Amtrak Updates August 2017

Daily whereabouts of train locations along with sightings for heads ups to other railfans.
User avatar
Burb8145
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:08 pm
Location: In the Y&.

Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Burb8145 »

Starting this thread off with listings as of this post from the official website tracker of Amtrak trains currently within this forum's main coverage area.

MICHIGAN:
353 is departing Troy heading south on the CN Holly Subdivision.
350 and 365 are northeast and southwest of Lawton along the Amtrak Michigan Line respectively.

INDIANA:
351 has just gone onto the NS Chicago Line in Porter.
49 is following behind just a few miles to the east between Otis and Chesterton.

ILLINOIS:
332 and 29 have just arrived at Chicago Union Station.
306 is about to arrive at Chicago Union Station.
355 (?!) is also about to arrive at Chicago Union Station.
51 is between Dolton and South Holland on the old Monon.
390 has just departed Homewood heading north on CN's ex-IC mainline.
380 is about to arrive at LaGrange heading east on the BNSF Racetrack.
303 is heading southwest between Summit and Willow Springs on the former GM&O mainline.
300 is about to pass through Godley.
381 is passing through Kewanee further west on the Racetrack.
391 is between Loda and Paxton further south on the ex-IC.
301 and 302 are about to pass each other north of Williamsville further south on the ex-GM&O.
22 is about to arrive at Springfield.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
-Red Green

twropr
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:52 am

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by twropr »

Does anyone know why ITCS was taken out of service over the Michigan Line last week?
Also does anyone know why there are still slow orders (I think they started in April or May) west of Kalamazoo that are delaying trains 10-15 minutes?
With the slow orders and ITCS down, it is taking #351 over 90 minutes to get from K'zoo to Porter - at track speed with ITCS operational the running time is 64 minutes.
Andy

MiRailProductions
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 337
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 6:19 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by MiRailProductions »

twropr wrote:Does anyone know why ITCS was taken out of service over the Michigan Line last week?
Also does anyone know why there are still slow orders (I think they started in April or May) west of Kalamazoo that are delaying trains 10-15 minutes?
With the slow orders and ITCS down, it is taking #351 over 90 minutes to get from K'zoo to Porter - at track speed with ITCS operational the running time is 64 minutes.
Andy
This isn't good, it certainly isn't good. The real question is: Will ITCS be restored?
"If you are ever chasing trains, you're bound to end up on a 2-lane, double-striped road with a slow poke in front of you." -Danny Harmon
YouTube - Michigan Rail Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPgdn ... wZHDIyfk_Q

User avatar
Burb8145
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:08 pm
Location: In the Y&.

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Burb8145 »

From the tracker.

MICHIGAN:
365 is on a six-minute delay approaching Shaftsburg.
351 is on time crossing I-69 west of Marshall along the Michigan Line.
371 is on a one-minute delay approaching Sawyer.

ILLINOIS:
350 is on time about to cross over 79th Street and Stony Island Avenue on Chicago's south side.

INDIANA:
29 is on a 35-minute delay just west of Olive.
51 is on a 27-minute delay approaching Monon.

OHIO:
49 is on a one-hour, 40-minute delay between Wauseon and Pettisville.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
-Red Green

User avatar
Burb8145
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:08 pm
Location: In the Y&.

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Burb8145 »

MICHIGAN:
365 is between Ainger and Bellevue on time.
351 has just left Battle Creek station 15 minutes late.

INDIANA:
371 is approaching Burns Harbor.
350 is approaching Michigan City.
851 is currently passing through Lowell.
29 has stopped at Waterloo two hours and 48 minutes late.

OHIO:
49 is approaching Stryker on a two-hour, 17-minute delay.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
-Red Green

bctrainfan
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1091
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2011 3:29 am
Location: Battle Creek, MI

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by bctrainfan »

Amtrak train just arrived in Battle Creek and had crew change, continuing east now. I was told it is a "test" train, but not what its testing! :lol: AMTK 519 with 4 coaches with AMTK 518 on the tail.

