UPS bullet train

[Anonymous]

What is the schedule of this train; specifically as to the time it comes through Las Vegas, NV? I would like to see it, and photograph it if possible. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

What is the schedule of this train; specifically as to the time it comes through Las Vegas, NV? I would like to see it, and photograph it if possible. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Hey Dru,
they are putting everything in the hole 3hours!!! in advance of these trains. This, of course, is totally ridiculous, and unworkable in the long run, they are hogging trains left and right comming in from Pratt to Herington, they are holding 'em at Pratt, Janet and Preston for a train that isn't even out of Emporia.
They are currently allowed to run 74.9, the overspeed trips at 75.
Howard,
I don't believe these particular trains run through Vegas, they are running the Sunset and Golden State routes, and then BNSF from Hutchinson, Ks to Chicago. There are some Z trains that run through Vegas though, but not this one.
I expect the UP to lose this contract when it expires (it's a one year contract). They used to have another Z on the Golden State route, and lost it to the BNSF (ZAPHF, Dru you know this one, we called it the Thunderbird 'cause it was all APL stacks). Lost it 'cause UP ds's between Topeka and KC didn't know there were crossovers. Maybe it won't be as much of a problem since they are running on BNSF through KC now, but they are going to have to change this 3 hour policy, I could see maybe an hour, but a decent ds could do it with even a half hour or less (oxymoron decent ds!!) Just kidding to the few decent ds's out there.

[Anonymous]

Hey Dru,
they are putting everything in the hole 3hours!!! in advance of these trains. This, of course, is totally ridiculous, and unworkable in the long run, they are hogging trains left and right comming in from Pratt to Herington, they are holding 'em at Pratt, Janet and Preston for a train that isn't even out of Emporia.
They are currently allowed to run 74.9, the overspeed trips at 75.
Howard,
I don't believe these particular trains run through Vegas, they are running the Sunset and Golden State routes, and then BNSF from Hutchinson, Ks to Chicago. There are some Z trains that run through Vegas though, but not this one.
I expect the UP to lose this contract when it expires (it's a one year contract). They used to have another Z on the Golden State route, and lost it to the BNSF (ZAPHF, Dru you know this one, we called it the Thunderbird 'cause it was all APL stacks). Lost it 'cause UP ds's between Topeka and KC didn't know there were crossovers. Maybe it won't be as much of a problem since they are running on BNSF through KC now, but they are going to have to change this 3 hour policy, I could see maybe an hour, but a decent ds could do it with even a half hour or less (oxymoron decent ds!!) Just kidding to the few decent ds's out there.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the information.

[favuprailroadfan]

Hey Derek, How have you been. Long time no see. I just saw the bullet go through Kismet yesterday at 6:12 p.m. 3 hours, that is ridiculous. Yesterday, me and Chris went over to Fowler and watched 2 stacks get in the siding for a westbound. After the west Autorack got by, the stacks went to Bloom for the Z. In the meantime, we went back to Kismet and caught up with the rack train, he was 8200 ft. long. He was the biggest A train through here I had seen. Since there is only one crossing in Kismet, he sat out on the mainline until 10 minutes before the Z came though, good deal for the ds. He waited until the Z reached Plains, then he had him move in. Yea, it blocked traffic for 10 minutes, but he was gone right after the Z. Good dispatching for what was going on. For anyone who wants to know, the bullet had 4 CTE4400's, with 12 3 pack spine cars. He was moving at 74 mph. Do you know what time it is due into Herington, me and Chris are trying to plan a trip up to that area since he has never been there. That way I can figure it uup when the eastbound might be there here east of Liberal. We was in Pratt last Thursday, I was wanting to stop there at the hotel and see if you was there but we was in a chase after a ICHLB. So anytime, you will be heading to Pratt send me an e-mail and let me know so we can visit about stuff. Write me at [e-mail] or [e-mail]. I would really like to hear from you and see if we can work something out. Have fun and be safe.

