just outside of town so the engineer could copy two warrants from the dispatcher.

 


#10 dlagrua

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Posted 18 March 2017 - 07:05 AM

 

 

They better have something else to stick on it at Denver. Grab the ski train loco maybe? It will lose time with a freight loco.

Depending on the loco freight trains are capable of going over 80 mph but are restricted to FRA  lower speeds. The Cardinal runs one locomotive and I have been on it when my GPS read over 100 mph. As I understand it, the problem with running one loco is that you lose time during the acceleration phase. This does slow down a trip  that has many station stops .
You must have clocked that on the NEC. Aren't LD trains restricted to 79 or 90 on some small stretches.

 

IIRC, I used my cell phone GPS speedometer on one Cardinal trip and did see some impressive speeds..  Don't recall exactly where I took the reading on my GPS speedometer but somewhere after departing Indianapolis sticks in my mind. My smartphone GPS is probably not the best tool for measuring speeds.


#11 Ryan

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Posted 18 March 2017 - 12:35 PM

There is no possible way that you were going anywhere near 100 MPH anywhere near Indy.
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#12 ehbowen

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Posted 18 March 2017 - 06:35 PM

There is no possible way that you were going anywhere near 100 MPH anywhere near Indy.


On the other hand, I did get a smartphone GPS screen capture showing 90 mph between Gallup and Manuelito, NM...and I believe it!

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#13 FrensicPic

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Posted 18 March 2017 - 06:51 PM

 

There is no possible way that you were going anywhere near 100 MPH anywhere near Indy.


On the other hand, I did get a smartphone GPS screen capture showing 90 mph between Gallup and Manuelito, NM...and I believe it!

 

The SWC has some 90 mph running in New Mexico, Arizona and California.


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#14 CCC1007

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Posted 18 March 2017 - 07:15 PM

 

There is no possible way that you were going anywhere near 100 MPH anywhere near Indy.

On the other hand, I did get a smartphone GPS screen capture showing 90 mph between Gallup and Manuelito, NM...and I believe it!
 
The SWC has some 90 mph running in New Mexico, Arizona and California.
As well as in both Illinois and Missouri... and it used to in Colorado and Kansas.

#15 chakk

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Posted 20 March 2017 - 07:29 PM

Maximum speed on the CZ anywhere on its run is 79 mph. Same for the CS and the EB and the TE/SL.
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