Passenger Trains > #21 of 2/29/15

Nine cars and one unit.  What the he-- is wrong with Amtrak?

But yet there were four units on a 5 car 448 yesterday. Assume 2 of them were positioning move?

If, and that's a BIG if, the one unit is in reliable mechanical condition, why not one unit? I know, we all have questions about their mechanical reliability, so I could stop here. On the other hand both 21 and 22 make their whole run most days. But assuming the locomotive is okay it ought to do fine. I can't speak about the line west of Longview, TX (haven't ridden that part anytime recently) but between Chicago and Longview, there are only three grades in the Ozarks (southeast Missouri) where extra horsepower would be nice. The rest of the route is flat and one unit should be adequate.

At least once coach may be dropped at St Louis.