I posted this earlier in the Coast Starlight Consist thread but just to give a final update:
Train 14(3) departed LAUS (LAX) just over 3 hours late due to what Amtrak called a "minor derailment" as the train was pulling into the station area. The train did not have passengers on board and the time and I presume the same/similar consist was used to continue on 14(3) after it was placed back on the rail.
Train 14(3) ran just over 3.5 hours late as it continued north towards Santa Barbara. Unfortunately train 14(3) then struck and killed a pedestrian (Conductor stated Homeless Pedestrian on the appoach to Santa Barbara Station.
This caused the closure of both tracks into and out of Santa Barbara Station and the subsiquent delay of trains 11, 14, 777, 796, and 1790.
The incident occurred just after 4pm just south of the station. State Street was closed in front of the station as was the main entryway into the station parking lot.
Train traffic began to move again around 7pm. Train 769 completed its run to Goleta Station ahead of the accident and was on the layover siding at Goleta waiting to depart southbound as train 796. Train 1790 was "reversed" back into Goleta station after the long duration of the incident was anticipated. Train 796 was then pulled out of the layover siding and coupled to the northern end of train 1790 and the two departed as one train set using the 796 schedule, just under 45 minutes late. An extra train set was brought out from the yard to LAX to operate the route of train 1790 between LAX and SAN on time.
Train 14 was released from the scene. Train 777 was behind train 14 at the time of the incident. Train 777 was hooked to the rear end of train 14 and both trains are operating as one northbound towards San Luis Obispo. As a result the combined train 14/777 will make the local stops of Goleta, Surf-Lompoc, Guadalupe-Santa Maria, Grover Beach, to San Luis Obispo where train 777 will be disconnected and placed on the layover track for the night. Train 14/777 were released from SBA for a total delay of around 6.5 hours for train 14 and nearly 2 hours for train 777. The combined train was held north of SBA for train 11 to clear the single tracked area at Goleta station.
Train 11 was held north of the Goleta siding to allow space for train 796 to back out then proceed southward again. This is the train I was on. We made up our scheduled time and were due to arrive in SBA about 10 minutes early. We were stopped just after 5:40pm. We were able to proceed southward into Goleta station at approximately 7:30pm. The train stopped at Goleta station to off board anyone connecting to trains 2/22 in LAX. Those passengers and their luggage were off-boarded and they were placed into Taxi's at Goleta to take them the remaining 100 or so miles to LAX to make the connection.
Passengers were allowed to take a fresh-air break at the unscheduled stop at Goleta as well. Those who had rides also off-boarded the train here as well as our destination was SBA, about 10 minutes south down the line.
When I was picked up and heading Southbound on 101 we saw the combined 14/777 sitting on a siding just north of Santa Barbara. Also saw the combined 796/1790 around Ventura.
Interesting arrangement but foward thinking on the part of Amtrak to combine the trains and couple them together. Also it was good they thought ahead to those transfering to trains 2/22 so they could make the connection without holding a whole train for them.
The 14/777 connection worked out because the Coach/Baggage/Cab car end of 777 was facing north so it was coupled directly to the last coach of train 14 for a smooth connection.
Train 796 and 1790 was another story. 796 had the locomotive on the south end and the coach/baggage/cab car on the north end. Train 1790 had the locomotive on the north end with the coach/baggage/cab car on the south end. The train looked funny as it had cab cars on both ends and the locomotives in the middle of the train facing each other. If anyone is out it would make for an interesting picture having two locomotives in the middle of the train facing each other!
Yes... it was a long day for many people. On our train 11 the conductor announced the delay could be up to 4 hours so people began to raid the cafe car until it was raided out. The alcohol was already long gone as it was Super Bowl Sunday. People began to slam the dining car to try to get in for dinner as well given the delay.
All and all though, at the end of the day the trains are moving and people are getting to where they need to go. The only lasting impact (besides that of the fatality on the people involved) will be the progress of train 14(3) and the subsequent turn to train 11(5) if 14(3) arrives really late into SEA.
