Long Train Runnin'
Engineer
I think its toledo buffalo and albany are the crew points at least for conductors on the lsl route
Mandatory Crew Changes
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ThayerATM
OBS Chief
Maybe it's a "power thing." :lol:I never knew there was somebody who didn't want to blow the whistle and wave at little kids.
I'd rather be back there mingling with the people, rather than sit up there, blowing the horn and waving at little kids. I'd rather be in charge of the train, not simply driving it.
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Gord
Guest
ThayerATM
OBS Chief
That's pretty much how I put it together too.
Moving west --- Train 49, having departed NYP at 3:45 PM, wouldn't have much need to change crews before ALB. Arriving at ALB at 6:25 PM and departing ALB with the second train attached, at 7:05 PM seems like a logical time and place to change crews. Then BUF, being 4 hours and 50 minutes from ALB when they arrived (BUF) at 11:55 PM, looked to be a logical place to change the crew again. The train would then depart BUF at 1:59 AM, and arrive in Toledo at 5:55 AM, 4 hours and 54 minutes later. When 49 got into CHI at 9:45 AM, there would be thousands of time for buffers for the crew.
Moving east --- I think the same time/distance holds for 48, so the station logic holds.
It'll take some careful attention to predict the time/place for the crew changes for a week like this week has been, but somebody seems to be doing it. :lol: I suppose that I'm up to the challenge too. :unsure:
:lol:
the_traveler
Engineer
FYI: My wine cellar is located 2 levels below the lower level (that is, it is located below the pool and hot tub)!I've sneaked through Traveler's car and looked everywhere. -_- The only place I haven't looked is in his champagne locker in his wine cellar. But I'm sure you know why. You know how Traveler can get about intruders.
I thought NHV was a tiny crew base, relegated to Shuttle and SLE service since the electrification to Boston was completed.
anir dendroica
OBS Chief
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I always thought crew changes corresponded with the longer stops, e.g. Havre, MT and St. Paul, MN. Shelby and St. Cloud are not very long stops - I take that to mean that a crew change can be accomplished fairly quickly.
A crew change can occur in less than a minute if they really had to. All it takes is for the arriving engineer and conductors to step off, and the new ones to get on.
If an engineer or conductor changes without the other, then they have to do a crew briefing, which can be as quick as a minute or as long as...however long it takes to go over any slow orders or special bulletins that apply to the train.
As for 48/49, the crews work CHI-TOL, TOL-BUF, BUF-ALB (conductor), BUF-SYR (engineer), SYR-ALB (engineer), and ALB-NYP.
If an engineer or conductor changes without the other, then they have to do a crew briefing, which can be as quick as a minute or as long as...however long it takes to go over any slow orders or special bulletins that apply to the train.
As for 48/49, the crews work CHI-TOL, TOL-BUF, BUF-ALB (conductor), BUF-SYR (engineer), SYR-ALB (engineer), and ALB-NYP.
Long Train Runnin'
Engineer
I might not be rolling along the high iron for a class I, but I am NORAC qualified as a conductor and engineer, and I have to say I much prefer being a conductor. Even though on paper the responsibilities of the conductor require a lot more I find those duties to be quite simple. When I am sitting in the cab of a locomotive I'm always apprehensive, since its my hand pulling the throttle back, and its my responsibility to sound the horn at the crossings. Then there is the possibility (although in my case pretty slim) that there might be an object on the tracks from debris to a living breathing human being, and all I can do is dump the air brakes and hope I can get the train stopped. I don't know maybe more time in the cab will help me become more relax and focused, but at the moment I would much rather be a conductor. Just my 2 cents from having the pleasure of operating a 1942 GE 25 tonner.I never knew there was somebody who didn't want to blow the whistle and wave at little kids.
ThayerATM
OBS Chief
That was a kewl post !!I might not be rolling along the high iron for a class I, but I am NORAC qualified as a conductor and engineer, and I have to say I much prefer being a conductor. Even though on paper the responsibilities of the conductor require a lot more I find those duties to be quite simple. When I am sitting in the cab of a locomotive I'm always apprehensive, since its my hand pulling the throttle back, and its my responsibility to sound the horn at the crossings. Then there is the possibility (although in my case pretty slim) that there might be an object on the tracks from debris to a living breathing human being, and all I can do is dump the air brakes and hope I can get the train stopped. I don't know maybe more time in the cab will help me become more relax and focused, but at the moment I would much rather be a conductor. Just my 2 cents from having the pleasure of operating a 1942 GE 25 tonner.I never knew there was somebody who didn't want to blow the whistle and wave at little kids.
