Passenger Trains > Which trains back into CUS?

Do single-engined WOLVERINE, Carbondale and St. Louis trains pull or back into Chicago Union Station (I presume when there is an engine on each end they pull in)?
Do most long distance trains pull or back in?
Thanks!
Andy

Most LD trains pull into CUS as far as I know.  Amtrak doesn't want the delay involved with turning the train and backing into the station.  The Denver station is one where they have to back into the station, (or back out when they leave.)  It takes several minutes to make that move everyday.  At CUS they back in before departure so that they can pull out without turning.  The Empire Builder is a bit different.  It uses the run-through track since it leaves the station and goes north.  I believe it uses that same track entering the station from Seattle/Portland.

Some of the locals or more frequent passengers may want to contribute or correct my comments.  

John

Last I knew, AMTK 6 backs into CUS. Don't know why.

The_Chief_Way Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Last I knew, AMTK 6 backs into CUS. Don't know
> why.

Curious about this too. My last few rides on 6 we have been doing this backup move. It wasn't a regular occurrence before, Anyone know why this started up? 

Guys, they've been doing that for years!

Guys, understood !  But why does No.4 not do the same, as example?

The_Chief_Way Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Last I knew, AMTK 6 backs into CUS. Don't know
> why.

It did when I rode it in Dec.2015.
I just noticed in a video,they took out
some center tracks and made a "service"
platform.When did they do this?
To hell with the passengers make them walk
around noisy running locomotives,around all the
supports and people coming and going.

Uncle Joe,Seffner,fl.

retcsxcfm Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>> Last I knew, AMTK 6 backs into CUS. Don't know why.
> It did when I rode it in Dec.2015.

Where did it wye?

I'll redefine the question as "which trains back in to CUS in revenue service". The City of New Orleans and other trains using the St Charles Air Line back in at the end of their run. They also back out at the beginning of their run south.

The best reason why they would wye 6 would be to get it ready for the next depature.

> I just noticed in a video,they took out some center tracks
> and made a "service" platform.When did they do this?
> To hell with the passengers make them walk around noisy
> running locomotives,around all the supports and people
> coming and going.

The service platforms have been there for decades. It is one of the features of CUS that they are planning on removing when the tracks are rebuilt. The current design is one where there is a passenger platform between each track and a freight platform between each track. At the station end of the platform the freight platform angles down under the passenger station. There were no posts on the freight platform so carts would not be impeded. This design is left over from the time when mail traveled by passenger train.

There are plans to narrow or remove the freight platforms and widen the passenger platforms (help is on the way).

BTW: Those noisy running locomotives are another good reason to back into the station.

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Guys, they've been doing that for years!

Hmm, my experiences on #6 don't really corroborate this.

I've ridden the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, and Illinois Zephyr a number of times since 2011, and each time we ran straight into the station, no backing. It was my understanding that most of the backing ended after mail & express was discontinued.

justalurker66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> retcsxcfm Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >> Last I knew, AMTK 6 backs into CUS. Don't know
> why.
> > It did when I rode it in Dec.2015.
>
> Where did it wye?
>
> I'll redefine the question as "which trains back
> in to CUS in revenue service". The City of New
> Orleans and other trains using the St Charles Air
> Line back in at the end of their run. They also
> back out at the beginning of their run south.
>The City of New Orleans leaves forward south to Lumber St and then backs through the "Y" to get to the Air Line.   I watch it many evenings on RailStream's MH tower cam.
> The best reason why they would wye 6 would be to
> get it ready for the next depature.
>
> > I just noticed in a video,they took out some
> center tracks
> > and made a "service" platform.When did they do
> this?
> > To hell with the passengers make them walk
> around noisy
> > running locomotives,around all the supports and
> people
> > coming and going.
>
> The service platforms have been there for decades.
> It is one of the features of CUS that they are
> planning on removing when the tracks are rebuilt.
> The current design is one where there is a
> passenger platform between each track and a
> freight platform between each track. At the
> station end of the platform the freight platform
> angles down under the passenger station. There
> were no posts on the freight platform so carts
> would not be impeded. This design is left over
> from the time when mail traveled by passenger
> train.
>
> There are plans to narrow or remove the freight
> platforms and widen the passenger platforms (help
> is on the way).
>
> BTW: Those noisy running locomotives are another
> good reason to back into the station.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/27/16 18:23 by santafedan.

Wow, looks like we have a real Trainorders issue here.

santafedan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The City of New Orleans leaves forward south to Lumber St
> and then backs through the "Y" to get to the Air Line.

An interesting change. The two previous paths were 1) backing out of CUS on the NW connection to BNSF and then east on the Air Line and 2) backing out of CUS past CP 21st then using the CN Freeport Sub to get to the CN Chicago Sub (CN-IC).

Using the SW connection would add a second direction change to the move and require taking most of the train south of CP 21st St on to NS (the rear cars extending through CP 21st St to the south end of CP Lumber St ... signals just south of Lumber St).

The BNSF main tracks closest to the St Charles Air Line would be the NW connection. The BNSF tracks closest to "MH Tower" would lead to the SW connection ... although Track 3 is a wye where the train could enter from the north or the south. Using the NW connection (BNSF tracks 1 and 2) would involve less railroads and one less end change.

RutledgeRadio Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've ridden the California Zephyr, Southwest
> Chief, and Illinois Zephyr a number of times since
> 2011, and each time we ran straight into the
> station, no backing. It was my understanding that
> most of the backing ended after mail & express was
> discontinued.


Uh they've done it for years, I thought the main reason was to keep locomotive exhaust out of the station ara, that's why I said that!

Posted from Android

91/92 back into Tampa Union Station, after wye inbound.

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Guys, they've been doing that for years!

What years? Inbounds normally pull in!