Saw Amtrak 355 tonight (1/7/2018) at Milwaukee Junction. It had a baggage car at the end of the consist. Does anyone know why? Is Amtrak testing out checked bag service, or is it a spare car they are returning to Chicago?
Thanks!
Amtrak Baggage Car
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DaveO
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Re: Amtrak Baggage Car
Axle count.
CN requires Wolverine Service Trains to have a minimum of 24 axles.
CN requires the Blue Water to have a minimum of 30 axles.
This is to ensure that the track circuits for grade crossings and track signals/CTC will recognize Amtrak trains.
It is the result of a fatal accident in Charlotte, Michigan where the grade crossing didn't activate.
Studies showed that the wheel treads were too fouled to shunt the circuits.
That's because the Horizon and Amfleet cars use disc brakes and not tread brakes.
Amtrak is short on power and cars but they have heritage baggage cars that are still roadworthy.
CN requires Wolverine Service Trains to have a minimum of 24 axles.
CN requires the Blue Water to have a minimum of 30 axles.
This is to ensure that the track circuits for grade crossings and track signals/CTC will recognize Amtrak trains.
It is the result of a fatal accident in Charlotte, Michigan where the grade crossing didn't activate.
Studies showed that the wheel treads were too fouled to shunt the circuits.
That's because the Horizon and Amfleet cars use disc brakes and not tread brakes.
Amtrak is short on power and cars but they have heritage baggage cars that are still roadworthy.
Re: Amtrak Baggage Car
Back in the 80's and 90's, Amtrak kept a string of loaded ballast cars in Niles and would call the occasional CR extra crew out of Jackson to run a train of these cars up and down the line to take the rust off the rail. Not surprisingly they were called "rust busters".
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DaveO
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Re: Amtrak Baggage Car
Should add that there were 2, IIRC, documented instances on the CN in Illinois where the grade crossing protection didn't activate.
Plus there are other undocumented instances, some of them by lawyers. Imagine that.
There were also rumors that dispatchers couldn't see the trains at times. That information was definitely in the second hand department.
Plus there are other undocumented instances, some of them by lawyers. Imagine that.
There were also rumors that dispatchers couldn't see the trains at times. That information was definitely in the second hand department.