Viewliner II - Part 1 - Initial Production and Delivery

[Crescent ATN & TCL]

Is the Amfleet coach on the back just to let it keep "P" speeds?

I believe it was actually a cafe car.

Could be for the conductor and possibly an AC since they usually work from the cafe cars.

 

[VentureForth]

That's a good point. I couldn't really see in the videos. BTW, anyone know where the train is right now? It isn't being followed on the Amtrak tracker...

The Silver Meteor it is supposed to be following is running 1:49 late. Wonder if this delay is being translated to the Special as well? I may get to see it after all!

 

[chrsjrcj]

The train departs Philly tonight.

 

[jis]

Right now at 0930 EST 1430 Zulu of 18th Dec, it is in Philadelphia Race St. Yard.

It will depart PHL about 2 hours behind 97(18).

Venture you may be one day off. The 97 that it will follow has not left New York yet.

 

[jis]

Any idea what number the trains will have and if they will be trackable?

PHL - MIA the train number is 855.
The consist is reported on TO to be:

822, 42, 61001, 61000, 61002, 61006, 61004, 61007, 61008, 61010, 61012, 61013, 61014, 61017, 61022, 61011, 61015, 61018, 61019, 61021, 61023, 61024, 10021 (Pacific Cape), 10001 (Beech Grove)

No Cafe car. It has been replaced by an Office Sleeper (Pacific Cape) and Beech Grove.

 

[VentureForth]

Happy to be off by a day! Tomorrow is a way better watching day.

 

[jis]

Here's something you can do! Look up train 855 on Amtrak Train Status at amtrak.com. Look for times only at Division/Crew Change points. Say for example, try JAX, ORL or MIA tomorrow!

Looks like 855 is scheduled to run on 97's marker. As for what will actually happen is anyone's guess. but presumably you will be able to see its actual status as it trundles down the Atlantic Coast!

 

[Big Iron]

Any chance the bag train will hit 125 mph between PHL-WAS?

 

[Amfleeter]

Any chance the bag train will hit 125 mph between PHL-WAS?

Unless something's changed with P42 gearing, no. It'll top out at 90 most likely - unless P42s are allowed 110 MPH on the Corridor. Does anyone know what the P42 on-corr top speed is?

 

[Acela150]

Any chance the bag train will hit 125 mph between PHL-WAS?

Unless something's changed with P42 gearing, no. It'll top out at 90 most likely - unless P42s are allowed 110 MPH on the Corridor. Does anyone know what the P42 on-corr top speed is?

110.

 

[jis]

Any chance the bag train will hit 125 mph between PHL-WAS?

Unless something's changed with P42 gearing, no. It'll top out at 90 most likely - unless P42s are allowed 110 MPH on the Corridor. Does anyone know what the P42 on-corr top speed is?

P42s are good for 110mph. They do at least 100 between Schenectady and Hoffmans with the LSL sometimes.

 

[ILoveTransit]

BEWARE: Get your cameras ready!!!! The official special train schedule is now provided from my friend at Amtrak:

9:30P - Wash DC
9:50P - Alexandria, VA
11:40P - Richmond, VA
12:24A - Petersburg, VA
2:56A - Rocky Mount, NC
4:34A - Fayetteville, NC
6:20A - Florence, SC
7:05A - Kingstree, SC
8:06A - Charleston, SC
8:56A - Yemassee, SC
9:44A - Savannah, GA
10:23A - Jacksonville, FL
12:54P - Palakta, FL
1:44P - Deland, FL
2:27 - Winter Park, FL
2:55P - Orlando, FL
3:32P - Kissimmee, FL
4:24 - Winter Haven, FL
5:05P - Sebring, FL
6:54P - West Palm Beach, FL
7:23P - Delray Beach, FL
7:39P - Deerfield Beach, FL
8:02P - Fort Lauderdale, FL
8:18P - Hollywood, FL
8:55P - Miami, FL

 

[jis]

That makes more sense than the status thing says. Maybe they'll fix it to match reality.