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Saturnalia »

NS Grain Train just arrived in Decatur, will work on putting it away now before 354.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

twropr
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2011 6:52 am

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by twropr »

bctrainfan wrote:Amtrak train just arrived in Battle Creek and had crew change, continuing east now. I was told it is a "test" train, but not what its testing! :lol: AMTK 519 with 4 coaches with AMTK 518 on the tail.
Understand this equipment was sent to run over track that had recently been surfaced to compress the ballast - otherwise the revenue trains would have slow orders until the ballast settles. Does anyone know where the surfacing took place?
Andy

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Saturnalia »

twropr wrote:
bctrainfan wrote:Amtrak train just arrived in Battle Creek and had crew change, continuing east now. I was told it is a "test" train, but not what its testing! :lol: AMTK 519 with 4 coaches with AMTK 518 on the tail.
Understand this equipment was sent to run over track that had recently been surfaced to compress the ballast - otherwise the revenue trains would have slow orders until the ballast settles. Does anyone know where the surfacing took place?
Andy
Based on the fact that they've got passenger coaches, they may also be testing ITCS. They'd want more weight per car if they were trying to run tonnage
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
PerRock
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 711
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Manchester, MI
Contact:

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by PerRock »

MiRailProductions wrote:
twropr wrote:Does anyone know why ITCS was taken out of service over the Michigan Line last week?
Also does anyone know why there are still slow orders (I think they started in April or May) west of Kalamazoo that are delaying trains 10-15 minutes?
With the slow orders and ITCS down, it is taking #351 over 90 minutes to get from K'zoo to Porter - at track speed with ITCS operational the running time is 64 minutes.
Andy
This isn't good, it certainly isn't good. The real question is: Will ITCS be restored?
From another forum, apparently it was a software problem. Don't know much more about it, the "leaker" was pretty tight-lipped.

peter
Given the choice; I fly Amtrak.
American Trainz Group

User avatar
Burb8145
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:08 pm
Location: In the Y&.

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Burb8145 »

I've decided to post reports from the tracker again today.

350 is 35 minutes late at Royal Oak, MI.
353 is 11 minutes late at Decatur, MI.
352 is one minute late at Michigan City, IN.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
-Red Green

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Saturnalia »

NS Grain train should have left or will leave Decatur shortly. 352 and 353 are going to meet at Three oaks, so the farthest west the grain train could be for 352 is Niles.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

KenB
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1494
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:43 pm
Location: Dearborn, Mich.

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by KenB »

Which way is NS grain train going?

User avatar
Saturnalia
Authority on Cat
Posts: 15385
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:54 pm
Location: Michigan City, IN
Contact:

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Saturnalia »

KenB wrote:Which way is NS grain train going?
Back to Chicago

Pretty sure they're not by Three Oaks yet. I think they were held in Decatur for 352 and 353.
Thornapple River Rail Series - YouTube
Safety today is your investment for tomorrow

User avatar
Burb8145
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 463
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 2:08 pm
Location: In the Y&.

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by Burb8145 »

353 was at Greenfield Village at 11:37 AM.

Consist was P42DC 28, Amfleet I coach 82546, Amfleet I coach 82542, Amfleet I coach 82548 (ILHSR logo), another Amfleet I coach, Amfleet I coach 82508, Horizon coach 54539 and Amfleet I cafe 48179.
If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.
-Red Green

User avatar
PerRock
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 711
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Manchester, MI
Contact:

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by PerRock »

There was a train stored at the New Center/Artrain track last night. I didn't get a good look at it, but noted an B32-8WH and an Amfleet.

peter
Given the choice; I fly Amtrak.
American Trainz Group

MiRailProductions
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 337
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 6:19 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by MiRailProductions »

I heard horns on the West Side of Ann Arbor at 2115, going westbound. It could be the Dash 8 with the Amfleet, since 354 isn't even in the area and 355 went through on time.
"If you are ever chasing trains, you're bound to end up on a 2-lane, double-striped road with a slow poke in front of you." -Danny Harmon
YouTube - Michigan Rail Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPgdn ... wZHDIyfk_Q

User avatar
PerRock
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 711
Joined: Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Manchester, MI
Contact:

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by PerRock »

Detoured past the New Center on my way into work today. From what I could tell:

Dash 8 #518/6 (brains a little fuzzy, had some other things to do before I could get online)
2 amfleet coaches
2 horizon coaches

I couldn't see if anything else was on the far end as the New Center was blocking my view.

According to TO, they're testing some Dash 8s for ITCS out in the Kalamazoo/Indiana area this week. The consist here sounds like the same one, but it seems odd that they'd park it way out here instead of in Niles.

peter
Given the choice; I fly Amtrak.
American Trainz Group

KenB
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1494
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:43 pm
Location: Dearborn, Mich.

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by KenB »

I assume that is New Center in Detroit, MI? Which way were they going?

blueheron13
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 531
Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2017 4:01 pm
Location: All over Southeast Michigan

Re: Amtrak Updates August 2017

Unread post by blueheron13 »

KenB wrote:I assume that is New Center in Detroit, MI? Which way were they going?
I think it's this Ann Arbor place?
http://www.new.org/
Amateur railfan trying to become a real railfan since 2017.

Post Reply