Passenger Trains > "Embracing the Elements..."

Well, it would seem that if you don't do that this winter, then you're gonna spend an heck of a lot of time inside!!

Got word, thanks to "The_ Chief_ Way," that today's outbound Zephyr would have a couple of "X Train" (ex Mid America) cars on the rear. So, braved the spitting snow and single digit temps that have become a fixture around here, to go down to the end of the sidewalk here at "MH" Tower and capture it. Also have attached a couple views of this morning's Capitol Limited consist (#29) and the late arriving Lake Shore Limited (#49) as they were turned in front of "MH" and over at 18th Street. As info for those to the west, both #5 and #3 left Chicago on time today, and #3 sported three units.

Cheers,

aussiehinz


1,2,3. Amtrak #5, the "California Zephyr," with 2 PV's decorated for "X-Train"... January 22, 2014



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/14 16:55 by aussiehinz.

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4. Amtrak #29 turning in front of "MH."

5. Amtrak #49 turning at 18th Street.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/14 16:54 by aussiehinz.

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Nice work ! Now, back into the tower and huddle around the coal stove !

looks like 49 did not have the 449 sleeper or the consist was assembled differently.

Think it was with the 2 NY sleepers today, but not 100% certain.

Posted from iPhone

No Boston, MA sleeper (4920) on 449(21) and likewise for the return trip tonight.

Looks like the Dan Ryan was a mess.

Marty Bernard

Lol. It rarely isn't! One of the heaviest traffic stretches of interstate highway in the U.S. at the point visible in the photo.

Posted from iPhone

That and the Northern Indiana Interstates have been a mess - standstill for most of two days. A few people (including a state trooper, a state trooper spokesperson, a few truckers and a bus driver) have said that yesterday had periods of 90 minutes to go 4 miles. And those were the lucky ones who moved. Photos & videos of charter buses, private cars, trucks - all attempting (and not well) to stay out of the ditches and continue moving were common fare. Too, multitudes of video of semis REALLY needing a sander, as the rear dualies were slipping and spinning more than providing power.
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There was a heavy lake effect plume (some ares getting 1 - 2' in previous days) and there is one back today. Yesterday morning, the troopers had to shut down the interstates and run plows 5 abreast to attempt to get down to pavement (well - 5 salt trucks followed 5 minutes later by 5 plows) - otw, the surface was packed (and glazed) snow and ice. Railroads & airlines had their issues too - this has been a rather extreme winter.

Thanks for the photos, aussiehinz.

The California Zephyr with a baggage, a transition/sleeper, 2 coaches, a lounge, a diner and 2 sleepers. That's not much of a train, not much revenue-producing capacity to run 2,438 miles in 52 hours. I don't know how many crew districts that is. From what I can tell, it takes 6 sets of equipment to operate this schedule.

I know that January is a slow time of year. I suspect that The Zephyr won't become crowded again until early June, except for the Reno-Bay Area casino business on weekends, the Denver-Winter Park-Glenwood Springs ski and day-tripper business that we hear about, and the holiday travel around Easter and various schools' Spring Breaks.

You've got it correct about the quiet time on the CZ. I have ridden it many times between Calif and Colo in the months you mention and even with just two coaches it can be very empty. And sometimes on the days with 3 coaches -- when the coaches were on the rear -- the coach attendants would close off the last coach to all passengers, so that they would only have to service two cars instead of three.

rswebber Wrote:
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> That and the Northern Indiana Interstates have
> been a mess

There was a terrible accident near Michigan City on I-94 late this afternoon during a severe lake effect snow squall. 34-vehicle pile-up in the eastbound lanes, many semis involved, 3 dead, 20 injured. Traffic backed up for miles. Expecting 9 below zero tonight during the clean-up.