Laters, Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

Hey Derek, How have you been. Long time no see. I just saw the bullet go through Kismet yesterday at 6:12 p.m. 3 hours, that is ridiculous. Yesterday, me and Chris went over to Fowler and watched 2 stacks get in the siding for a westbound. After the west Autorack got by, the stacks went to Bloom for the Z. In the meantime, we went back to Kismet and caught up with the rack train, he was 8200 ft. long. He was the biggest A train through here I had seen. Since there is only one crossing in Kismet, he sat out on the mainline until 10 minutes before the Z came though, good deal for the ds. He waited until the Z reached Plains, then he had him move in. Yea, it blocked traffic for 10 minutes, but he was gone right after the Z. Good dispatching for what was going on. For anyone who wants to know, the bullet had 4 CTE4400's, with 12 3 pack spine cars. He was moving at 74 mph. Do you know what time it is due into Herington, me and Chris are trying to plan a trip up to that area since he has never been there. That way I can figure it uup when the eastbound might be there here east of Liberal. We was in Pratt last Thursday, I was wanting to stop there at the hotel and see if you was there but we was in a chase after a ICHLB. So anytime, you will be heading to Pratt send me an e-mail and let me know so we can visit about stuff. Write me at [e-mail] or [e-mail]. I would really like to hear from you and see if we can work something out. Have fun and be safe.

Laters, Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

Hello everyone, I saw the eastbound bullet train through Kismet KS, which is 17 miles from Liberal at 7:30 this morning. It had the exact same power on that it had last week. So I just thought I would let everyone now, so maybe they can figure out when it will be there. This one was a little bit longer than last week. Well have fun catching it and I will be waiting on the westbound later today.

Laters, Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

Hello everyone, I saw the eastbound bullet train through Kismet KS, which is 17 miles from Liberal at 7:30 this morning. It had the exact same power on that it had last week. So I just thought I would let everyone now, so maybe they can figure out when it will be there. This one was a little bit longer than last week. Well have fun catching it and I will be waiting on the westbound later today.

Laters, Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

Hey guys, Last night at 11:30, the westbound bullet finally came through Kismet. He was 5 hours late getting there. He should have been through around 6:30. Does anyone know if something happened causing it to be late. It was a real shock to me noticing that he was running behind. So please let me know if you know the reason. He had 4 CTE4400's on board. Lead unit was UP 5959. I would write more but I have to go back to school. Laters, Dru

[favuprailroadfan]

Hey guys, Last night at 11:30, the westbound bullet finally came through Kismet. He was 5 hours late getting there. He should have been through around 6:30. Does anyone know if something happened causing it to be late. It was a real shock to me noticing that he was running behind. So please let me know if you know the reason. He had 4 CTE4400's on board. Lead unit was UP 5959. I would write more but I have to go back to school. Laters, Dru

[Anonymous]

What is being written is only part of the story.

About five years ago the leadership at BNSF decided to initiate a stock buy back of 120,000,000 of its stock shares at $25.00 per share; the total cash required for this undertaking was about $3,200,000.00.

Why? BNSF seemed to be many, many years ahead of UP and all the others; in fact, UP was straining to its limits to absorb SP post-merger and having a hard time of it. UP had lost vitually all of its UPS business due to unsatisfactory performance.

Common sense tells us that during the four years of the BNSF stock buyback, BNSF had to defer projects just about everywhere across the board to fund the stock buy back.

Meanwhile for four years, UP continued to invest heavily in track, locomotives, and etc. For example, UP took a look at SP's very tired (not welded rail) Texas Pacific mainline that many predicted would have to be abandoned. UP decided to spend a ton of money and started to rebuild the El Paso, Texas to Ft. Worth, Texas Texas Pacific mainline; this line is now very busy with heavy intermodal traffic and played a key role in UP getting the UPS and other runs through Memphis, Tennessee with NS.

Next, UP decided to spend another ton of money to bring the old Rock Island and SP mainline from Pratt, Kansas to El Paso, Texas up to UP mainline standards. This seemed to be an absolute folly to many folks, including me, but today this is a key part of the route being used by the UPS Bullet Trains.

So, now, five years later, UP is in nearly first class physical condition and getting better every day and many years ahead of BNSF. Alas, BNSF may never catch back up in my opinion.

[Anonymous]

What is being written is only part of the story.

About five years ago the leadership at BNSF decided to initiate a stock buy back of 120,000,000 of its stock shares at $25.00 per share; the total cash required for this undertaking was about $3,200,000.00.

Why? BNSF seemed to be many, many years ahead of UP and all the others; in fact, UP was straining to its limits to absorb SP post-merger and having a hard time of it. UP had lost vitually all of its UPS business due to unsatisfactory performance.

Common sense tells us that during the four years of the BNSF stock buyback, BNSF had to defer projects just about everywhere across the board to fund the stock buy back.

