Passenger Trains > [Thursday's, was Wednesday] AutoTrain 53 ?

Now scheduled to depart Lorton after 9pm  YIKES

Anybody know what happened?

Thanks!

(My sister took the bullet on this one.  She and I often move cars to FL for various relatives. I had expected to go on this trip, but we traded.  She had lunch over at Glory Days, and walked back over with some people for dinner.  Hope she doesn't have to have breakfast over there, too.)

Changed the departure date to Thursday after darkcloud's question



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/21/16 09:41 by Lackawanna484.

Still trying to get back to normal after the storm. but yesterday's 53 left around 4 hours late but lost more time on the way down it got into Sanford around 6pm and left at 11pm to head back north.

Posted from Android

I got a notification last night that 52(19) had not yet departed Sanford by 1000pm EDT.

It finally departed after 1100pm, arriving Lorton today at 519pm, having lost over an hour enroute.
Add the time to turn the train...generally that takes longer than the unloading/loading of vehicles...
and you have 900p-1000p.

53(18) had arrived Sanford over 6 1/2 hours late so a late turn to 52(19) could have been expected.

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/20/16 16:21 by GenePoon.

Thanks for the details

Dewman45 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Still trying to get back to normal after the
> storm. but yesterday's 53 left around 4 hours late
> but lost more time on the way down it got into
> Sanford around 6pm and left at 11pm to head back
> north.
>
> Posted from Android

Going to be in Northern Virginia on Saturday and was hoping to catch 53. Doesn't look too promising now...

RayH Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Dewman45 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Still trying to get back to normal after the
> > storm. but yesterday's 53 left around 4 hours
> late
> > but lost more time on the way down it got into
> > Sanford around 6pm and left at 11pm to head
> back
> > north.
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Going to be in Northern Virginia on Saturday and
> was hoping to catch 53. Doesn't look too promising
> now...

Both sets of the Auto-Train are in the weeds.  The Sanford departure is also several hours delayed.

Text from my sister, Amtrak provided a box lunch from Subway around 6pm.  They've provided occasional information about hoping to get the train out by 9.15pm.


(I feel sorry for the passengers, and for the dining car staff.  They're going to miss out on a meal service's worth of tips.)

 

The past several days, Train 53 has lost several hours on its way from Lorton to Sanford.

Even 53(16) which departed early, lost 3 1/2 hours enroute.

Another update from the field, train is past Savannah GA.  Expected to get in around 2.30pm Thursday, so they made up a little time.

My sister said they stopped a number of times during the night, and proceeded at 30-35 in much of the area south of Rocky Mount.  No doubt storm related slow orders. 

They're  beginning lunch service, no idea what it might be.  (My guess is the dinner that didn't get served last night)

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Another update from the field, train is past
> Savannah GA.  Expected to get in around 2.30pm
> Thursday, so they made up a little time.
>
Kicking myself here. Had I given it even a little thought, I should have gone out and shot #53 coming thru Charleston this AM. Of course I have the camera with me too (and sun is shining brightly). DUH

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Another update from the field, train is past
> Savannah GA.  Expected to get in around 2.30pm
> Thursday, so they made up a little time.
>
> My sister said they stopped a number of times
> during the night, and proceeded at 30-35 in much
> of the area south of Rocky Mount.  No doubt storm
> related slow orders. 
>
> They're  beginning lunch service, no idea what it
> might be.  (My guess is the dinner that didn't
> get served last night)


Are you sure about the days?  Because today is Friday.

Just when the CSX A-line was beginning to return to normal, it was shut down Wednesday afternoon because of a deadly hazmat accident on adjacent I-95 near Selma, NC. This created more backups on the A-line. 

I assume Amtrak is very relucant to annul 52/53 for another day, given the number of annulments for Hurricane Matthew, but it may take quite a while for 52/53 to get back in sync with schedule unless there's another annulment. As of noon Friday, Thursday's 52 hasn't reached Petersburg yet and Thursday's 53 hasn't reached Jacksonville yet. 

As of 21 at 12:52P
52 due Lorton 3:06P 6:07 down
​53 due Sanford 3:23P 6:25 down

​So the delays will continue into next week.

53 with 830 & 832 as it's power came through Palatka, Fl @ 2:22pm 100 miles to go till it gets to Sanford. It will meet 98 soon.

Posted from Android

Currently posted to arrive SFA around 4pm

 

From the train:

The Florence to Sanford crew timed out, so the 53 waited for a recrew.  Probably at DeLand. That crew is now aboard, and the train is currently expected to be in Sanford between 4.30 and 4.45

For some reason, the a/c was turned off during the wait. It's now back on.

(My sister mentioned their room attendant came through the dark and getting hot  car to reassure guests that Sanford was almost in sight.  Good guy, he's earned my trust on prior trips.)

Reported in the Sanford station at  4.12pm,  7 hours and 14 minutes late.