Passenger Trains > SW Chief proposed Bus Bridge Route - Raton Pass

The first winter storm of the 2018-19 winter season produced this scene on I-25 at Raton Pass this morning. Likewise I-40 was reported snow packed and icy in the vicinity of Tucumcari with slippery conditions due to blowing snow. Temperatures tonight will dip to the low teens in the area with lower wind chills.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/18 13:26 by Cumbresfan.

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Now imagine some of the crappy, little-used, rural state roads in which there is only snow plow service for a 12 or 16 hour window per day. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/18 13:52 by joemvcnj.

Correct!  I think Colorado doesn't plow snow anymore between 7pm and 5am, or so.

A winter storm in the mountains in November? Who would have thought thought such a thing was possible?

Posted from Android

Doug Wetherhold
Macungie, PA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/12/18 14:40 by ALCO630.

ALCO630 Wrote:
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> A winter storm in the mountains in December? Who
> would have thought thought such a thing was
> possible?
>
> Posted from Android

December?

 

norm1153 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ALCO630 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A winter storm in the mountains in December?
> Who
> > would have thought thought such a thing was
> > possible?
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> December?
>
>  

this is what happens when I post a message by speaking into the microphone and don't proofread. So corrected.

Doug Wetherhold
Macungie, PA

is the s/w chief bus bridge even still proposed?  

66
 

goneon66 Wrote:
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> is the s/w chief bus bridge even still
> proposed?  
>
> 66
>  
Not for this current (2019) fiscal year. Amtrak makes no guarantees what will happen next October - A bus bridge or complete discontinuance are still on their table.

The 2019 Amtrak budget has a special item in it specifically providing money ($54M, I think) for the Chief..

Just waiting for Congress to pass it  (until then,  Amtrak is operating on another disgraceful "continuing resolution"--otherwise know as kicking the can down the road.

 

Cumbres, Thanks for staying on this issue.....one I think central to the whole Amtrak LD so-called issue.

People need to remember the mandate of the NATIONAL Rail Pasenger Corporation.

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

ronald321 Wrote:
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> The 2019 Amtrak budget has a special item in it
> specifically providing money ($54M, I think) for
> the Chief..
>
> Just waiting for Congress to pass it  (until
> then,  Amtrak is operating on another disgraceful
> "continuing resolution"--otherwise know as kicking
> the can down the road.
>
>  
Yes, there is money for both the Chief route and a provision to prevent them from eliminating routes otherwise exempted from PTC by the FRA. Most of the SW Chief route from Lamy, NM to Dodge City Kansas is exempt from PTC though I believe a section around La Junta, CO is not. The money is attached to the DOT reauthorization bill that was passed by the House and Senate but is awaiting conference committee action to iron out differences between the two versions. The money and elimination prohibition are in the Senate version with the prohibition language receiving near unamious approval. Of course, none of this applies if Amtrak decides to attempt to close this or other routes due to declining ridership. Most suspect that this is their ultimate objective under the current Amtrak leadership.

Thanks Stan, we'll see what the lame-duck congress comes up with.

Gee, Amtrak could provide a highway bridge for stranded drivers!!  

I remember in 1977, at Laramie, WY on #6, we arrived there about 1:30 p.m. or so, and I-80 was closed due to a storm.  So, about 100+ piled on to the SFZ and we headed east to CHY and then south to DEN.   All weather transportation! 

Maybe by the time Delta Dick's bus plan takes affect next year, global warming will have taken it's toll and the roads will be clear. 

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Maybe by the time Delta Dick's bus plan takes
> affect next year, global warming will have taken
> it's toll and the roads will be clear. 

Snark alert!!!

AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

What is snow?  It doesn't even rain here!

Norm

Norman Orfall
Helendale, CA
TIOGA PASS, a private railcar

Hey Norm maybe we could get UP of BNSF to do what they did in Alaska several years ago whenthey didn't have enough snow for the Idiotrod. They loaded empty hopper cars in Fairbanks and took them to Anchorage. Maybe we could do that with tanks for water and hoppers for snow.

Ed

The daily snark.

agentatascadero Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> andersonb109 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Maybe by the time Delta Dick's bus plan takes
> > affect next year, global warming will have
> taken
> > it's toll and the roads will be clear. 
>
> Snark alert!!!
>
> AA

Well to be fair, which is dumb, in 1983 we drove from Raton to Albuquerque in late December with I-25 snow-packed and huge pot-holes where the snow pack was breaking up, than a 20 mile stretch of heavy snowfall as I-25 kinked close to Sante Fe.

New Mercedes which would not start if temperature was below 10 degrees so we found indoor parking at every stop, rear-wheel drive only.

Of course drivers were smarter then, did not need 4 wd unless truly far off-road.

Marias Pass and Rt. 2 east to Shelby was a lot worse—ice packed 30 mph- (except for grain trucks) last Tues 6th.

stop
David

I believe I-25 @ Raton Pass was closed at least twice last year, and the Southwest Chief got through fine!
Nothing was said in the press at all!  I wish Amtrak could toot their own horn on this sometimes.