Passenger Trains > Detour of No. 11 (13)

Today is supposed to be the latest of so many detours of the southbound "Coast Starlight" through the heart of our San Joaquin Valley and my town on the Union Pacific (former S.P.).

I note by checking several stations down the Coast Line (San Jose and beyond) on Amtrak's train status page that No. 11 is listed as making the regular station stops (a minute late here, on time there, etc.). However, the reservations section continues to show No. 11 as "sold out" for all stations (except L.A.) south of Oakland. Any updated info on the path or pace No. 11 is actually taking upon leaving the East Bay this morning will be appreciated.

It is interesting to see how interest in these "Starlight" detours through the Valley and over Tehachapi has decreased as their relative frequency has increased. I was among those who had always wished to make the Tehachapi crossing by train and feel fortunate now to have been able to do so...........Let's see: three times aboard the "Coast Starlight" and have (except for Martinez to Oakland last spring) never seen the coast!

All the best and thanks in advance for your help and comments.

Randy McFarland
Selma, California

Amtrak 11(13) DETOUR with AMTK 129 departed Oakland 923a

Elmhurst 932am

Mt. Eden 943am

Newark 954am

Fremont 959am. Second unit is an Amtrak Cascades F59.
Parlour Car apparently bad-ordered, it is on the rear of the train. Cross Country Diner-Lounge is substituting.

Centerville Webcam "movies" of the detouring 11(13):

http://depot.vs.oiccam.com:443/imgdispjs.pl?hm=http://www.oiccam.com/depotdiner/photo.html&cm=depotphoto&ti=0914100255

http://depot.vs.oiccam.com:443/imgdispjs.pl?hm=http://www.oiccam.com/depotdiner/north.html&cm=depottrain&ti=0914100301

Amtrak's status board is now carrying the dreaded and mysterious "service disruption" for Oakland and points south on No. 11. No. 11 passes the Centerville webcam at 9:59 a.m.

Randy McFarland
Selma, California

---

The "Service Disruption" message went up for the detours in March, too; a manager in Washington got it overridden after a while, but
it still wasn't any use for following the train, since it was making no station stops between Oakland and Los Angeles.

Reports from TO member jdellachiesa, who is a passenger on the train:

Shinn at 10:03
Hearst at 10:19
Livermore at 10:31



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/11 14:16 by GenePoon.

Thanks, Gene - keep those reports coming (still holding on to the faint chance of it hitting Soledad in daylight - even though I know that's extremely unlikely).

CP Midway at 10:56

Posted from Android

Jarrod DellaChiesa
Oakley, CA

erielackawanna Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks, Gene - keep those reports coming (still holding on to the faint chance of it hitting
> Soledad in daylight - even though I know that's extremely unlikely).

I'm trying...but now the train is out of RailroadRadio reception range and my "usual contacts"
from March and April have not checked in.

However, TO member jdellachiesa, who is a passenger on the train, has been posting updates
to the Calrailfans Yahoo! Group...that's where I've been getting them to post here.

"Slowly climbing past CP Altamont at 10:44"

Passed Lathrop ACE station at 11:16, 38 MPH

Posted from Android

Jarrod DellaChiesa
Oakley, CA

jdellachiesa Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Passed Lathrop ACE station at 11:16, 38 MPH


The fun starts soon. The back-and-forth at Lathrop takes about 20-25 minutes. Hopefully the UP Fresno Sub pilots are waiting for you.

-GP

At the wye now!

Posted from Android

Had to wait for three UP freight to pass (grain train, QFRNP and ZLCBR) ... Wye move complete, pilots onboard and we are finally on our way at 12:26.

Posted from Android

Just passed the Operation Lifesaver Special at 12:33

Posted from Android

Modesto at 12:50

Thanks J! Please keep the updates coming!
(We want to see the time performance.)
Hope you-all get to go over The Loop
in the daytime!

Margaret_SP_fan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks J! Please keep the updates coming!
> (We want to see the time performance.)
> Hope you-all get to go over The Loop
> in the daytime!

Will do! I'm hoping also, but looks like it will be dusk when we get there most likely...

Posted from Android

Jarrod DellaChiesa
Oakley, CA

Following 99 thru Atwater at 1:22, 69 MPH

Posted from Android

Engineer change in Merced at 1:30.  On the move again at 1:33.

Posted from Android

Which car are you on?

jdellachiesa Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Engineer change in Merced at 1:30.  On the move
> again at 1:33.

==============================================

Looks like barring major delay, you will make it over Tehachapi in daylight. You are about a half hour
behind Train 11(12APR), and we made it over the Loop at 546pm; Summit at 611pm.

Not much chance of daylight in Soledad Canyon, though.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/14/11 14:41 by GenePoon.

AMT11 13

Passing Berenda, CA 09/14/11 13:57
Scheduled Events
Scheduled Arrival Fresno, CA 09/14/11 14:53
Scheduled Departure Fresno, CA 09/14/11 14:58
Scheduled Arrival Bakersfie, CA 09/14/11 19:04
Estimated Call Bakersfie, CA 09/14/11 19:34
Scheduled Departure Bakersfie, CA 09/14/11 20:04
Scheduled Arrival Paljuncti, CA 09/15/11 00:56