posted
From Marriott Fairfield Fredericksburg VA--
A brief, yet very severe thunderstorm hit this area at about 530PM yesterday. As a result, the restaurant I intended to go to last evening with friends had no electric power and needless to say was "out of service". We ended up at a chain Italian restaurant in a shopping mall.
On the return back to this hotel at about 8PM, we passed by the train station and could not help but note there was the AT "going nowhere fast". It normally passes FBG at about 5PM; I'm certain the delay was account the heavy weather.
Nevertheless, the website reports 53(01) is estimated to arrive SFA some 4'45"late.Not a stellar performance, but I highly doubt if one could consider it Amtrak or CSX fault.
Posts: 9982 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
There was a tornado watch in effect for that area. Since there had been a serious one just north of the city last month everything was probably on slow,
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
If the electricity goes out in the restaurant, what happens to the railroad's block signals?
Posts: 518 | From: Maynard, MA, USA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
Since Gil and friends ate at another restaurant it is apparent that the entire area was not affected just certain sections. That same storm had been in our area earlier and while 10,000 homes were without electricity we were not affected.
Posts: 1577 | From: virginia | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
Whether the signals go black would depend where they're supplied from. Some may be battery-backed but that won't do you any good if the communications (voice and/or signalling data) is down on the links to the dispatcher.
In the UK, any extended period of blackout results in flagmen protecting the start and end of a block (which may be several miles long and consisting of several black signals) with what is basically a paper ticket authorisation from the signaller via the flagman on the ground. One then hopes the telecomms are working - they usually are, as they're supplied from a different power source.
What must have been truly awful was Gil having to eat at a chain restaurant. What is the world coming to?
Geoff M.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by TBlack: If the electricity goes out in the restaurant, what happens to the railroad's block signals?
The signals on CSX's A line went dark following one of the hurricanes in the mid 90's while I lived in Fayetteville, NC. Everything on the line tht moved did so very slowly......like at 10mph. Freights backed up. Amtrak trains passed through 8-10 hours late. It was a nightmare for many, many people.
Mr. Norman,
As you are within 45 miles, perhaps you could check out the Henry Clay Inn in downtown Ashland, VA.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
