Passenger Trains > LSL #48: Problem

Now at Erie. Arrived Erie earlier some 45 mins late. Estimated arrival time Buffalo/Depew 2 hrs., 41 mins. late, NYP Unknown
 

Don't know what's going on either! However, the web cam at Virtualrailfan.com located about 14 miles east of Erie, PA at the Lake Shore Railway Museum, shows a stopped CSX "business" train. It's been sitting there on track #1 headed west for some time. One of the trainman is currently on the ground checking on something. The consist is one CSX engine and two business cars. I'm guessing there's a problem ahead affecting both this train and the eastbound Lake Shore Limited train #48!

Well, since my last post of several minutes ago, a CSX eastbound double-stack just went by the still stopped CSX business train!
The Amtrak website still shows a service disruption for the LSL #48. And as I just completeed the last sentence, the CSX business train
is now on the move headed west and is gone from view.

I give up, the Amtrak "track a Train" now doesn't even show the LSL #48 anywhere!
I think I'll quit now trying to follow this and get on with my day!

Obviously the GE unit went home to die 

Any more news on 48 (4) -- it is not showing up on any inquiry, and 448 is also among the missing.  

[follow-up:  called AMTRAK and was told that a prior delay had meant that the passengers were being bused.  From where, I don't know .... but the agent said the bus(es) left Utica at 6:17pm.  I had enquired about 448 at Springfield and the anitipcated time is about midnight there. This sounds like something more than tthe usual problems. anyone know what?]  
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/05/16 15:24 by RevRandy.

Sounds like someone went onto the ground!

Eng 176 died west of Erie,then again at Erie.Pax bussed from there.CSX Q260 dropped off eng CSX 251 to tow the train to Buffalo,finally departing Erie about 1715 tonight.Upon arrival at Buffalo,the CSX leader was cut off,the crew then hopped on eng AMTK 701 which I believe had to have been dropped by train 281 as it was left on main 2,backed 701 over onto 48's train,and pulled down to the depot for a new crew.

As of 2025hrs,they are swapping crews at the Amtrak station in Buffalo and should be eastbound shortly.

So much for single unit operation .... boy, if I were a sleeping car passenger enjoying my sleep coming into Erie around 8am and I were told I would spend until after midnight on a bus getting to Boston   grrrrrrrrr

I guess the Maple Leaf or Empire Service Corridor Train 284 (although running ahead of the Lake Shore but certainly could have been tracked down or stopped) couldn't have handled some of the passenger load off of number 48 bound for Albany or NYP.

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess the Maple Leaf or Empire Service Corridor
> Train 284 (although running ahead of the Lake
> Shore but certainly could have been tracked down
> or stopped) couldn't have handled some of the
> passenger load off of number 48 bound for Albany
> or NYP.

=============================================

If trains paid for by New York State, it's not up to Amtrak to delay them to handle Lake
Shore passengers...such has Joe Boardman wrought.

The delay cost and cost of all those buses for one direction in one day cost them what they saved on a 2nd unit for how much a period of time ?

risks freeze damage as well

Remember any delay costs due from mechnical/equipment/operating delays, does not come out of their budget....but some where else.

Well, CSX couldn't come through with motive power, or enough just to get the train to Buffalo where they could have potentially tacked a few coaches or something on the rear instead of paying for buses. Protect power at Niagara Falls would have helped, but Amtrak doesn't do that anymore either.

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, CSX couldn't come through with motive power,
> or enough just to get the train to Buffalo where
> they could have potentially tacked a few coaches
> or something on the rear instead of paying for
> buses. Protect power at Niagara Falls would have
> helped, but Amtrak doesn't do that anymore either.

Actually they did, they tacked a freight engine on the front to tow it to Buffalo. Problem is the Amtrak unit died so it had no HEP for the train......which means no lights and heat. Would you want to ride in a dark freezing train?

The symbol formerly known as Q122 is out

CSXQ122 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well, CSX couldn't come through with motive
> power,
> > or enough just to get the train to Buffalo
> where
> > they could have potentially tacked a few
> coaches
> > or something on the rear instead of paying for
> > buses. Protect power at Niagara Falls would
> have
> > helped, but Amtrak doesn't do that anymore
> either.
>
> Actually they did, they tacked a freight engine on
> the front to tow it to Buffalo. Problem is the
> Amtrak unit died so it had no HEP for the
> train......which means no lights and heat. Would
> you want to ride in a dark freezing train?
>
> The symbol formerly known as Q122 is out

Also No food service in Diner or Cafe. I ever ride train without no heat, air, or food.

railcity Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> CSXQ122 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > jp1822 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Well, CSX couldn't come through with motive
> > power,
> > > or enough just to get the train to Buffalo
> > where
> > > they could have potentially tacked a few
> > coaches
> > > or something on the rear instead of paying
> for
> > > buses. Protect power at Niagara Falls would
> > have
> > > helped, but Amtrak doesn't do that anymore
> > either.
> >
> > Actually they did, they tacked a freight engine
> on
> > the front to tow it to Buffalo. Problem is the
> > Amtrak unit died so it had no HEP for the
> > train......which means no lights and heat.
> Would
> > you want to ride in a dark freezing train?
> >
> > The symbol formerly known as Q122 is out
>
> Also No food service in Diner or Cafe. I ever ride
> train without no heat, air, or food.

Glad the buses were right there in the split second to pick the passengers up. What was never clarified for me was how far the train had to be moved from where it broke down EAST of Erie to Buffalo.