Meanwhile for four years, UP continued to invest heavily in track, locomotives, and etc. For example, UP took a look at SP's very tired (not welded rail) Texas Pacific mainline that many predicted would have to be abandoned. UP decided to spend a ton of money and started to rebuild the El Paso, Texas to Ft. Worth, Texas Texas Pacific mainline; this line is now very busy with heavy intermodal traffic and played a key role in UP getting the UPS and other runs through Memphis, Tennessee with NS.

Next, UP decided to spend another ton of money to bring the old Rock Island and SP mainline from Pratt, Kansas to El Paso, Texas up to UP mainline standards. This seemed to be an absolute folly to many folks, including me, but today this is a key part of the route being used by the UPS Bullet Trains.

So, now, five years later, UP is in nearly first class physical condition and getting better every day and many years ahead of BNSF. Alas, BNSF may never catch back up in my opinion.

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan

Hey guys, Last night at 11:30, the westbound bullet finally came through Kismet. He was 5 hours late getting there. He should have been through around 6:30. Does anyone know if something happened causing it to be late. It was a real shock to me noticing that he was running behind. So please let me know if you know the reason. He had 4 CTE4400's on board. Lead unit was UP 5959. I would write more but I have to go back to school. Laters, Dru

Dru
Csx got infected by the worm. Alot of trains were running slow or were stopped this weekend.Also a lot of crews went dead as they were waiting for the computers to be fixed.[:(]
stay safe
Joe

[JoeKoh]

QUOTE: Originally posted by favuprailroadfan

Hey guys, Last night at 11:30, the westbound bullet finally came through Kismet. He was 5 hours late getting there. He should have been through around 6:30. Does anyone know if something happened causing it to be late. It was a real shock to me noticing that he was running behind. So please let me know if you know the reason. He had 4 CTE4400's on board. Lead unit was UP 5959. I would write more but I have to go back to school. Laters, Dru

Dru
Csx got infected by the worm. Alot of trains were running slow or were stopped this weekend.Also a lot of crews went dead as they were waiting for the computers to be fixed.[:(]
stay safe
Joe

[Anonymous]

Cable news reports this week state that UPS has cut coast to coast delivery time to 4th a.m. This implies more than once a week bullet trains. Would think it would be at least three: Tues a. m. for Fri, Fri a.m. for Mon, and Sat. a.m. for Tues. Any comments?

WJM

[Anonymous]

Cable news reports this week state that UPS has cut coast to coast delivery time to 4th a.m. This implies more than once a week bullet trains. Would think it would be at least three: Tues a. m. for Fri, Fri a.m. for Mon, and Sat. a.m. for Tues. Any comments?

WJM

[Anonymous]

As noted above, this train gets priority over all others on the RR and causes lots of other stuff to go in the hole to get out of its way. Since it runs faster than other trains, it over-takes trains that it is following they have to go in the hole too.

If I'm any customer other than UPS, I ought to be more than a little P.O.'d that my service is being negatively impacted by this Ego-Stunt on the part of the UP.

In the Trains article about the BNSF bullet, they talked about the problems caused, in spite of BNSF having mostly 2 mains to work with. Its got to be a lot worse on UP w/ one main track. I'm thinking this train ought to be called the "Brown Bullet" and ain't cuz its a UPS train.

[Anonymous]

As noted above, this train gets priority over all others on the RR and causes lots of other stuff to go in the hole to get out of its way. Since it runs faster than other trains, it over-takes trains that it is following they have to go in the hole too.

If I'm any customer other than UPS, I ought to be more than a little P.O.'d that my service is being negatively impacted by this Ego-Stunt on the part of the UP.

In the Trains article about the BNSF bullet, they talked about the problems caused, in spite of BNSF having mostly 2 mains to work with. Its got to be a lot worse on UP w/ one main track. I'm thinking this train ought to be called the "Brown Bullet" and ain't cuz its a UPS train.

[Anonymous]

I spend a max ox 4-8 hours a day out starting at 6a.m. and have seen Q100 and Q153 always with UP power haveing seen 3-5 engions mixed C40-8W, C44-9W's and SD90MACS some of these C44-9W's are assorted C&NW and SP units as well. Q100 seems to be a Tuesday run. With Q153 Being a Thersday train never seen any of the 2 runing any outher day of the week.

[Anonymous]

I spend a max ox 4-8 hours a day out starting at 6a.m. and have seen Q100 and Q153 always with UP power haveing seen 3-5 engions mixed C40-8W, C44-9W's and SD90MACS some of these C44-9W's are assorted C&NW and SP units as well. Q100 seems to be a Tuesday run. With Q153 Being a Thersday train never seen any of the 2 runing any outher day of the week.

