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Amtrak NEC CAT and signal problems.

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RME
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Posted by RME on Friday, February 10, 2017 7:12 PM

blue streak 1
Once again the limitations of the variable tension CAT appear to have caused more problems

Guys:  Calling the ex-PRR arrangement 'variable tension' as the supposed opposite of constant-tension is as wrong as saying the opposite of antifriction bearings is 'friction bearings'.

The older cat is FIXED tension (the tension is 'engineered in' at adjustment time, and doesn't have the self-adjusting constant tension that the newer setup does).  That doesn't mean the tension doesn't "vary" with temperature, age, and other factors: it does.  But calling the setup 'variable tension' indicates that active varying of the tension is the point of the system, when in fact the varying is an undesired consequence of the fixed adjustment.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 2:21 PM

another diruption for MARC Penn line unknown what problem is / was ?

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> Due to the service disruption this morning on the Penn Line, Washington Metrorail will honor MARC tickets this afternoon. Please show your MARC ticket to the Metrorail Station Manager, and he or she w

Today at 2:31 PM

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, February 17, 2017 6:37 PM

Amtrak had a failure of an electric switch MOTOR  south of Boston.  Nothing works all the time but trains have for most part only taken 15 - 30 minute delays with an occasional 1 hour.  Probably with the way that section is designed. ?  But no service disruptions indicates a good design.

https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Alert_C&pagename=am/AM_Alert_C/Alerts_Popup&cid=1251648302292

 EDIT.   After further review  changed post to read it was a switch failure not a CAT electric switch failure.  Sorry ! ! !

EDIT 2  Amtrak has changed the above notice that it is a downed wire--------------   Guess this poster will give up.

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, March 13, 2017 9:50 AM
 
 

Another CAT power failure in Baltimore today.

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> Train 407 (5:45 am Baltimore departure) is canceled due to Catenary Power failure in Baltimore. Train 409 (6:13 Baltimore is the next southbound expected to operate with a 20 to 30 minute delay. Expec

Today at 6:25 AM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 12:43 PM

Another problem today.  The following Amtrak bulletin does not say exactly what the problem but maybe someone knows ?

 

Amtrak

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Delays between Wilmington, DE (WIL) and Baltimore, MD (BAL) .  Would guess Amtrak is thankful for the reduced schedule due to the snow storm ?

Trains between Wilmington, DE (WIL) and Baltimore, MD (BAL) are disrupted due to power system issues. Repairs are underway, but delays are expected. Confirm your train's status on Amtrak.com or our mobile apps. Thank you for your patience.   

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 9:48 PM

Even New Haven <> BOS CAT can have problems but certainly is less than old PRR especially PHL - WASH.

EDIT  As of 10:30 PM problem exists between NHV - OSB  ( Old saybrook ? )

Northeast Corridor Service Delayed Between Boston and New York

Crews addressing power issue east of New Haven, CT

March 22, 2017
2:00 p.m. ET

Due to overhead wire (catenary) system issues east of New Haven, customers may experience delays on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and New York in both directions.

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Posted by bratkinson on Wednesday, March 22, 2017 11:12 PM

According to the engineer of train 56 (the Vermonter) that should have left New Haven, a tree came down over the wires which then came down on top of an Acela that was moving from one track to another, and a maintenance vehicle on another of the tracks.  Thus all tracks were blocked.  I was on tr 56 and after an hour delay, a bus bridge to Springfield was set up where the southbound Vermonter was held. 

Judging from what I saw on the arrival/departure board inside the New Haven station, an Acela each way was cancelled.  Based on an Acela sitting next to us on track 4 for more than an hour, I think it was turned to go back to Washington as there were two large boardings in the hour before we got to go inside to wait for buses.  Perhaps there was a similar bus bridge for the Acelas as well as the Boston regionals as well.

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Posted by daveklepper on Thursday, March 23, 2017 4:27 AM

That is new wire, and the problems must be related to the recent storm.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, April 6, 2017 3:37 PM

Weather causing signal and switch problems at WASH Union station.

 
 

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> Due to the weather Union Station is experiencing switch problems on the Penn, Brunswick and Camden Lines, Washington Metrorail will honor MARC tickets. Please show your MARC ticket to the Metrorail Station Manager, and he or she will permit you to enter through the gate next to the information kiosk. Please note that Metro parking charges, however, are not included and must be paid upon exiting the parking lot. Reimbursement is not provided. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

Today at 2:53 PM
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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, April 6, 2017 8:50 PM

blue streak 1
Weather causing signal and switch problems at WASH Union station.
 
 

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> Due to the weather Union Station is experiencing switch problems on the Penn, Brunswick and Camden Lines, Washington Metrorail will honor MARC tickets. Please show your MARC ticket to the Metrorail Station Manager, and he or she will permit you to enter through the gate next to the information kiosk. Please note that Metro parking charges, however, are not included and must be paid upon exiting the parking lot. Reimbursement is not provided. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

Today at 2:53 PM

Feature that - switch and signal problems with day long heavy rains and Thunderstorms. 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, June 23, 2017 10:05 AM
 
 

Another bad day on the NEC signal problems.  Was there bad weather there ?

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> All southbound MARC Trains are currently holding at Bowie State due to signal issues south of the station. A signal maintainer is en route, however at this time southbound trains are anticipated to experience significant delays. Metro has opened for Penn Line commuters as a travel option. Updates will follow as more information is received. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

To
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Today at 8:06 AM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, July 3, 2017 12:13 PM

CAT too hot today so some slow orders on NEC.  Guess Amtrak just makes it a blanket restriction for even diesel pull trains.

