Recent content by BlakeTyner

I originally wrote that it'd be on the back of 21, but in thinking about it, it would be more logical if they cut it in on the head end. Either way, it should be a part of 21 that day.

Dear Friends, Since I know we have several members in Texas, I wanted to let everyone know that the 40th Anniversary Exhibit Train will be stopping in Longview in a few weeks. Official Website From my understanding, the exhibit train will deadhead at the rear of 21 from CHI on Tuesday, April...

Here's my pictures from the Marshall derailment: http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b156/BlakeTyner/Derailment/ What's really nice is that the UP not only cleaned it up fast, but they provided a generator for the Marshall depot & Amtrak station until SWEPCO was able to restore power to the...

Last time I was aboard, we ate dinner at about 9 (our sleeper attendant had made our reservations ahead of time, before we boarded.) The diner was still full at that point, though it seemed that once we were all done, they were closing down.

If need be, Amtrak will cancel a train and bus passengers to their destinations. In this case, the Eagles are just victims of circumstance--two derailments of UP freights, one near Mineola and one near Little Rock. Yesterday the train turned in Longview and there was a bus bridge. Today, the...

A couple of years ago, we were all a bit puzzled by the California cars from the Texas Eagle and how exactly the tri-weekly connection with the Sunset happened. Because the Eagle always runs with the same consist, there had to be some protect cars floating around in SAS. I sat down with...

Just to add a little to the Texas Eagle: on days when there is an extra sleeper (charter group, etc.) it's line number will be 2121/2221.

It's not too bad--not really claustrophobic or anything. The wife slept up there during our trip from MHL to CHI in May, and she didn't mind. She took my laptop and watched movies until she fell asleep. With no window up there, it's either sleep or read or watch DVDs. Anyway, what I really...

Yes, unless and until the Sunset/Eagle merger happens.

They had a stub train operating in Illinois on Friday for a public event at one of the stations (Joliet? Bloomington?) This could have been something similar to that--particularly if there's some important governor race or state congressional issue.

In one month, the CCC will be staffed all the way to SAS. No more boxed meals or short dinner times.

In case you're interested, I uploaded a sound bite of a P42 compressor kicking in: http://www.mediafire.com/?8qmpv67crqc8k4w

It's running through with the Texas Eagle through the summer, so it should look something like this: P42 Transition sleeper (not sure if the CONO sells the 8 roomettes in this car) Sleeper Cross-Country Cafe Sightseer Lounge (or a second CCC if a Lounge isn't available) Coach Coach Coach

I was on board when this video was taken on that trip: Probably a once in a lifetime deal for me, since I can never afford the excursion tickets.

Well, it would appear that #500 is back in Fort Worth for the Heartland Flyer--someone posted a video of 21 heading south out of Chicago about a week ago with #500 as the second locomotive. Must have caught the CONO to Chicago.