Passenger Trains > Starlight woes (14 the 26th)

So why did #14 leave LA 4 hours late. Hasnt made up any time yet. A 2am departure from EMY for my friend. UGH.

Late turn from 11(14) which arrived 430am with only one operable unit, the AMTK 505 having gone
STATE OF GOOD REPAIR on the hill out of Eugene OR.  UP 7822 was added, and a dogcatch
was necessary for the crew.  More than three hours were lost between Eugene and Chemult.

This was in addition to the initial terminal delay for 11(14), 2 1/2 hours late out of Seattle.

The horn was broken on the lead unit so they lost three hours switching the units around before they could leave south. The happened just outside of Seattle.


Chris

We were aboard the ill fated trip of 9/25 from Portland.  505 apparently died at Portland.  After the usual try to fix it; conference call, call UP, decision was made to get an engine at Eugene.  Upon arrival at Eugene, 11 with 15 cars (12 car regular train and 3 private cars ( Pcific Sunset, Pacific Sands, and TIOGA PASS) had to pull East of the depot to allow following Talgo train (507?) to unload at the depot, then back out to the yard, then 11 shoved back to depot.  Engineer boarded a van to go search for engine 7822 which was assigned by UP.  Engine was found in Eugene yard, then searching for an MU cable.  Finally found cable, and engine ran 3 miles to depot to rejoin our train.  Left Eugene over 5 hours late and then had to change crews at Chemult?.  We awakened in morning at Dunsmuir and enjoyed a daylight ride down the Sacramento River Canyon. Lost additrional time watering all cars at Sacramento due to short platform tracks.  
Approaching Oakland, engineer reported UP engine did not have a calendar day inspection slip, so train was yarded in coach yard, flagged, and inspection done, costing another 1 hour 40 minutes.  Met Northbound Capitol train at Newark for another twenty minute stab.  Met Northbound 14 at Watsonville losing another 15 minutes.
Dinner was served aboard TIOGA PASS leaving Newark much in the manner of the Lark of another greater age.
Final calamity:  Train stopped short in LAUPT, with rear end fouling adjacent track for No. 1 Sinset which arrived just behind up.  Passengers already over 8 hours late and many missing connections had to stay on train until crew re-assumed their positions and moved train ahead about 75 feet.  Actaual arrival:  4:23AM, 7 hours 23 mins late.
This was not a performance to inspire passenger confidence!

TIOGA PASS 
 

Norman Orfall
Helendale, CA
TIOGA PASS, a private railcar

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