Some interesting comments from the Yahoo EB group about yesterday's disruption of #7.
Blizzard conditions, along with probably other factors, have rendered all three Amtrak locomotives on train 7-17 almost powerless inbound at Minot where the train was struggling to make 40 MPH. Blowing snow closed many roads.
7-17 picked up unit BNSF 4516 at Minot to pull the train westward, where it might get to thaw in warmer temperatures.
Which segued into a discussion of the Amtrak engines in question.Train 7-17 terminated at Spokane, arriving just short of 7.5 hours late.
Passengers busing, 8-19 origates at Spokane. BNSF unit will accompany the
Ampower back east. Also a BNSF locomotive leading train 8-18….
Been a problem with the Genesis since they were new in the 1990s, still not fixed!
When the 1st ones came out west. they run them thru the wash rack in SEA and killed the engines deader than a hammer
then GE put louvers on the intakes.
Then they experienced reduced power cause the Traction Motor Intake filters were plugging up with leaves and blowing grass, straw, etc in the fall thru the farm lands
Amtk just went the cheap route and that is what they got, JUNK! They just keep patching em up and sending em out. If they would buy a reputable locomotive for a change, they would have something that would run consistently.