Train 14(3) departed LAUS (LAX) just over 3 hours late due to what Amtrak called a "minor derailment" as the train was pulling into the station area. The train did not have passengers on board and the time and I presume the same/similar consist was used to continue on 14(3) after it was placed back on the rail.
Train 14(3) ran just over 3.5 hours late as it continued north towards Santa Barbara. Unfortunately train 14(3) then struck and killed a pedestrian (Conductor stated Homeless Pedestrian on the appoach to Santa Barbara Station.
This caused the closure of both tracks into and out of Santa Barbara Station and the subsiquent delay of trains 11, 14, 777, 796, and 1790.
The incident occurred just after 4pm just south of the station. State Street was closed in front of the station as was the main entryway into the station parking lot.
Train traffic began to move again around 7pm. Train 769 completed its run to Goleta Station ahead of the accident and was on the layover siding at Goleta waiting to depart southbound as train 796. Train 1790 was "reversed" back into Goleta station after the long duration of the incident was anticipated. Train 796 was then pulled out of the layover siding and coupled to the northern end of train 1790 and the two departed as one train set using the 796 schedule, just under 45 minutes late. An extra train set was brought out from the yard to LAX to operate the route of train 1790 between LAX and SAN on time.
Train 14 was released from the scene. Train 777 was behind train 14 at the time of the incident. Train 777 was hooked to the rear end of train 14 and both trains are operating as one northbound towards San Luis Obispo. As a result the combined train 14/777 will make the local stops of Goleta, Surf-Lompoc, Guadalupe-Santa Maria, Grover Beach, to San Luis Obispo where train 777 will be disconnected and placed on the layover track for the night. Train 14/777 were released from SBA for a total delay of around 6.5 hours for train 14 and nearly 2 hours for train 777. The combined train was held north of SBA for train 11 to clear the single tracked area at Goleta station.
Train 11 was held north of the Goleta siding to allow space for train 796 to back out then proceed southward again. This is the train I was on. We made up our scheduled time and were due to arrive in SBA about 10 minutes early. We were stopped just after 5:40pm. We were able to proceed southward into Goleta station at approximately 7:30pm. The train stopped at Goleta station to off board anyone connecting to trains 2/22 in LAX. Those passengers and their luggage were off-boarded and they were placed into Taxi's at Goleta to take them the remaining 100 or so miles to LAX to make the connection.
Passengers were allowed to take a fresh-air break at the unscheduled stop at Goleta as well. Those who had rides also off-boarded the train here as well as our destination was SBA, about 10 minutes south down the line.
When I was picked up and heading Southbound on 101 we saw the combined 14/777 sitting on a siding just north of Santa Barbara. Also saw the combined 796/1790 around Ventura.
Interesting arrangement but foward thinking on the part of Amtrak to combine the trains and couple them together. Also it was good they thought ahead to those transfering to trains 2/22 so they could make the connection without holding a whole train for them.
The 14/777 connection worked out because the Coach/Baggage/Cab car end of 777 was facing north so it was coupled directly to the last coach of train 14 for a smooth connection.
Train 796 and 1790 was another story. 796 had the locomotive on the south end and the coach/baggage/cab car on the north end. Train 1790 had the locomotive on the north end with the coach/baggage/cab car on the south end. The train looked funny as it had cab cars on both ends and the locomotives in the middle of the train facing each other. If anyone is out it would make for an interesting picture having two locomotives in the middle of the train facing each other!
Yes... it was a long day for many people. On our train 11 the conductor announced the delay could be up to 4 hours so people began to raid the cafe car until it was raided out. The alcohol was already long gone as it was Super Bowl Sunday. People began to slam the dining car to try to get in for dinner as well given the delay.
All and all though, at the end of the day the trains are moving and people are getting to where they need to go. The only lasting impact (besides that of the fatality on the people involved) will be the progress of train 14(3) and the subsequent turn to train 11(5) if 14(3) arrives really late into SEA.
