Tonight AMTK 353 broke down @ MP 136 by Galesburg, blocking the single track between K-zoo and Battle Creek.
353 had #2??? and a Cabbage.
352 was stuck at the K-Zoo station for a few hours.
GD ELK 3806 was called out to save the day. The ELK engine dragged 353 to K-zoo where the plan was for 352 gave up it's engine to keep 353 moving west. (edit per update from buster manning) I did't dirve to K-zoo as it was getting dark. I assumed 353 had two units as they talked of the power swap.)
Photo's of 3806 and 353 to be posted in a bit.
Last edited by A No.1 on Sat Feb 27, 2010 8:18 pm, edited 4 times in total.
353 pulled into Chicago 7 hours and 8 minutes late. They had 90215 leading and 36 out of Pontiac yesterday.
26 and 28 were on 350 and 355 yesterday.
353 into Chicago at 11:24pm, 7 hours and 8 mins late.
354 into Pontiac at 4:20am, 2 hours and 49 minutes late.
355 into Chicago at 2:40am, 3 hours and 37 minutes late.
Last edited by GTW6401 on Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
GTW6401 wrote:353 pulled into Chicago 7 hours and 8 minutes late. They had 90215 leading and 36 out of Pontiac yesterday.
26 and 28 were on 350 and 355 yesterday.
I never did take a photo of the power on the back of 353. I thought I saw 28, I must have been mistaken. Could it have been 27? All I do know is that the plan was to get power from 352 at Kalamazoo to keep it moving.
27 was kept in K-zoo and 35 was the unit that died.... 354 took the passengers from 352 and got underway from Kzoo at 11pm and had to hand throw and clean a switch at Comstock... several coaches on Main #1 in Kzoo at the staition and two AMTK units and 3 Supers were sitting Dead at BC station yesterday as well... 126 and 90222 and 6 coaches on 354. 353 and 355 ran back to back and met 354 at Niles.
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352 had 1 engine only, which was used to get 353 to Chi; 364 brought an extra engine (35) with them for 352's equipment to drag to PNT. The train you saw sitting in KAL on main #2 was 352s' equipment. 355 was held at BTL for crew rest--and for 354 and 364 to work BTL before heading west. 352 headed out out of Kal at 130a with the 35 and 5 cars. Whole lotta p.o.'ed psgrs . Some of 352s' psgrs took the Grey Dog home, while others waited and ended up riding 354-----not a very good day
Buster Manning wrote:352 had 1 engine only, which was used to get 353 to Chi; 364 brought an extra engine (35) with them for 352's equipment to drag to PNT. The train you saw sitting in KAL on main #2 was 352s' equipment. 355 was held at BTL for crew rest--and for 354 and 364 to work BTL before heading west. 352 headed out out of Kal at 130a with the 35 and 5 cars. Whole lotta p.o.'ed psgrs . Some of 352s' psgrs took the Grey Dog home, while others waited and ended up riding 354-----not a very good day
Nope, not a good day for sure.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
Very awesome shot there, captured by Aaron. No likliness of ever seeing that again. Wish I could've been in the area.
But as for transferring passengers to the Grey Ghetto Dog, I think I would have preferred to just stay on the train and wait it out. Might have eliminated the chances of catching a contact buzz from the smell of regulars onboard the bus.
Staying on 352s' equipment was not an option---no engine=no heat or toilets.
When Amtrak uses the Grey Dog as a substitute, it is chartered and not the actual Greyhound bus service. I have used the bus connection between Battle Creek and Flint--Amtrak uses Indian Trails on this route--and it wasn't like the old days of bus travel--at least on this particular bus and route.
I know this is just "nostalgia", but back in the day when they had E-units, that train probably could have continued without assistance. E-units had 2- 12 cylinder 567 engines and if one quit, there was still one other as backup. Perhaps Amtrak should consider that the next time they order new motive power. Since they like to run two units per train anyway, (except this time they had a cabbage), I think that a twin-engined locomotive might actually be more economical to operate. If the train was not too heavy, the second prime mover could be isolated. Possibly a 5000 HP Amtrak locomotive that has the capability to operate at 2500 HP, when conditions warrant. (such as the typical Michigan trains of 3-5 cars)... I have always considered the practice of having 2 locomotives rated at 4200 horsepower on these trains as overkill... ( yes, I know that only one is providing propulsion). But still, that "extra" unit might be better utilized elsewhere..
But, of course, if they just would actually TURN the trains like they used to, there would be no need for an engine at both ends... How much money do they really save by not turning the train anyway? Sure, I can see the savings on operations such as "Metra" in Chicago, there are trains turning several 60 mile round trips every day, and the passengers on those trains are reading their newspapers anyway. Not at all concerned with which way their seat is facing.
Can it REALLY save that much money to NOT turn the train? Is there no wye in Pontiac? There used to be.. Even without a wye, or other turning track, as long as there is a way to turn the engine, (not sure about that in Pontiac anymore either).
Just my 2 cents..
Todd
Last edited by Todd Cline on Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