 

[Big Iron]

Any chance the bag train will hit 125 mph between PHL-WAS?

Unless something's changed with P42 gearing, no. It'll top out at 90 most likely - unless P42s are allowed 110 MPH on the Corridor. Does anyone know what the P42 on-corr top speed is?

P42s are good for 110mph. They do at least 100 between Schenectady and Hoffmans with the LSL sometimes.

I was assuming that an electric motor would have been used on the NEC.

 

[Big Iron]

BEWARE: Get your cameras ready!!!! The official special train schedule is now provided from my friend at Amtrak:

9:30P - Wash DC

9:50P - Alexandria, VA

11:40P - Richmond, VA

12:24A - Petersburg, VA

2:56A - Rocky Mount, NC

4:34A - Fayetteville, NC

6:20A - Florence, SC

7:05A - Kingstree, SC

8:06A - Charleston, SC

8:56A - Yemassee, SC

9:44A - Savannah, GA

10:23A - Jacksonville, FL

12:54P - Palakta, FL

1:44P - Deland, FL

2:27 - Winter Park, FL

2:55P - Orlando, FL

3:32P - Kissimmee, FL

4:24 - Winter Haven, FL

5:05P - Sebring, FL

6:54P - West Palm Beach, FL

7:23P - Delray Beach, FL

7:39P - Deerfield Beach, FL

8:02P - Fort Lauderdale, FL

8:18P - Hollywood, FL

8:55P - Miami, FL

Good Stuff! Thanks for posting. I work in Petersburg but not at 12:42 in the AM.

 

[MattW]

Any chance the bag train will hit 125 mph between PHL-WAS?

Unless something's changed with P42 gearing, no. It'll top out at 90 most likely - unless P42s are allowed 110 MPH on the Corridor. Does anyone know what the P42 on-corr top speed is?

P42s are good for 110mph. They do at least 100 between Schenectady and Hoffmans with the LSL sometimes.

Good for 110mph or not, can the pair of P42s even get that much train up to 110mph?

 

[OlympianHiawatha]

Good for 110mph or not, can the pair of P42s even get that much train up to 110mph?

Since it is an empty light train they should be able to with room to spare.

 

[jis]

They don't need to. They are supposed stay a good distance behind 97. They also don't need to get to Washington early and screw up the works.

 

[Acela150]

Any chance the bag train will hit 125 mph between PHL-WAS?

Unless something's changed with P42 gearing, no. It'll top out at 90 most likely - unless P42s are allowed 110 MPH on the Corridor. Does anyone know what the P42 on-corr top speed is?

P42s are good for 110mph. They do at least 100 between Schenectady and Hoffmans with the LSL sometimes.

I was assuming that an electric motor would have been used on the NEC.

It wouldn't make sense to do that.

 

[Crescent ATN & TCL]

Any chance the bag train will hit 125 mph between PHL-WAS?

Unless something's changed with P42 gearing, no. It'll top out at 90 most likely - unless P42s are allowed 110 MPH on the Corridor. Does anyone know what the P42 on-corr top speed is?

P42s are good for 110mph. They do at least 100 between Schenectady and Hoffmans with the LSL sometimes.

I was assuming that an electric motor would have been used on the NEC.

From what I've seen they ran diesel all the way through Penn around the Sunnyside loop and down to Philadelphia.
Unless someone finds a photo or video of an electric leading...

 

[Ryan]

Nope, P42 all the way. 42 on the point through Odenton just a few minutes ago. Crappy video shortly.

 

[MattW]

I'm somewhat impressed they ran diesel through Penn Station. I know the ban on diesels isn't absolute as some believe, but I'm not sure now if I would want to be down there, or not want to be down there when it ran through!

 

[Ryan]

The protect engine in NYP went out and grabbed it and then got it through the tunnel.

As promised, crappy video:

 

[NE933]

That may be one of Amtrak's best single level long distance train to have run in nearly two decades: long, full of new equipment, and on time.

 

[Train2104]

Here's a video I found of it passing through NYP. Doesn't show the locos, but the uploader says they used diesels.