Amtrak to head through Tehachapi Loop

[BNSF_GP60M]

 For you guys that haven't heard about it yet, Amtrak is going to detour the Coast Starlight over the Tehachapi's again. Northbound No. 14 was pass through on Sunday Oct 26 and Southbound No 11 on the 29th. Also there is going to be some rare milage. Instead of using BNSF line (route of Amtraks San joaquins) it will use UP's Fresno line.

[ELM1HALLOW]

Trains Magazine reported that the Coast Starlight may also use Tehachapi on certain dates in November.  Can anyone confirm?

 Keith

 

[BNSF_GP60M]

 I had heard something about that. Some dates that I had heard was during Thanksgiving.

[KenRuben]

Hi Everyone:

I rode Sunday with many other fans from Sacramento to LA.

I was with several friends from the trainweb-train travel group.  There were other friends from other groups also on board.

I was on #11 and other friends from Southern California were on #14.

I went up Saturday with Chris Guenzler, known as the million mile man, on the San Joaquin except that Chris went train all the way from Bakersfield to Sacramento with a transfer to a Capitol Corridor train at Martinez; I did the bus transfer at Stockton as I wanted to be in Sacramento earlier.

The dates for November are not confirmed yet.

See trainorders.com (http://www.trainorders.com) for any updates.

I hope this information is of some help.

 

---"Ken" Ruben---

 

 

 

[blue streak 1]

Ken:  What were the station stops and what times? Have some one who is interested but I cannot make it.

[KenRuben]

Hi:

I apologize for the delay in replying, but can only speak for the train I was on.

We left Sacramento on #11 at 6:40 a.m. and arrived LA at 5:50 p.m.

There were  no passenger stops except for crew changes at Fresno and Bakersfield,
We were lucky to be able to get off at Bakersfield somewhere around 12 noon while the crews were changed.

My  friends on #14 did not get off at Bakersfield.  They arrived at Sacramento at 8:30 p.m. and stayed at the same motel, the Vagabond Inn, that my other friends and I stayed at (right near the Amtrak station).

Chris Guenzler, the million mile man, will have a story soon on his website (it is usually posted on trainorders.com (http://www.trainorders.com) or trainweb.com (http://www.trainweb.com).

Again, I hope  this is of some help.

---"Ken" Ruben---

[blue streak 1]

Ken:  Isn't it very interesting that you arrived in LAX 3:10 earlier than scheduled and that your friends arrived Sacremento 3:30 early. Maybe we have another route that needs to be included into future schedule requests.!

[KenRuben]

Hi Blue Streak 1:

I had friends on both trains and we did make good time on my train  (#11) and my friends going north on #14 also made good time.

As of this afternoon, the following is an update:

Here is Chris Guenzler's write-up on the Coast Starlight reroute trip that I participated in (most of the way).  I am mentioned briefly.

 

Link for Chris Guenzler write-up (many photos):

 

http://www.trainweb.org/chris/spvtec.html

 

 

 

FYI.

 

---"Ken" Ruben---

 

P.S.:  See below:

 

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,1793875

 

Next group of Tehachapi Starlight detours set

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Date: October 30, 2008 11:57
Next group of Tehachapi Starlight detours set
Author: webmaster

---

The next batch of Tehachapi detours will take place on November 8, 10, 12, 14.
There is a remote chance of November 16 as well.

These detours will be the same route between Sacramento and Los Angeles. There was some talk of running over Altamont Pass that would allow servicing stations between Sacramento and Oakland, but Union Pacific denied the request.

Todd Clark
Canyon Country, CA
Trainorders.com

 

[BNSF_GP60M]

I was thinking... Maybe with all these reroutes of the Starlight, you any of you guys think maybe the railroads could be thinking about extending a San Joaquin train of Tehachapi?