Trains.com

Amtrak locos falling apart?

1438 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,826 posts
Amtrak locos falling apart?
Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, February 8, 2019 10:34 AM

As of 1130 EST for just today this morning Amtrak had  the following trains with mechanical problems.  Now we do not claim all are because of loco problems but ? ?  Trains 7, 21, 59, 353, 302, 314, 303.  Is this because of some problem with loco servicing in CHI?

EDIT

For Feb 7th   trains  365, 350, 501,500,2, 364, 7, 4  Only 2 not directly affected by CHI ? 

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Kenosha, WI
  • 6,567 posts
Posted by zardoz on Friday, February 8, 2019 5:04 PM

blue streak 1
As of 1130 EST for just today this morning Amtrak had  the following trains with mechanical problems.  Now we do not claim all are because of loco problems but ? ?  Trains 7, 21, 59, 353, 302, 314, 303.

Might be easier to report the trains WITHOUT problems....

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • 469 posts
Posted by Enzoamps on Saturday, February 9, 2019 2:15 AM

Have you looked at the weather?   It is bitter cold and windy up in this part of the country.  In fact here in mid Michigan a couple days ago, the US post office cancelled delivery.  Schools were cancelled from the cold.  Today it was up to 15 degrees, was colder a couple days ago, but we also had 35 mph winds with it.   

This stuff can affect railroads.  Pipes can freeze, blowing snow can pack up into traction motors, and so on.  I wouldn't automatically blame it on poor maintenance.

  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,479 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Saturday, February 9, 2019 6:45 AM

Before the line was re-equipped in 1980, South Shore suffered from a lot of the same weather-related problems, especially burned out traction motors caused by ingestion of blowing or drifted snow.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,825 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Saturday, February 9, 2019 11:03 AM

Enzoamps

Have you looked at the weather?   It is bitter cold and windy up in this part of the country.  In fact here in mid Michigan a couple days ago, the US post office cancelled delivery.  Schools were cancelled from the cold.  Today it was up to 15 degrees, was colder a couple days ago, but we also had 35 mph winds with it.   

This stuff can affect railroads.  Pipes can freeze, blowing snow can pack up into traction motors, and so on.  I wouldn't automatically blame it on poor maintenance.

Agree, I could be mistaken but I don't remember seeing specs for operation in -40 to -50 weather......though I am not a locomotive expert by any means.

In the Army, in combat units, if it falls beneath 25 degrees Farenheit and the equipment is stored outdoors, they send the troops out to start the Diesel Engines every four hours and run them for 15 minutes (BTW, BTDT...and not fun during sleep hours).

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 24,934 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, February 9, 2019 1:55 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH
Before the line was re-equipped in 1980, South Shore suffered from a lot of the same weather-related problems, especially burned out traction motors caused by ingestion of blowing or drifted snow.

PRR suffered through a couple of weather issues on their NEC in 1958 and 1959 - both account blizzards that passed through the area.  In 1958 the blizzard consisted of about 18-20 inches of heavy wet snow that tore down the catenary and brought the GG-1's to a stop for a lack of volts.  In 1959 the blizzard was an equal amount of dry light snow - the catenary held up fine - the GG-1's ingested the light snow through the traction motor cooling system and ended up shorting out the traction motors.  Subsequently the GG-1's recieve modifications to prevent this from happening again.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: At the Crossroads of the West
  • 11,013 posts
Posted by Deggesty on Saturday, February 9, 2019 2:16 PM

As I recall, the fine snow problem was taken care of by installing fine linen filters over the air intakes.

Johnny

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy