Passenger Trains > Mystery Amtrak Train

About a half hour after sunset, I was surprised by this southbound Amtrak train at Steilacoom (WA). Some have suggested it's the train set for 27/28 and it did appear to be empty. Anyone know for sure?

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

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Deadhead Equipment

Sure, Steve - you get an "extra" train when the lights perfect
while I watch the Sun set without seeing a scheduled train on
the Corridor! ; )

Great shot - IOTD contender (selection, in my opinion).

/Mitch

That's a lovely picture

Makeup set, equipment deadheaded Seattle-Portland for an on-time
departure of Train 28(31).

Train 27(31), which normally would have turned to 28(31), is still enroute
to Portland, ETA after 500pm. That set will probably deadhead to Seattle.

Is your camera ready?

* Train 27 of 07/31/2014.
* Empire Builder
* +---------------- Station code
* | +----------- Schedule Arrival Day
* | | +-------- Schedule Arrival time
* | | | +----- Schedule Departure Day
* | | | | +-- Schedule Departure Time
* | | | | | +------------- Actual Arrival Time
* | | | | | | +------- Actual Departure Time
* | | | | | | | +- Comments
* V V V V V V V V
* SPK * * 1 415A * 811A Departed: 3 hours and 56 minutes late.
* PSC 1 655A 1 705A 1224P 1234P Departed: 5 hours and 29 minutes late.
* WIH * * 1 900A * 247P Departed: 5 hours and 47 minutes late.
* BNG * * 1 934A * 338P Departed: 6 hours and 4 minutes late.
VAN * * 1 1048A PT
PDX 1 1141A * * PT


Track-A-Train display as of 451pm Pacific (note that the display says 426pm...could be the last actual update):



Edited 8 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/14 17:31 by GenePoon.

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Nice photo regardless of what it is!

I was on the train to Seattle....both the Portland and Seattle sections arrived in Seattle about 5:50 pm. Conductor said Portland cars and crew would dhd down later in the evening, the passengers were all put on the 5-something Cascade that held in Seattle for the late arrival.

Ed



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/14 20:04 by Auburn_Ed.

Beautiful photograph!

Given Ritzville's report from yesterday, I assume work windows from Spokane to Wishram forced 27 to stay with 7 and go to Seattle and then be deadheaded to Portland to become today's 28. 27 has not turned to be the same day's 28 for months since Amtrak put an extra set in the pool to prevent hours late departures at origin for 8/28. With the May 9 schedule change, same day on time turns would be impossible even if the trains arrived on time.

Thanks for the nice comments.

Mitch: Like they say, sometimes it's better to be lucky than good!

Steve Carter
Gig Harbor, WA
My Photography

I can't answer your questions, looks like others have but I just wanted to join the crowd in saying the picture is really nice. IOTD? I don't see why not. It would get my vote.

John

Train 27 does not turn into the same day's 28 under the new schedule. 27 is usually so late that they meet along the Columbia River. I.E., there is an extra train set that overnights in Portland. I assume the same for 7 and 8 in Seattle.

Steve that has to be a #27 train set (parlor car, 2 coaches, and a sleeper).


Marty Bernard

Congratulations on IOTD.
John

Beautiful photo.

Marker light's lit on the rear of the engine. You can see its reflection in the first Superliner car.

post card perfect , and amtrak should buy that photo for a promotional ad

Excellent shot, Steve.

~Ryan

Per my Amtrak employee friend, lack of power for the Portland section, so it was "bustituted."

Beautiful "blue hour" photo. Well deserved IOTD.

MartyBernard Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Train 27 does not turn into the same day's 28
> under the new schedule. 27 is usually so late
> that they meet along the Columbia River. I.E.,
> there is an extra train set that overnights in
> Portland. I assume the same for 7 and 8 in
> Seattle.
>
> Steve that has to be a #27 train set (parlor car,
> 2 coaches, and a sleeper).
>
>
> Marty Bernard

Wow. First time I've seen a Superliner Lounge referred to as a parlor car.

It is expected that the sleeper and SSL would be placed on opposite ends of the train, so that the coach passengers wouldn't all be walking through the sleeper car to get to the SSL.

And as a frequent sleeping car passenger, I appreciate the efforts of the SCAs to gently question people they don't recognize in the sleeping cars to see if those folks may have turned the wrong way when returning to their coach.

That's a good one there coach!!:)

Sweet shot.
JB