Weather questions???????

[Breeze]

Ok tonight is the night, but I still have a question or two.. OK since I'm going east and it is probably snowing.. how is the train when it comes to snow, ice and storms? Is it still safe in weather like that or even rain? And does the track and bridges hold up in weather like that?

Thanks

 

[EmpireBuilderFan]

For weather to seriously affect a train it would have to be pretty bad weather. I'm from northeastern Montana, where the weather can get really severe. There are times when the airlines can't fly, the roads are closed to all traffic, but Amtrak is still running. It might be delayed a bit for what ever reason, but it's still going strong.

Another example: on one trip from Portland to my parents' home, the Columbia River gorge was an absolute mess. The Interstate through the gorge was completely closed due to some really nasty ice. It was bad. On the other side of the gorge, which was also experiencing the same icing conditions, my train flew along at normal speed like it was just another normal, nice weather day.

 

[Breeze]

Ok so the tracks don't freeze up and no slips..how about the ice on bridges?

Another question unrelated and about the luggage thing.. how much does it cost to check in luggage and is it a hassle? If you bring luggage on, do you just carry it to your seat or is there another place for it on your car? And you have overheads or under your seat as options to place your luggage, right?

 

[AlanB]

Each passenger can check up to two bags for free, but again they can't weigh more than 50 pounds. Shouldn't be too much of a hassle, although you might want to move up your arrival time by a few extra minutes to check in any bags. Checked luggage by the way will go right from one train to the other in Chicago, so you won't have to worry about moving it in Chicago.

Please note however, you will not have access to any bags that you check during the journey. So don't pack anything that you will need during the trip into a bag that you plan to check.

On the first train you'll ride, there is a big luggage rack down stairs. The train from Chicago to Boston, will have a luggage area at one end of the car. Additionally on both trains, there is an overhead rack above your seat for moderately sized suitcases. Small bags can fit under the seat if you like.

By and large trains don't care about ice. Ice on a bridge means nothing to a train. Usually the biggest problem that ice can cause for a train, is to knock out power to the towns that the train runs through. So a train may have to run at a slower speed for safety since the crossing gates won't work without power, but the train will run.

Ps. Have a great trip!

 

[battalion51]

By and large trains don't care about ice. Ice on a bridge means nothing to a train. Usually the biggest problem that ice can cause for a train, is to knock out power to the towns that the train runs through. So a train may have to run at a slower speed for safety since the crossing gates won't work without power, but the train will run.

Keep in mind though Alan that even the gates have battery backups that last 6-8 hours if power is knocked out to the gates. Also as far as ice goes, switches can freeze, but most in northern areas have switch heaters installed to prevent that, in other area flares are used to warm the switch. Also as you can imagine ice can form on the rails. If too much accumulates the engine can experience wheel slip which is counteracted with sand that the Engineer controls.

 

[Breeze]

How does that work Battalion? What do you mean he puts sand down..like at every train stop?

Alan..ice has to mean something! How can the train travel if there is ice or the tracks freeze? What about hard rain and storms? What safety measures are there for things like that?

 

[Anthony]

Relax

Incidentally, our trains may in fact pass each other if one is delayed. I'm heading westbound out of Needles tonight.

 

[AlanB]

How does that work Battalion? What do you mean he puts sand down..like at every train stop?

The engine has a box that holds sand. Coming out of the bottom of the box are little tiny pipes that end in front of the wheels of the engine. So anytime the engineer feels the wheels slipping or even thing that they might start slipping, he hits a button that lets some sand fall out of the box, down the pipes, and right onto the tracks in front of the wheels.

He can do this in a station, while climbing a big hill, or any other time he wants, since he doesn't even have to get out of his seat.

Alan..ice has to mean something! How can the train travel if there is ice or the tracks freeze? What about hard rain and storms? What safety measures are there for things like that?

No by and large ice doesn't mean much, other than what Battalion mentioned above. Remember this is not your car, things that would affect you in a car don't always bother a train. A train operates completely different than your car does. The engineer has no steering wheel to turn the train. The train just follows the tracks. So he can't slide when the tracks turn, unlike you in your car when the road turns.

Heavy rain also doesn't really matter for the same reasons. Yes if it rains really bad and a river overflows it's banks onto the tracks, then the train can't run over the tracks. However they'll just send the train a different way to avoid the flood.

Yes weather can affect the trains, but not necessarily in the same ways that it would affect your car.

 

[Breeze]

So it's safe then?

I have 3 hours before leaving

 

[tp49]

Yes it is absolutly safe

 

[Anthony]

Hopefully they tell the passengers on her train tonight about the freight cars getting attached to the rear at LAX... there are a few big jolts and the power goes out... might be scary for a first-time rider

 

[Save Our Trains Michigan]

I work for BNSF as a conductor and let me tell you.No mater what kind of weather your in it is safe i have been in all kind's of it.Don't worry about a thing just enjoy your trip.