montana mike
Conductor
Anyone have info as to what happened to the westbound Empire Builder (#7) at MSP last night-I see it was over 6 hours late coming out of MSP?
Probably means they've decided to turn the train in Spokane with buses to/from the west coast. This to prevent a many-hour-late #8/28 departure from SEA/PDX.Now it's off the map...??
Yeah, we know, and we know you know, and this was a somewhat sad story even with most of the details unavailable -- but -- yeah -- it sounds like one of those old bad-luck good-luck jokes -- parachute - haystack - dah-dum.But the EB has 2 locomotives!
:mellow: Starting from CHI or SEA 2 locos is true. Later along the run that might be less true. And no doubt it takes both motors to get the combined train with 11 Superliners in tow over Marias or Flathead, or indeed to get that tow anywhere on time. And no doubt that diesels now-a-days are pretty darn reliable, compared to the older versions, or old-time steam, whatever.
Unfortunately the MTBF is one of those random variables.
Fortunately, #7 got out of MSP only 1:25 late, and only 20-25 minutes to BNSF Northtown -- where there is (I believe there still is) a serious diesel loco shop of the BNSF !! Likely the best source of a good spare BNSF locomotive for a thousand miles -- Unfortunately -- whatever happened, happened. :angry2:
So lucky to have the engine problem before that long lonely hi-line. And with a BNSF loaner right on-line. But sometimes - luck is pre-determined to be bad no matter what.
Hope that 7(6) can turn in Spokane - that would be better than turning sooner and busing farther.Probably means they've decided to turn the train in Spokane with buses to/from the west coast. This to prevent a many-hour-late #8/28 departure from SEA/PDX.
Here's a thing to speculate about --
Of the presumably two motors the EB 7(6) departed CHI with almost 32 hours ago -- Where are they now?
Of the presumably two BNSF loaner freight engines it seems were borrowed for this run -- same question -- Where are they now?
:mellow: Third - and the only really important question now --
how may this affect the EB #8 runs in the short term?
Any ideas of possible delays or bustitutions between SPK and, say MSP? Thinking especially of what happens if the broke-down 7(6) doesn't make it as far as Spokane?
It still had all 5 of those units on the front when it arrived MSP about 12 minutes ago - about 7:10 behind schedule. The big orange BNSF motors (with DASH-9 44 [something]) written on them) those were in front, then the 3 AMTRAK engines, then the usual cars. The windows of the SSL were a bit dirty, but I didn't see anyone sitting there.The turned around train has 3 P42, and 2 BNSF so far!
DASH 9-44CW. Can also be written as C44-9W.It still had all 5 of those units on the front when it arrived MSP about 12 minutes ago - about 7:10 behind schedule. The big orange BNSF motors (with DASH-9 44 [something]) written on them) those were in front, then the 3 AMTRAK engines, then the usual cars. The windows of the SSL were a bit dirty, but I didn't see anyone sitting there.The turned around train has 3 P42, and 2 BNSF so far!
Yup I have a couple pix (3x5MB jpg) from the arrival in MSP - any idea of where would be a good place to post them? This digital camera stuff is all new to me - my grandad and 2/3 of his kids worked for Eastman Kodak back in the day - but this digital stuff is daunting even for this IBM machine expert. A few sites i looked at want me to crop or "dunno- something with wasting data form the 5 GB photos - blah blah" - this would be super-compressing the jpegs the camera makes? -- no discussion of digital images wanted on this forum - any place anyone knows good for digital noobs?DASH 9-44CW. Can also be written as C44-9W.It still had all 5 of those units on the front when it arrived MSP about 12 minutes ago - about 7:10 behind schedule. The big orange BNSF motors (with DASH-9 44 [something]) written on them) those were in front, then the 3 AMTRAK engines, then the usual cars. The windows of the SSL were a bit dirty, but I didn't see anyone sitting there.The turned around train has 3 P42, and 2 BNSF so far!
Anyone have pictures or videos of this train?
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