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AmtrakBlue

Engineer
Gathering Team Member
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
14,844
Location
Delaware
Well I can't seem seem to make any sense of what is going on with #8 now... from Amtrak Status Maps site . I would appreciate updates from anyone who does understand it, I've got to get on it Wed. Thanks very much!
D.
If you're questioning 1008, that number is used when trains depart the day before the spring time change. You'll notice there are 1005, 1006, 1003 and 1004 on the map too.

Not sure why 7 or 1007 are not on the map. I do know that one of the recent 7's took a detour through ND due to the storm, which may be why it's not showing.
 

Sidney

OBS Chief
Joined
Jul 12, 2020
Messages
954
According to ASMAD, 8 missed connection with 48 13 out of 72 times, or 18% in the last 3 months.

8 missed the connection with 30 29 out of 68 times, or 43%.

The connection with 48 is reasonably reliable, making it about 4 out of 5 times in the recent past. 30 is a crapshoot, missing nearly half the time. If you were to book a same day connection, do it to 48.

I have made the 8 to 48 connection and I had plenty of time to walk down Adams to the Berghoff for dinner.
With a 9:30PM departure 48 is much more reliable than 30. I usually go to Harrisburg Pa when coming in on one of the Western trains and even though it will arrive in Harrisburg with a connection in NY late at night it’s more reliable than relying on 30 and 42 which gets in nine hours earlier, plus I avoid that transfer at 6AM in Pittsburgh’s dungeon
 

AmtrakBlue

Engineer
Gathering Team Member
Joined
May 6, 2011
Messages
14,844
Location
Delaware
With a 9:30PM departure 48 is much more reliable than 30. I usually go to Harrisburg Pa when coming in on one of the Western trains and even though it will arrive in Harrisburg with a connection in NY late at night it’s more reliable than relying on 30 and 42 which gets in nine hours earlier, plus I avoid that transfer at 6AM in Pittsburgh’s dungeon
When did 48 start serving Harrisburg, PA?
 

John Santos

Lead Service Attendant
AU Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2018
Messages
324
When did 48 start serving Harrisburg, PA?
"... arrive in Harrisburg with a connection in NY late at night..." I think Sidney is recommending taking the LSL to NYP and connecting to a train to Harrisburg there. 48 arrives in NYP at 6:42 PM (an hour later today due to DST change!) and there is an 8:30 PM Keystone train which arrives in Harrisburg about midnight. And you get to wait in the new lounge rather than in the Pittsburgh dungeon!
 
Joined
Sep 20, 2022
Messages
28
Location
Eaton, OH
Need to reserve hotel in September arriving Portland for connection to the EB from CS. Is there one in walking distance (a block or two} for a 93 year old in fairly good health. Is a taxi recommended? If so, which hotel? Last leg of IND to CHI to SAS to LAX to PDX to CHI to IND
 

west point

Engineer
Joined
Jun 9, 2015
Messages
3,973
Location
SW ATL airport
Been too too long. When we had a layover in PDX was at a motel just west of Lloyd center appears long gone. Map shows many hotels and motels there now . It is about a 10 minute walk. Just go out station keeping all the way to the left keeping RR tracks on left . You will cross the steel Bridge and couple blocks will be in the hotel rows.

Note" light rail is on the walking level of the bridge. Amtrak crosses bridge below with an internal lift system of the RR tracks underneath. The auto, pedestrian, light rail section does not raise very often except fleet week in MAY usually.
 

Ray Way

Train Attendant
Joined
Jan 16, 2023
Messages
18
Location
Rio Vista, CA
Wonderful to hear your age of 93 Mr Beasley and riding AMTRAK! I'm 86 (fairly good health too) and planning a trip on AMTRAK from St Paul to East Glacier. And on to Seattle on the EB.
 

Willbridge

50+ Year Amtrak Rider
AU Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2019
Messages
2,299
Location
Denver
Need to reserve hotel in September arriving Portland for connection to the EB from CS. Is there one in walking distance (a block or two} for a 93 year old in fairly good health. Is a taxi recommended? If so, which hotel? Last leg of IND to CHI to SAS to LAX to PDX to CHI to IND
A taxi is recommended, as that opens up many possible hotel/motel options. There is a Residence Inn a third of a mile northwest of the station in the Pearl District that is a level walk.

Many others are available south of the station in the downtown area, but that requires a walk through the Skid Road area. Another alternative is to take the MAX Tri-Met light rail service to the south end of the downtown area, where there are economical motels that are in the national reservation networks. However, that part of the downtown area has some slopes.

P1040052.JPG
 

west point

Engineer
Joined
Jun 9, 2015
Messages
3,973
Location
SW ATL airport
Understand both locos HEP failed. They were still good for traction.
Do not know why Amtrak did not dispatch 3 locos into 10 degree weather. Even though the calendar time had passed for BNSF's 3 loco rule.
 

zephyr17

Engineer
Joined
Jul 23, 2009
Messages
7,272
Location
Washington State
Is the Builder more impressive as one direction of the entire route or as a highlight run similar to SEA-GPK-PDX?
Well, as a regular rider of the Builder as it is my rail transportation to the east, you get most of the scenic highlights between the western terminals and East Glacier. Some enjoy eastern Montana. But I think of it as West Dakota. The only thing you miss is the Mississippi River running between La Crosse and St. Paul, which is quite scenic.

Personally, I think the Portland section through the Columbia Gorge is more scenic than Stevens Pass, much of which is a "tree tunnel". I think SEA-GPK-PDX is the right way to do it. You are pretty much guaranteed the Gorge in daylight.
 

frequentflyer

Conductor
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
1,075
If the former Airline CEO did his job right in regards to the contract, every time these breakdowns happen should be costing Siemens dearly. Is VIA having the same problems in the cold?
 
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