Does anyone have info on when this will be? We are planning to go through June 12-14th, 2004. I sure hope the repairs are later in the summer. Anyone have a good line on this? Thanks, Jeff
Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :
From TrainOrders: "The grapevine has it as 6/23/04."
Geoff M.
Posted by notelvis (Member # 3071) on :
quote:Originally posted by jdplawman: Does anyone have info on when this will be? We are planning to go through June 12-14th, 2004. I sure hope the repairs are later in the summer. Anyone have a good line on this? Thanks, Jeff
Latest word from Amtrak, as reported in the March 9th Trains News Wire, doesn't look good for your timeframe.
The tunnel is scheduled to be closed and the Wyoming detour in effect in four separate one week blocks as follows;
June 8-15 June 23-30 July 8-15 July 23-30
Remember that the California Zephyr is a two night run and that the Rockies crossing is the second day out in both directions. This means that, according to this schedule, trains detoured will be those that originate in Chicago or Emeryville June 7-14, June 22-29, July 7-14, and July 22-29.
Hope this helps.
------------------ David Pressley
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
I'll be on the CZ during the June 23-30 week!! Posted by rresor (Member # 128) on :
And please, it's the MOFFAT Tunnel.
Named for David Moffat, builder of the Denver & Salt Lake Railroad.
Posted by domefoamer (Member # 3090) on :
Check the Denver Post website for the accurate dates. But I read this morning that the Moffat Tunnel will be closed for alternate weeks in June and July, so one week the CZ goes north from Denver and the next week it goes west. So railfans will face an interesting choice of scenery or rare mileage. I rode on the Overland Route in late Feburary on one of four westbounds detoured after the Glenwood Canyon derailment. That day our train was almost empty, with perhaps a few dozen people, perhaps less. But that was a sudden change of route that no one had much time to plan for. Students of history and railroad operations might find Wyoming fascinating. Scenically, though it's one of the most boring rides in the West. Don't you wish Amtrak offered a choice of route from time to time? The maintenance work they're doing is pretty fundamental. They're replacing something like 80,000 wooden ties, mostly outside the portals.
Posted by George Harris (Member # 2077) on :
To domefoamer:
Where did you see this? I have looked on various news sites and not found it. 80,000 ties is a lot. A mile of track contains about 3000 ties. If the usual type of work is done where about 1/3 of the ties, in other words about 1000 ties per mile are replaced in the work zone, the work will be spread over 80 miles of track.
I could believe about 18,000 going into a 100% replacement of the ties in the tunnel, as tunnels are frequently done that way so that you do not have to go back in for a long time.
[This message has been edited by George Harris (edited 03-15-2004).]
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
AMTRAK called me over the weekend to tell me that the CZ will be rerouted the week I ride it in June. Of course, I knew this already from reading this forum, and I believe the lady who called me was surprised that I already knew about it! I was hoping for the westbound trip through the Rockies, since I haven't ridden westbound on the CZ for many yars, but I'll have to put up with the boring southern Wyoming scenery instead!!
Posted by PullmanCo (Member # 1138) on :
IT'S NOT BORING!!!
I rode Sherman Hill as a kid, pre-Amtrak. I've driven I-80 several times.
Trust me, it's different, but not boring.
John
------------------ The City of Saint Louis (UP, 1967) is still my standard for passenger operations
