Passenger Trains > Empire Builders cancelled tomorrow

All Amtrak Empire Builder trains departing origination points (Chicago, Seattle, Portland)
on Tuesday, December 14 are cancelled. Bustitution is being provided between Chicago
and St. Paul, Spokane and Seattle, and Spokane and Portland.

GenePoon Wrote:
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> All Amtrak Empire Builder trains departing
> origination points (Chicago, Seattle, Portland)
> on Tuesday, December 14 are cancelled.
> Bustitution is being provided between Chicago
> and St. Paul, Spokane and Seattle, and Spokane and
> Portland.


Why?

ats90mph Wrote:
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>
> Why?

Per Amtrak, "infrastructure problems, avalanche watches and warnings as well as delayed and standing freight trains."

Sounds like worse than last winter! What a mess!

So much for the "all-weather" mode of transportation.

Topfuel Wrote:
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> So much for the "all-weather" mode of
> transportation.


Your point being? 1600 flights were cancelled at the combined Chicago airports the other day. Tough to move trains through blowing drifting snow, especially if there are freights in the way, or boulders on the tracks! If mother nature says "nothing moves, then nothing moves. I really don't think the transportation industry, wants to put the public and it's employees in a situation that could be detrimental to every ones well being.

KC

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> All Amtrak Empire Builder trains departing
> origination points (Chicago, Seattle, Portland)
> on Tuesday, December 14 are CANCELLED.



Just curious... years ago, the word "annulled" was routinely used. Is this word completely gone from the RR'ing lexicon, now?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/13/10 23:20 by IC_2024.

GRNDMND Wrote:
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> Topfuel Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > So much for the "all-weather" mode of
> > transportation.
>
I really don't think the transportation industry, wants to put
> the public and it's employees in a situation that
> could be detrimental to every ones well being.
>
> KC

BINGO! You are correct. On land or sea, stupidity is deliberately putting yourself in the path of really bad weather when you have a choice. Probably the only true form of "all weather" transportation is a nucelar submarine, but you'll have to sign up for four years to ride...

temp this morning when I got up at 0500 here in WI was -9F. That is under clear skies and a frozen landscape of anywhere from 12" to way more in places like upper WI, MN., etc.

Yesterday was a day of unfreezing switches from the weekend blizzard and getting trains moving again. The pipes are clogged, if you will.

Not that the roads are that much better, lots of patchy ice and slick overpasses. No wind, thankfully.

Add to that the equipment used in 7 & 8 was all over the place account of the problems weekend before. Probably a good call to bustitute Tues.

my common .02 worth,
chico
http://www.heartlandrails.com

A million years ago, railroads had the resources to maintain service in horrendous weather. That surplus capacity doesn't exist any longer, similar to what has happened in much of America in recent decades. Nobody wants to finance improvements that might only be used once or twice a year.

The Lackawanna ran electric MU trains all night to keep the electric catenary clear of ice. In earlier years, they would have a 2-8-2 or 4-6-2 up front to throw some heat into the wires and break up ice. Teams of maintainers would hop off, clear and salt platforms and stairways, hop back on and go to the next station.

Of course, you didn't have people suing for every slip and fall, back then.