Back in the 80's I remember rock-n-rolling on the BN between Lincoln & McCook, Ne on the California Zephyr.
But my recent trip on the City of New Orleans (CN) that was a real shaky experience between Kankakee and Effingham, IL
RDG484 Member # 2907
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CSX on the A-line still has some jointed rail.
MontanaJim Member # 2323
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rdg484, is that line the line the cardinal runs on? the cardinal seems to have track problems in indiana.....
cajon Member # 40
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Surfliners, Southwest Chief & Metrolinks on BNSF San Berdino Sub.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CG96 Member # 1408
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Right now, I'd have to say the worst dispatching has to be Utterly Pathetic - I mean, Union Pacific. the tardiness of trains on the Sunset Route isn't limited to the Sunset. It affects many of the freight trains over that route, as well. Then there is the route through the Cascades. CSX, is a close second, but they are working on some of their track.
RDG484 Member # 2907
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quote:Originally posted by shanghaiamtrak: rdg484, is that line the line the cardinal runs on? the cardinal seems to have track problems in indiana.....
No, this is the former Atlantic Coast Line. Also, the former SAL has some jointed rail as well.
MontanaJim Member # 2323
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so Union Pacific owns the track that the coast starlight travels on norht of sacramento into oregon? who owns the track the CZ travels on west of salt lake city, southern pacific?
BNSF seems to be pretty good with their trains, as the empire builder is usually close to schedule...... i imagine the southwest chief would be about the same....
Eric Member # 674
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My Chief trip last August between FLG and Galesburg, IL was smooth until Iowa. Having lunch was quite an experience, and when several glasses tipped over on a table, the hostess remarked simply, "Must be in Iowa!" However, BNSF has great track over the majority of its route- a credit to the hardworking MOW gangs.
To answer ShanghaiAmtrak's question about track ownership: Any track owned by the Southern Pacific is now under UP ownership, as the SP is a fallen flag, so the CZ is probably on UP track west of Salt Lake City.
coachclass Member # 2382
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Ditto that about BNSF running Amtrak on time, I just got in to LA this morning on the Chief and we were ahead of time the whole trip, got in right on time. We got 40 minutes to get out and walk around at LaJunta, CO and over an hour in Albequerque! FYI: CZ is on BNSF CHI-DEN, then switches to UP DEN-EMY. -Coachclass www.geocities.com/coachseats
CG96 Member # 1408
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The Cardinal, between Indianapolis and Cincinnati goes over some track maintained by a short line (I think). The railraod itself is owned by the State of Indiana, which, like the State of Wisconsin, has appropriated only enough money to simply keep the line open, not to increase the speeds to somethig competitive with highways.
Or, was that the route of the K-Card to Louisville?
SteveD Member # 43
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Shanghaiamtrak sez: "so Union Pacific owns the track that the coast starlight travels on norht[sic] of Sacramento into Ooregon? who owns the track the CZ travels on west of salt lake city, Southern Pacific?" FYI, U.P. owns Starlight route s/o Sacto, too(i.e., the whole route) As for Zephyr route w/o SLC, that once belonged to S.P., but that is all U.P., now, in fact entire Zephyr route w/o Denver is U.P.(in case you hadn't been keeping track of mergers). I would have filled you in on this offline but you chose to provide no e-addy on this board. BTW, Italian trackage traversed by Orient Express is some of worst passenger trackage I've ever ridden--downright rugged in places.
Metman007 Member # 155
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The Amtrak tracks east of Albany-Rensselaer, NY to the CSX Boston-Selkirk line that the Lake Shore Limited runs on are terrible! The rough tracks are a signal to the westbound conductor to announce arrival at Albany in 10 minutes.
boyishcolt Member # 3001
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overall CSX has very poor track
George Harris Member # 2077
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To CG96: Indianapolis to Louisville was the short line. That was originally the Pennsylvania line used by the South Wind. (for the younger guys, that was the alternate train on the Chicago to Miami route to the Illinois Central's City of Miami. Each ran every other day. In earlier years, ending sometime in the mid to late 50's, there was a third train, the Dixie Flagler that ran C&EI L&N NC&SL ABC ACL FEC, Chicago Evansville Nashville Atlanta Waycross Jacksonville Miami, with each running every third day.) This line was a secondary main to the Pennsy and PC, and appeared to get little work in Conrail, so it was in bad shape when turned into a short line. As to the Cardinal line Cincinatti to Louisville, that part from Hamilton OH to Indianapolis has never been more than a secondary line and never had significant passenger service. It was formerly B&O. Indy to Crawfordsville IN was a former Conrail (I do not remember whether NYC or PRR) line with little traffic, so it probably is not so hot either.
To Metman007: I believe Rensselaer to the east about 12 miles is Amtrak owned, and was a replacement of track taken up by Penn Central after the end of passenger service. It was reinstalled by Amtrak to end about 30 minutes or more delay and a couple of reverses for the Boston section of the Lake Shore.
To boyishcolt: There is a long-standing and not quickly cured reason for the general disparity in track quality between NS and CSX. It used to be that rail and tie installations were published in certain trade periodicals. In general through the late 1950's to early 70's, Southern and N&W installed new ties at a rate about 50% or more greater than the rate of replacement on L&N ACL SAL and better than twice that of C&O B&O. Rail replacements were also at a higher rate, in some years much higher. Since ties have a life of 25 to 35 years depending upon traffic, drainage, and climate and rail can have a life of over 50 years up to 100 years, it takes several years before the negative effects of replacement rates below the wear out rates show up. This method is frequently used to make the short-term financial conditions of the company appear better than reality. Since rail and ties are major but unglamorous expense items, it takes even more years of higher replacement rates to overcome the problem after the chickens have come home to roost. Sometimes maintenance deferral can be a short term necessity, but if it becomes a long term practice it sends the company into a death spiral. (NYC & PRR then Penn Central!) You can go only so far in pulling up tracks to put the material in tracks you keep before you become unable to move the traffic over the line economically. Correction is usually attempted without admitting to the problem, or at least to its cause. After all to admit to bad management decisions in such basic items is to invite unemployment.
boyishcolt Member # 3001
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thanks george
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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Sounds kind of like life. We could all become Penn Central's someday if we let things slide.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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George - Indianapolis to Crawfordsville was formerly New York Central (the Cardinal still uses that section today)
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