Recent content by Bfputtzman

Correct me if I’m wrong but North Coast Hiawatha is an amalgamation of North Coast Limited (former NP) and Hiawatha (former Milwaukee), so that would fit the combined route it ran, no? To your point, the Empire Builder still runs a “non James J. Hill route” (the namesake Empire Builder) between...

It was revised in 2013: Federal Register :: Request Access Most freight lines actually limit super-elevation to 5-inches but have stated preference for not exceeding 4-inches. This is an excellent report summarizing methodologies, particularly pages 17 - 27...

Several comments skeptical that freight railroads would make improvements for Amtrak (whether capacity, speed, or otherwise)… I would only say “money talks,” and Amtrak never really had any money before. If they would reach out to the host RR local Engineering managers offering to pay for...

3” is standard UB for FRA. However, UB exceeding 3” (with no specific limit) is authorized under terms provided in 213.57d - namely car testing and certification. 213.57h(1) clarifies requirements for 3” < UB = < 5” and 213.57h(2) clarifies requirements for UB > 5”. Portions of Amtrak Cascades...

2) Maybe they have, maybe they haven’t. If they did, when? If not or they did a long time ago, maybe this is a valid current idea to raise revenue consistent with the forum topic? 3) Agree and I should have been more clear with my initial comment that I was thinking generally “beyond...

1) Daily trains. Customers can’t “count on” service without. 2) In states like IL that have state-supported service stations, long distance trains should stop at all stations. For example, only the state trains stop at Plano while the SW Chief and CZ both blow by the station. The additional...

To your point on potential boondoggle, I'm suggesting that it is a shorter putt and less expensive to turn a four bedroom home into a five bedroom home than it is to convert a mobile home into a four bedroom home. Don't forget, this conversion needs to occur "lot after lot" - aka mile after...

Two round trips (4 trains) should operate daily between Chicago and Des Moines over BNSF (ex-CB&Q). The line is double tracked and existing Amtrak from Chicago to Albia (300 miles) and under capacity, and the former Zephyr route is high speed (125-mph) capable. Albia to Des Moines would need...