Passenger Trains > Iowa Pacific Test Run Back to Chicago

The weather conditions were alot better Sunday for the return trip of the Iowa Pacific's test train back to Chicago than they were Friday when the train went south to Indianapolis.  Here's the train coming into Dyer, experiencing a little delay while waiting for cross traffic to clear on the CN's ex EJ&E double mains.  The 4137 was leading with the 4135 bringing up the rear.  As previously reported, the equipment is supposed to be added to tonight's Amtrak 50's consist for a positioning move back to Indy.  Service on the Hoosier State should start soon.

---

---

---

Maybe it's time for some U.S. passenger operations to buy foreign eouble-ended passenger locomotives so that 2 engines don't need to be used.  Easy switching moves would put the engines on the leading end each time, allowing for greater safety to the engineer, too.

2nd engine is there as a safety valve for a unit failure.
Is running the engine around the train and messing with all the cables any less trouble than wying the whole train ?

Are these ex NJT units? I always liked them and it was a shame that they got rid of them. But look at them now. Just gorgous. Too bad that we had to let them go and look what NJT has now. Progress.
James

Posted from Android

chessiegp39 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are these ex NJT units? I always liked them and it
> was a shame that they got rid of them. But look at
> them now. Just gorgous. Too bad that we had to let
> them go and look what NJT has now. Progress.
> James
>
> Posted from Android

Yes, they're ex NJT, spiffied up in Illnois Central colors.

I think its a sharp looking train. I might even have to ride in one of those classic chair cars
even if I don't need to go somewhere.
Interesting ladders on the rear of the units. 

It will be interesting if Iowa Pacific can come up with a plan to improve the 5+ hour schedule that kills a lot of potential business. Illinois also found that ridership increases significantly when several schedules per day are provided to give passengers some flexibility. I hope they are successful.

Bruce Stikkers
St. Joseph, IL

Here's the competition this afternoon, about a 2 hour backup.  I-65 is unreliable and rough.  We can sell the current schedule, with the recent improvement in OTP.

BruceStikkers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It will be interesting if Iowa Pacific can come up
> with a plan to improve the 5+ hour schedule that
> kills a lot of potential business. Illinois also
> found that ridership increases significantly when
> several schedules per day are provided to give
> passengers some flexibility. I hope they are
> successful.
>
> Bruce Stikkers
> St. Joseph, IL

---

I really want to ride this train and I have no need or desire to travel to/from Chicago and Indy. Hopefuly, more services like this pops up around the country. 

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe it's time for some U.S. passenger operations
> to buy foreign eouble-ended passenger locomotives
> so that 2 engines don't need to be used.  Easy
> switching moves would put the engines on the
> leading end each time, allowing for greater safety
> to the engineer, too.

No need to buy foreign.

 

---