Passenger Trains > stuck on the chief in Gallup

I sure wish I had brought my scanner with me.

been making slow time out of LA so far. then we arrived here on the west side of Gallup NM about an hour ago. they told us over the PA that BNSF wants to throw a freight locomotive on our head end.....no more elaboration than that.

so here I sit, in my roomette, looking at a trailer park and some Texaco gas tanks.

maybe they'll make it to the station sometime this month so I can have a cigarette. :)

Wonder why they couldn't pull the extra few miles to the station to let you guys stretch and smoke while they hook up the BNSF unit? Keep us updated on your progress or lack of.

Good luck. Remember every trip is an adventure!

Chris

Shows adding the BNSF 6621 from Gallup to Kansas City. Expect a "slower" ride (probably a max
of 75) from Gallup to Kansas City. And then also expect delays due to blizzard conditions
in Northern New Mexico.

TopCat

Mudrock Wrote:
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> Good luck. Remember every trip is an adventure!
>
> Chris


haha.

my first trip on the chief went so smooth. guess I'm paying for it this time.

I still have no idea what's going on. can't see anything from my vantage point. there was a van on the side of the tracks and a couple guys standing around a few minutes ago, but they are gone now.

mystery guy on the PA said they were having trouble hooking up the new locomotive.

trainworm Wrote:
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> I sure wish I had brought my scanner with me.
>
> been making slow time out of LA so far. then we
> arrived here on the west side of Gallup NM about
> an hour ago. they told us over the PA that BNSF
> wants to throw a freight locomotive on our head
> end.....no more elaboration than that.
>
> so here I sit, in my roomette, looking at a
> trailer park and some Texaco gas tanks.
>
> maybe they'll make it to the station sometime this
> month so I can have a cigarette. :)


I'm not sure what the track layout in Gallup is now, but possibly they need that track to spot the freight train that is going
to contribute the freight unit.

Just be glad somebody figured out one of the Amtrak units is crapped (you do say, "been making slow time out of LA so far")
before you stalled on Raton Pass. Been there, done that. "Sorry, we thought we could make it," said the crew to the
BNSF dispatcher that time, and that was when there was a York Canyon coal train on the line.

Normally I'd think Amtrak would have a spare unit at Albuquerque but perhaps not today. BNSF also isn't going to detour
off the main line to send a freight engine to Albuquerque for Amtrak. That's why Gallup.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/20/11 09:46 by GenePoon.

woohoo. just started moving.

hopefully I can get some pictures for y'all either here in Gallup or up in Albuquerque.

GenePoon Wrote:
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> Normally I'd think Amtrak would have a spare unit
> at Albuquerque but perhaps not today. BNSF also
> isn't going to detour
> off the main line to send a freight engine to
> Albuquerque for Amtrak. That's why Gallup.

I think the ABQ 'protect' unit got hi-jacked three days ago. Three out of four days on a row, one was needed. Winter seems to sneek up on Amtrak just about every year . . .

RailNet802, owevaaaah

they put freight engines on yesterday as insurance...
the one on no.4 "crapped out" itself east of La Junta...
running thru blizzards tends to cause problems

FYI.. Gallup is not usually a smoking stop. The crew might make an exception in your case.

I'll shoot you guys somewhere west of Grants/Milan if this freezing fog clears up........

Drew Mitchem
Centralia, WA

thetuck Wrote:
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> FYI.. Gallup is not usually a smoking stop. The
> crew might make an exception in your case.


nope, they didn't let us out.

went and got me some chips to munch on instead.

uh oh, the lounge car attendant is calling frantically for the conductor.

amtrak34east Wrote:
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> I'll shoot you guys somewhere west of Grants/Milan
> if this freezing fog clears up........


i'll wave at ya when we go by. I am in the second sleeper, south side, at the west end.

just passing the refinery at jamestown now. spent too much time at that truckstop.

forecast for central New Mexico calls for temps rising gradually into the 40s this afternoon, fog should start to blow off

good for photography <G>

amtrak34east Wrote:
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> I'll shoot you guys somewhere west of Grants/Milan
> if this freezing fog clears up........


was that you in the greenish SUV out by bluewater?

Yes it was.....loading the photos onto the computer now, along with video. Will need to edit, it may be an hour before I get them on here.

Drew Mitchem
Centralia, WA

woohoo. finally made it to Albuquerque...almost. about 10-15 minutes out.

trainworm, photos are up: http://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,2640081

Drew Mitchem
Centralia, WA

here are a few shots.

down south of Albuquerque, about to turn north in a few miles.

you can still barely read "Union" on the side of the old baggage

3rd loco in the consist

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thirsty locos and some shots of the train.

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