It looks like #8 (20) turned at Spokane last night. Its listed as 2 hr:28 late 2 SPK with no times for west of Spokane, #7 (18) was 6hr: 01 late @ SPT Sandpoint. Northwest and BNSF are not doing towell.
The Zephyr, the Builder and the Capitol were all late getting out of Chicago yesterday, generally in the 2 hour delay range. I believe the weather there will moderate today, so hopefully the situation will get better.
SW Chief @3/18 only 1/2 hr late chasing 3/17 15 hhours late at Williams junction. Cal Z 6/17 6 hrs late at Osceola Ia.
With the shut downs of NS, CSX, & UP how many extra dispatchers will they need to dispatch the Amtrak trains? With NS's ability to dispach from any office could be as many as just one ? And CSX ?
DAKguy points out blowing powder. That can be death for DC traction motors. Wonder if BNSF would want one of their AC motored units to lead ? Both 5 & 6 of 17th 5 + hours late now. But SW #3 is 13-1/2 hours down now at Las Vegas, NM.
LSL lost 1 hour from CHI - South Bend again. Anyone know if this is a case of leaving CHI and having to stop at 21st yard to correct a problem ?
Locally our official temperature Saturday night hit 20 below. I don't know what the wind chill was. During the day we have fresh powder on the ground and it moves around in 20mph winds. In an extreme case like that I think Amtrak and their host road are doing well just to keep running, and I'm willing to forgive whatever delays the Builder and the Zephyr incur.
Well our friends in Canada are not doing well at all. Eastbound Skeena over 8 hours late leaving Prince Ruppert even after the scheduled 12 hour layovers at Prince George and Ruppert. As of this time only 6 of about 20 VIA trains are on time. All on timers are just originating short hauls
BaltACD One of the many railroad books I own has a pictures, where the hand written Train Board of Chicago Union Station is visible in the background in the early 1940's. I don't know the date of the photo, however, various trains - from both the East & West were showing serious delays. Us old timers always believe 'it was better back in "our" day'. Then reality intrudes. As a kid in the late 50's & early 60's I would make a trek to All Nation Hobby Shop in Chicago on a near monthly basis, and would make the rounds of all the Chicago passenger stations - when winter hit, trains got late, and not just 15 or 20 minutes or so.
One of the many railroad books I own has a pictures, where the hand written Train Board of Chicago Union Station is visible in the background in the early 1940's. I don't know the date of the photo, however, various trains - from both the East & West were showing serious delays.
Us old timers always believe 'it was better back in "our" day'. Then reality intrudes. As a kid in the late 50's & early 60's I would make a trek to All Nation Hobby Shop in Chicago on a near monthly basis, and would make the rounds of all the Chicago passenger stations - when winter hit, trains got late, and not just 15 or 20 minutes or so.
I used to hit All Nation in the 60s, too! I recall my dad taking my aunt to O]Hare in 1963 to fly back to NYC in snow. Her and all other flights to LGA cancelled but we drove down to Union Station and got her on the General, standing-room only! She was only 45 minutes late to Manhattan.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
BaltACD I don't know the date of the photo, however, various trains - from both the East & West were showing serious delays. would make the rounds of all the Chicago passenger stations - when winter hit, trains got late, and not just 15 or 20 minutes or so.
would make the rounds of all the Chicago passenger stations - when winter hit, trains got late, and not just 15 or 20 minutes or so.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
blue streak 1 As of 1530 EST Sunday: 4/17 left CHI 2-1/2 late probably waiting for connections lost 1-1/2 to South Bend now 4;00 + late 6/16 - 4:00+ late at Ottuwwa, Ia 4/16 - 5-1/2 late at Kansas City 8/16 - 0+ hours late expected at Fargo.
As of 1530 EST Sunday:
4/17 left CHI 2-1/2 late probably waiting for connections lost 1-1/2 to South Bend now 4;00 + late
6/16 - 4:00+ late at Ottuwwa, Ia
4/16 - 5-1/2 late at Kansas City
8/16 - 0+ hours late expected at Fargo.
In the past, even with steam lines that could freeze, passenger rail was more reliable than flying in winter in northern states. Now?
6/15 still in Iowa 7-1/2 hours late. 30 and 50 left CHI but appears 48 waiting for connections ?
Weather delays in the mountains at this time of year should be at least explicable to passengers who have, after all, chosen the surface mode. Better than the operations tie-ups in summer they don't understand (and why should they?).
The average passenger may be a better sport than some of us on here.
Builders 7 & 8 of 16th both over 7-1/2 hours in the rockies.. 5&6 also late in the rockies. 64 & 48 took their usual 2-1/2 late.
This morning the eastbound Empire Builder is near the North Dakota/Minnesota border running four hours late. I've noticed that is pretty representative of its performance all of this week. The majority of this train's delay occured west of Spokane, but the location has seemed to vary from day to day. Amtrak's web site indicates it will arrive in St Paul 3 hours, 7 minutes late.
Granted, there is bitter winter weather this week over most of the northern states, but I doubt that the average passenger cares very much what caused the delay. For example, I think it was the Lake Shore of the 14th that was more than 3 hours late out of Chicago; that is near certainly an equipment problem. However, I wonder if finding and eliminating the cause of delays has any priority within Amtrak. They don't seem to act as if it is.
Agree wholeheartedly with Northeaster. I was in Sacramento 3 years ago, looking to catch No. 6 after an overnight stay. Checking for OT out of Sacto, I was informed that there were service problems and I should call an 800 number.
Turned out they referred to floods in Colorado causing a reroute over U.P. east of Salt Lake. What the heck did I care? The answer to my question -- that the train was OT out of Sacto, and I'd better hustle my buns down to the station -- should have been there, not a strong suggestion there might have been a derailment, nuclear attack or worse.
Sorry to hear the info hasn't gotten any better.
Really annoying how Amtrak gives no hint as to what is going wrong with a train and/or even a route which is experiencing terrible delays like #48 today running over 6 hours late and the morning #49 arriving in Chicago quite late. Was it weather, traffic, equipment failure, etc. Why should I want to know: I will be on #49 this Sunday and with terrible weather predicted will the train ever show up? It puzzles me why Amtrak as part of its informing passengers and potential passengers about situations that they do not post short explainations on their web site. It can't be that much work, maybe even one of their VP's could be tasked with that job?
BaltACD At least they no longer have to thaw out the steam trainline.
At least they no longer have to thaw out the steam trainline.
Johnny
Its much earlier this year as the polar vortex has already struck the US and Canada. We need reports as to how Amtrak is faring. So far the only real problems were the PNW ice storm delays for the Cascades and Starlight; & Empire builders are taking fairly significant delays in Montana and N Dakota. Has Amtrak gone to the 3 loco consists for the EB or any other train ? EB might even get a couple BNSF AC locos ?
As an aside Via Canadians are taking delays as well even with the long lay over at Winnipeg. #2 7+ hours late east of there.
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