 
 

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> Amtrak has issued heat-related speed restrictions for parts of the Penn Line. Trains must reduce their speed to 80mph between Washington and New Carrollton and 100mph between New Carrollton and Odenton. Minor delays are possible. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Today at 1:09 PM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, August 11, 2017 9:01 PM

Went 5 weeks with signal problems .  Now some today MARC bulletin.

 

 
 

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> At this time, signal issues are being encountered near New Carrollton Station. As a result, MARC trains are anticipated to incur delays due to single tracking between Bowie and New Carrollton Stations. Delay times should be minimal, but may exceed 8-10 minutes, further information will be issued as it is received. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

To
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Today at 2:15 PM
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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, August 12, 2017 10:23 AM

blue streak 1
CAT too hot today so some slow orders on NEC.  Guess Amtrak just makes it a blanket restriction for even diesel pull trains.

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> Amtrak has issued heat-related speed restrictions for parts of the Penn Line. Trains must reduce their speed to 80mph between Washington and New Carrollton and 100mph between New Carrollton and Odenton. Minor delays are possible. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Today at 1:09 PM

Track has issues in the heat as well as the catenary.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 12:28 PM
 
 

More signal issues at Odenton today. 

 

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> Train 612 (7:55AM Dpt Penn Station) will have a 15- 20 minute delay due to signal issues at Odenton. Correction: Train is 612. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

Today at 8:58 AM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, September 30, 2017 12:23 PM

Penn line signal problems again from WASH - BAL

 

MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> Penn Line delays, Noon update: Train 482 will depart Washington on time at 12:30pm. It will experience 30-45 minute delays en route to Baltimore due to ongoing Amtrak signal issues. Train 487 (1:55pm departure from Penn Station) will depart Baltimore on time but will also experience significant delays en route. Amtrak estimates that the earliest the signal problems will be corrected is 3:00pm. Updates will follow as information is received.

 

Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com> All northbound and southbound MARC Saturday train service will incur minor delays due to signal issues to and from Union Station to Bowie State Station. Updates will follow when they become available. Thank you for riding the MARC. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

The problem has been since 0830 this morning and no resolve before 1500 ?
 
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Today at 8:23 AM

 

 

To
 
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, September 30, 2017 10:45 PM

Problem still not cleared at 1650.  Tracking sites show delays even later.  Other web site says it is a signal power problem.  That may still be the 4400 V 100 hZ power.  What is unknown is why has Amtrak not continued the program of getting the standby commercial power setup for signal power along this corridor ? 

 

Train 490 (450 pm Dpt WUS) is cancelled due to signal outages between Washington Union Station, and Bowie State Station. The next train departing WUS will be Train 492 (530 pm Dpt WUS) departing approximately 70-75 minutes late. OptOut: http://mtamarylandalerts.com/u.aspx?336934

To
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Today at 6:47 PM
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, July 30, 2018 1:05 PM

Thought would return to the many CAT failures WASH - Wilmington.  Another at Baltimore station today.

Alerts Subscriber
Today at 12:01 AM

 

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, July 30, 2018 1:44 PM

blue streak 1
Thought would return to the many CAT failures WASH - Wilmington.  Another at Baltimore station today.
Alerts Subscriber
Today at 12:01 AM

 

 

Have we truly had 10 months without Cat failures?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, July 30, 2018 1:50 PM

BaltACD

 

 
blue streak 1
Thought would return to the many CAT failures WASH - Wilmington.  Another at Baltimore station today.
Alerts Subscriber
Today at 12:01 AM

 

 

 

Have we truly had 10 months without Cat failures?

 

No just got tired of all the failures and did not have time to post.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, August 6, 2018 3:38 PM

So here is another delay today due to heat.  Probably because of both possible rail problems and CAT sag of th variable tension CAT ?

 
 
MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com>
To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Today at 2:59 PM

 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 1:02 PM

Another day another problem

 
 
MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com>
Today at 1:20 PM

 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, August 16, 2018 2:05 AM

same old signal problems

 
 
MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com>
Aug 15 at 4:31 PM

 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, August 24, 2018 12:51 PM

Emergency work on B&P tunnel.  Wonder if it is due to all the previous rain ?

To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Today at 5:06 AM

 

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, August 24, 2018 1:43 PM

blue streak 1
Emergency work on B&P tunnel.  Wonder if it is due to all the previous rain ?
To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Today at 5:06 AM

 

 

Last rain in the area was Tuesday - if water is the issue, look at a Baltimore City broken water main.  

I could very well be a track issue found by a Track Inspector.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, August 27, 2018 8:40 PM

Track problems again

 
 
MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com>
To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Today at 4:02 PM

 

 And signal problems

 
 
MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com>
To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Today at 7:52 AM

 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 12:54 PM

Another problem this Tuesday.

 
 
MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com>
To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Aug 27 at 7:52 AM

 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, August 30, 2018 6:47 PM

Another B&P problem

 
 
MARC Service Alert <alert@mtamarylandalerts.com>
To
MTA Maryland Alerts Subscriber
Aug 29 at 4:25 AM

 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, August 31, 2018 9:07 PM

B&P tunnel must be very leaky. Temporary shutdown.

 

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Friday, August 31, 2018 10:22 PM

blue streak 1
B&P tunnel must be very leaky. Temporary shutdown.

 

 

A series of T'Storms moved through Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County in Maryland - Rain amounts varied in specifc locations between 2.1 and 6.5 inches in nominally a 2 hour period.  National Weather Service had Flood Warnings in effect.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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