Passenger Trains > HEADS UP! AMTK #4 via Amarillo!!!!!!

From the Western Form

http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,1309463

DRGW463

Train 4 of the 28 and 29, train 3 29 and 30 will detour via Amarillo TX
account heavy storm conditions Raton Pass area.
12 inches on ground as of 6 am, expecting up to 42 inches more in the nex 48 hours.

Freights being held between La Junta and Albuqerque, as well as north-South freights Pueblo-south.

Will the trains still serve Albuquerque? Wouldn't serving Albuquerque require a back-up move or back tracking?

On the East End, the detour will start at First Street (Newton, KS) and operate via the Third District to Mulvane (via Wichita) and swing on to the Forth District/Panhandle to Amarillo and points west.

All Stops missed between Hutch and Lamy, no alternative transportation.

Glad they're doing this instead of risking it, how's 5 and 6 doing? Seems this storm is worse than the one last week!

Detour Update:

BNSF has rejected the detour route between Newton and Mulvane via the Third District (account directional running). Passenger Trains will detour at Elinor via the Belen Cutoff missing the Newton stop.

Last minute change by BNSF has forced Amtrak to cab passenger between Newton and Topeka for eastern connections, no western connections provided.

Easy to see that Amtrak/BNSF has forgotten the Emporia stop and fact a platform still exists for convenient connections to/from Newton.......

If no backup move in New Mexico, will Albuquerque passengers be bussed to and from Belen?

AMTK #4 was in ABQ, when they turned tail and headed for Belen. This must be a massive storm. They're pulling the spreader out in Belen.

DRGW463

It was several years ago that I too detoured via Amarillo on #3 - I was headed for Albuquerque, and in the morning announcements were made about the detour. Indeed, it was not the most scenic route, but it was fast. No real station stops were made, but I do remember we paused briefly around Amarillo, and then again at Clovis - where trash was set out, and amazingly the now disused watering hoses were still in place and were used to service the train. Then, on to Belen and a shuttle bus to Albuquerque, arriving only about 1 hour late.

Great for modern day rare mileage, but not much else to recommend the route.

Bumping_Post Wrote:
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> Easy to see that Amtrak/BNSF has forgotten the
> Emporia stop and fact a platform still exists for
> convenient connections to/from Newton.......

And all that is left is sand and dirt...no brick platform anymo.

Damn damn damn!!! This would be awesome if for no other reason than to see Vaughn, NM from a pax train! At Clovis one would pretend to transfer to #25 for Roswell or Carlsbad. If my elation isn't understood, check the username. ;-)

Allen

For Denver, it was much less than last week.

Since they are not going through Wichita, anyone know what time(s) they will come through Augusta?

To bad the Rail Runner is not up and running to Belen. If it happens again, I wonder if they will use the Rail Rummer. It should be up in the near future. To bad they are not able to go the normal route. It would be an awesome and beautiful sight.

The train needs to operate via Albuquque, as thats where the 1,000 mile inspection is made and complete service of the train.

Belen/Clobis is not set up now for Amtrak to do this.

ABQ is also a crew change point. For the detour, other crew changes are at Woodward OK and Amarillo.

Say a Person is on Amtrak 4 from say LA to La Junta, CO tonight How will they get Home on amtrak and with Bad Blizzard and with the Roads all close?

RevRandy Wrote:
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> It was several years ago that I too detoured via
> Amarillo on #3 - I was headed for Albuquerque, and
> in the morning announcements were made about the
> detour. Indeed, it was not the most scenic route,
> but it was fast. No real station stops were made,
> but I do remember we paused briefly around
> Amarillo, and then again at Clovis - where trash
> was set out, and amazingly the now disused
> watering hoses were still in place and were used
> to service the train. Then, on to Belen and a
> shuttle bus to Albuquerque, arriving only about 1
> hour late.
>
> Great for modern day rare mileage, but not much
> else to recommend the route.


Scenery via Raton is nice, but not spectacular. For a railfan, going via the Southern route might not do much for you as far as the landscape is concerned, but you are going to see one heck of a lot of freight trains. Actually, the open landscape where you can see several trains off in the distance I find to be very interesting.

Just have to wait in ABQ for the storm to end and the roads open and ride a later #4, just like the airport cancelling your flight.

Wondering if they wyed 3 like they did 4 at Dailes

ProAmtrak Wrote:
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> Wondering if they wyed 3 like they did 4 at Dailes

Unless they changed things overnight, there is no wye at Dalies.