[Anonymous]

HEHE love that one Thersday CSX lost 3 Detectors in a row here in New York starting at about 7:20a.m. starting with Savanah, Center Port and, Memphis ALL trains even Q153 Was ORDERED TO STOP at all 3 Detectors for Inspection As it would be the FRA Was in the area over seeing track work that CSX Has not done sents the last inspection last month. The FRA Dose NOT CARE who the costumer is for the fraght UPS musted be P***ed on that one. Traffic was not up and runing at a normal speed till about 8a.m. Friday morning. Beleve me I know how the FRA Works I delt with them on a lot of rail inspections just working for Sperry Rail Service.

[Anonymous]

HEHE love that one Thersday CSX lost 3 Detectors in a row here in New York starting at about 7:20a.m. starting with Savanah, Center Port and, Memphis ALL trains even Q153 Was ORDERED TO STOP at all 3 Detectors for Inspection As it would be the FRA Was in the area over seeing track work that CSX Has not done sents the last inspection last month. The FRA Dose NOT CARE who the costumer is for the fraght UPS musted be P***ed on that one. Traffic was not up and runing at a normal speed till about 8a.m. Friday morning. Beleve me I know how the FRA Works I delt with them on a lot of rail inspections just working for Sperry Rail Service.

[rich747us]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fglk

HEHE love that one Thersday CSX lost 3 Detectors in a row here in New York starting at about 7:20a.m. starting with Savanah, Center Port and, Memphis ALL trains even Q153 Was ORDERED TO STOP at all 3 Detectors for Inspection As it would be the FRA Was in the area over seeing track work that CSX Has not done sents the last inspection last month. The FRA Dose NOT CARE who the costumer is for the fraght UPS musted be P***ed on that one. Traffic was not up and runing at a normal speed till about 8a.m. Friday morning. Beleve me I know how the FRA Works I delt with them on a lot of rail inspections just working for Sperry Rail Service.

Hey, has CSX just been having trouble all 'round with their detectors in NY in recent times? I was riding Amtrak #49 (westbound Late, uh, I mean Lake Shore LTD) through Batavia NY (my hometown by the way) back in late January and I could not get the Batavia detector near CP 406 on my scaner. It could not have been my scanner, as I was able to pick up both the Coldwater and Churchville NY detectors. Then again, this doesint surprise me. A little bit more than a year before this episode of CSX equipment failures, I had the privlige of getting to call that 1-800# posted on the crossing gates to report the malfunctioning crossing gates at the Donahue Rd. crossing (also in Batavia).

[rich747us]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fglk

HEHE love that one Thersday CSX lost 3 Detectors in a row here in New York starting at about 7:20a.m. starting with Savanah, Center Port and, Memphis ALL trains even Q153 Was ORDERED TO STOP at all 3 Detectors for Inspection As it would be the FRA Was in the area over seeing track work that CSX Has not done sents the last inspection last month. The FRA Dose NOT CARE who the costumer is for the fraght UPS musted be P***ed on that one. Traffic was not up and runing at a normal speed till about 8a.m. Friday morning. Beleve me I know how the FRA Works I delt with them on a lot of rail inspections just working for Sperry Rail Service.

Hey, has CSX just been having trouble all 'round with their detectors in NY in recent times? I was riding Amtrak #49 (westbound Late, uh, I mean Lake Shore LTD) through Batavia NY (my hometown by the way) back in late January and I could not get the Batavia detector near CP 406 on my scaner. It could not have been my scanner, as I was able to pick up both the Coldwater and Churchville NY detectors. Then again, this doesint surprise me. A little bit more than a year before this episode of CSX equipment failures, I had the privlige of getting to call that 1-800# posted on the crossing gates to report the malfunctioning crossing gates at the Donahue Rd. crossing (also in Batavia).

[daveklepper]

Is this the train that the June 2004 issue says is now having its traffic go by truck? Dave

[daveklepper]

Is this the train that the June 2004 issue says is now having its traffic go by truck? Dave

[Anonymous]

so this train runs over the BNSF from KC to chicago...? approx. what time would it be moving through the princeton, IL area? princeton is maybe 60-70 miles east of galesburg.

[Anonymous]

so this train runs over the BNSF from KC to chicago...? approx. what time would it be moving through the princeton, IL area? princeton is maybe 60-70 miles east of galesburg.