"Cascades" Locomotive

[travelingengineer]

Haven't had anyone respond to my query on the Passenger forum, so forgive me if I bring up the subject on this, more active, forum: Yesterday (Thursday, July 21st), I got a glancing look at a "different-looking" Amtrak locomotive that had "Cascades" on its paint. It was the head-end locomotive on a CA Surfliner longer-than-usual consist of passenger cars, followed by a typical Amtrak P42/40 locomotive pushing. Does anyone know what this "Cascades"-marked locomotive was, and perhaps also the nature of the long consist? Thanks in advance.

[wjstix]

Googling "Amtrak Cascades" came up with a couple of good links.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak_Cascades

 http://www.amtrakcascades.com/

 

http://www.amtrakcascades.com/images/Ride_2.jpg

[travelingengineer]

Ah, yes, "wjstix." Looks like I am getting somewhere. Thanks for the URLs. Since the consist that I saw had a P42/40 pusher, the head-end locomotive must have been one of the Amtrak Cascade EMD "cabbage cars," (i.e. cab with baggage in engine compartment). Wished I could have had a longer look, so as to have picked up its equipment number. Curious though as to why this "cabbage car" was in southern California (south of LA), and NOT on the Amtrak Cascades route.

[samfp1943]

travelingengineer

Ah, yes, "wjstix." Looks like I am getting somewhere. Thanks for the URLs. Since the consist that I saw had a P42/40 pusher, the head-end locomotive must have been one of the Amtrak Cascade EMD "cabbage cars," (i.e. cab with baggage in engine compartment). Wished I could have had a longer look, so as to have picked up its equipment number. Curious though as to why this "cabbage car" was in southern California (south of LA), and NOT on the Amtrak Cascades route.

TravelingEngineer:

                                I cannot speak to the AMTRAK " Cabbage car' Conversion of the locomotive you saw, but I found some information on the following link that may add to your information:

http://www.talgoamerica.com/series6-amtracCascades.aspx

FTL: "...Talgo Series VI – Amtrak Cascades® Service

In April 1994, Renfe-Talgo of America was awarded a contract by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to lease a Talgo trainset for operation in the Seattle, WA to Portland, OR corridor for six months.

Further, FTL:"...A fifth trainset was manufactured at the same time as the four previously mentioned. This trainset was scheduled to enter service between Los Angeles, CA and Las Vegas, NV in early 2001, but was sold to WSDOT in 2003 and is currently in use on the Eugene to Portland, Oregon Corridor..."  [Emphasis added/SP]

   I wonder if what you observed was a possible test operation in California of the 5th Talgo Trainset, prior to the possible aquisition of similar equipment in California? 

The link also has some pictures linked as well of the Talgo equipment.

Just my thought?

 

 

[travelingengineer]

Thanks, "samfp1943," for your quite-probable suggestion, that the consist was south of LA in a test mode (though I wonder why). It sure was longer than the usual Surfliner consist, which is of ONE locomotive (pushing or pulling) plus five (sometimes six) passenger cars. There could have been about eight cars between the two locomotives, based on my extremely brief observation yesterday morning. Hopefully, someone else in southern CA saw what I saw, is far more knowledgeable than I am, had a longer look, and may report hereon.

[blue streak 1]

Slight probability that you saw one of the expanded consists that were used on the surf line to SBA last weekend to cover the I-405 closure. Have no idea why it would still be around?