Amtrak Consist Winter 2016-17

[CR900945]

#350 today still had the heritage baggage car. Seems to be a slow order thru Ypsi. Train did all of 25mph.

[dmitzel]

Is the BLUE WATER running Amfleet/Horizons or Superliners?
Thanks!
Andy

Bluewater has been single-level Horizon-Amfleet since Amtrak went 110mph on the line west of K-zoo.

I have biz class on 365 from Lapeer on Monday, so assuming it's still the case. I'd rather ride coach in a Superliner, though - more comfortable and less $$$ too.

[Ypsi]

They also have sold business class on the superliners, but it only gets you a curtained off area at one end of the train

[hoborich]

That is correct; if memory serves, CN requires Amtrak to have at least 32 axles in order to operate on their lines.

What is the reason for the 32 axle minimum?

[Ypsi]

CN has a rule about crossing activation, and that's the minimum number of axels they determined Amtrak needed. Based on what I heard, Amtrak may have hit a car/ person while crossing protection was not functioning with a short train on CN, and then they made the rule from there citing the number of axels as a contributor.

[PerRock]

Apparently UP has a similar rule; which is causing some issues in MO.

peter

[Ypsi]

Amtrak 350 rated a brand new viewliner baggage car as the aero count car today along with 4 horizon cars. Car number is 61051

[Schteinkuh]

CN has a rule about crossing activation, and that's the minimum number of axels they determined Amtrak needed. Based on what I heard, Amtrak may have hit a car/ person while crossing protection was not functioning with a short train on CN, and then they made the rule from there citing the number of axels as a contributor.

Most defect detectors have a minimum amount of axles required for them to work, too.

[Buster Manning]

Most defect detectors have a minimum amount of axles required for them to work, too.

More likely it is a minimum speed needed, not axles

[GreatLakesRailfan]

CN has a rule about crossing activation, and that's the minimum number of axels they determined Amtrak needed. Based on what I heard, Amtrak may have hit a car/ person while crossing protection was not functioning with a short train on CN, and then they made the rule from there citing the number of axels as a contributor.

Someone died in a car that was hit by the Bluewater in Charlotte several years ago. Witnesses claimed the crossing protection wasn't working when the train entered the intersection. That's when CN started requiring a minimum axle count for Amtrak movements.

[LakeATCS]

There was also a problem with the IC crossing circuits in IL as well.

Some of the modern "predictor" circuits get a little confused with a small number of axles shunting the circuit. Couple this with a fast train......