We were agreeing on the same job from completely different directions. My Amtrak reward would be from being where the people are. I don't have enough of my life left to figure I can change my perspective a whole lot.
You indicate that you're happier away from the throttle.
I hope you have enough of your life ahead of you to figure out what you really like doing --- then do it. It's too late for me, and all I can do is is enjoy going along for the Amtrak ride. :lol:
ThayerATM
OBS Chief
Unless the crew flings themselves out a window while the train is still moving, a crew change can take place in just a couple of minutes. Still, the changes do usually occur at regular service stops so the the expiring crew can step off, and the new crew can step on and get oriented with the current goings-on.
the_traveler
Engineer
Hey, never say never!
AlohaHey, never say never!Didn't Colonel Sanders start KFC when he was something like 60 or 70?
Thayer, When I read your message I thought of responding "never say never", The_Traveler beat me to it,
, oh well.
the_traveler
Engineer
I thought of responding "never say never", The_Traveler beat me to it,
ThayerATM
OBS Chief
:lol: Ya gotta be quick. Traveler doesn't miss a second.AlohaHey, never say never!Didn't Colonel Sanders start KFC when he was something like 60 or 70?
Thayer, When I read your message I thought of responding "never say never", The_Traveler beat me to it,
Notice that Ididn't use the term "never"?
hboy: :unsure:But in reality, I'm no longer interested in "starting" a new career. I just want to spend my time traveling, and keeping my traveling experiences pleasant... Thus my obsessive-compulsive planning. :lol: And Amtrak seems to be the nitch for me to do just that. To see parts of the country that we've just flown over in the past. We've gotten to see New Orleans, Seattle, San Francisco, Minot :lol: , and New York City, all because of the cozy comfort of an Amtrak bedroom, and I don't even have to touch the steering wheel of a car.
I'll be more careful about NYC next time. That was too much physical exertion for my wife, and I was worried about her, but one person on this board made NYC a memorial experience. NYP will probably be an overnight stop for a couple of other Amtrak trips we're thinking about.
the_traveler
Engineer
I'd rather stay overnight in a hotel than at NYP!
You forgot to mention seeing downtown Shelby, MT! How could you forget the bar and casino across the station's parking lot?
ThayerATM
OBS Chief
You're killin' me. :lol:I'd rather stay overnight in a hotel than at NYP!
You forgot to mention seeing downtown Shelby, MT! How could you forget the bar and casino across the station's parking lot?
It's the sentence structure --- and I don't want to spend the time wording sentences that you can't get your foot in. :lol:
The STOP is NYP. But you knew that.
The overnight STAY would be at the Affinia Suites, just across 7th Ave from the station. Those are pretty good digs.However, I'm looking to buy a car similar to your Penthouse car. Personally, I'd prefer a car with a Caboose motif, but the manufacturers feel that it would be awkward to build. They said that the penthouse suite they could handle easily, but the pool and hot tub on the lower level would be a little more difficult for them to design. I'm now thinking about two cars, one with quarters for my staff, to also to include the luggage area and food and beverages storage area... I don't know yet, buy I'll come up with the design.
<GASP> I could take off for just about anywhere Amtrak offered service from NYP, and spend the rest of my days in my own two-car train that might even visit downtown Shelby. A week in Toledo one night even comes to mind.
I believe that Oakland is not a crew change on 14 but that they are actually in San Jose which may be engineer only and Sacramento which is a full crew change point.
ThayerATM
OBS Chief
On this leg of my journey, I guess I'll just have to wing it. :unsure: Fortunately, of the five legs on my journey, # 14 has the lowest history "Service Disruptions," so in late September this year the question is largely academic.
hboy:
jis
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Yup. San Jose is Engineer only. The Conductors go through from Sacramento to San Louis Obispo. BTW rtbern's list is missing Sacramento, which is a crew change point for both Conductors and Engineer.
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Gord
Guest
I'm not up on current US operating rules but is there no standing brake test required when engineers change?
Gord
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