RAILforum: Late train question?

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Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :

I've been folowing the curent train #3 scheduled to arrive in La this morning, and it is running extremely late for the Chief.

I'm worried because this train will turn into train #4 later this evening, the one I'll be on! If it arrives in La more than five hours late, I fear there will be delays to my train.

What's the chance of the Amtrak crews in La swaping the Sunset consist for the Chief?

The Sunset arrived a bit ahead of schedule this morning. If the Chief arrives into La, as their estimate says, there would be enough time to clean, service, and ready the Chief for the Sunsets departure time of 10:30 PM. But It will be a close call for the Chief's normal departure time of 6:45 PM.

So what do the "experts" out there think will happen? (my guess is no change and a departure of around 9:00PM from Fullerton )

Oops almost forgot;
Anyone know what happened to the Chief between Barstow and San Bernardino? She was running less than an hour late (usual for the Chief) but something caused her to loose several hours. I thought I heard something about a derailment in Cajon on my scanner, but it is almost imposible for my scanner to pick up radio comunications that far away. But it sounded like one of the main lines had to be closed. Making a major conjestion and leading to the Chief loss of time. But what I heard was so fuzzy I can't be sure.

[This message has been edited by Southwest Chief (edited 12-26-2003).]

Posted by RRCHINA (Member # 1514) on :

Rains and mudslides in the area are the likely cause. Local news should give info.

Posted by Southwest Chief (Member # 1227) on :

The local news has been less than adequate. The only mudslides they are reporting are ones that went through campsites and the burn area. However, one such site was at Devore, and this is near the line. So mud slides are probably the blame.

Guess its good BNSF takes it easy when there are heavy rains. We don't want what happend near Kingman a few years back when a bridge washout derailed the Southwest Chief to occur again.

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

I doubt if there would be a swapping of #4(26th) consist with #2. The reason is that 3-4 "Chief' are assigned S-1's, 1-2 are assigned S-II's.

I know all Superliners are the same to UENI, but apparently are not to Amtrak's Mechanical Department.

Posted by Geoff Mayo (Member # 153) on :

Hate to disagree, but I have read that the consists are swapped occasionally if necessary. I have also seen Superliner Is on the Sunset...

Geoff M.