So Union Pacific is hosting the California Zephyr today and tomorrow (sunday) With UP locomotives piloting the trains due to CNW CTC.
Friday's Zephyr left Chicago on time but was 1:50 late into Omaha. I doubt there is much distance difference between the UP and BNSF routes nor track speed limits. Perhaps part of it was they had to have a UP unit leading due to the CNW signal system, and that unit had a lower top operating speed than Amtrak's P-42's. However, if it had to go 70mph rather than 79, that would not account for the whole difference, and the lack of station stops would partially make up for slower top speed.
I wonder if UP wa sending the message that they aren't warmly welcome on the route?
Part of the delay could be tied to the departure from Chicago Union Station. The reroute would probably involve a departure from the north platforms of CUS (track 28-19), routing over the former MILW to Western Avenue, where it would pick up the former C&NW. A 70 MPH speed limit could also be a contributing factor depending on the passenger train speed limit on BNSF.
There are too many reasons to enumerate for a 'extra' train to lose 90 minutes between two points approximately 500 miles apart on a heavily trafficked route. Knowing NONE of the details, most likely it got trapped behind a long train that was being inspected account a undesired emergency application of the brakes. Or UP may have had crew issues in either coming up with a crew for this extra movement or coming up with pilots for the Amtrak crew. I have no idea of UP crew districts, however, I doubt they have many if any that are Chicago to Omaha, and if they do have any they are assigned to Premiere UP trains.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
My source doesn't list a time for arrival of Saturday's westbound at Omaha, but it was 2:44 late at Lincoln.
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