Passenger Trains > Where in the Amtrak Central Division PTC is operating

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/18 23:45 by GenePoon.

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       I see Boise City listed in there for 3 & 4, is that a 'sub'?     3 & 4 don't go through Boise City and that area is 'dark' too ( no signals).



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/18 01:10 by dcfbalcoS1.

dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
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>       
>        I see Boise City listed in there for 3
> & 4, is that a 'sub'?     3 & 4 don't go through
> Boise City and that area is 'dark' too ( no
> signals).

See top right of original post for answer.

The Southwest Chief operates on the Boise City Sub between Las Animas Jct and La Junta.  Interestingly, the La Junta Sub doesn't include La Junta.  rww

Wonder if , well  probably not under  anderson , if amtraks recent relunctance to detour/ travel on dark subs may change if they have PTC?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/18 06:37 by dan.

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Looks like the new platform at Trinidad, CO.  I'd sure like to have the platform-lighting contract for that.  Rarely seen such overkill.  I wonder which wizard engineer/architect spec'd all of that.

Looking at an aerial map https://goo.gl/maps/i9HJS9ikWts I count 50 light poles, each with 2 lights.  100 lights on the platform at Trinidad, a platform that sees a 9 or 10 car train.

The good news is that they're dark-sky lights, only lighting the platform.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/11/18 07:16 by knotch8.

I thought they were Xmas lights.

knotch8 Wrote:
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> Looks like the new platform at Trinidad, CO.  I'd
> sure like to have the platform-lighting contract
> for that.  Rarely seen such overkill.  I wonder
> which wizard engineer/architect spec'd all of
> that.
>
> Looking at an aerial
> map https://goo.gl/maps/i9HJS9ikWts I count 50
> light poles, each with 2 lights.  100 lights on
> the platform at Trinidad, a platform that sees a 9
> or 10 car train.
>
> The good news is that they're dark-sky lights,
> only lighting the platform.

Another view of the Trinidad Bus Shelter platform. If I'm not mistaken, Boardman is second from the left in the above photo.






 

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

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If Lincoln Service trains are now all under PTC, whey are they still running at 80mph?

#21/22 are running with PTC on the BNSF Forth Worth Sub between Forth Worth and Temple. 

dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>       
>        I see Boise City listed in there for 3
> & 4, is that a 'sub'?     3 & 4 don't go through
> Boise City and that area is 'dark' too ( no
> signals).

PTC works in both signaled and non signaled territory.

Track speed is determined by track condition & type of signal system.  Don't believe speed is determined by PTC.

ABB Wrote:
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Don't believe speed is determined by PTC.


Not yet.

thetuck Wrote:
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> ABB Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> Don't believe speed is determined by PTC.
>
>
> Not yet.

Track speed is determined by timetable and special intructions which PTC is programmed to know and therfore enforce along with any temporary speeds of course. 

Milw_E70 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >       
> >        I see Boise City listed in there for
> 3
> > & 4, is that a 'sub'?     3 & 4 don't go
> through
> > Boise City and that area is 'dark' too ( no
> > signals).
>
> PTC works in both signaled and non signaled
> territory.

The portion of the Boise City sub between Las Animas and La Junta where 3 and 4 operate is full CTC territory.

      Yes, I missed that bit of information. Most of the Boise CIty line is dark from Las Animas south to Amarillo, Texas.

thetuck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ABB Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> Don't believe speed is determined by PTC.
>
>
> Not yet.

PTC is sufficient for trains to exceed the 80mph speed limit if the line otherwise supports those speeds.  The Lincoln Corridor was being equipped for 110mph using a mix of automatic cab signals and an ITCS-like PTC and grade crossing safety system and saw limited service at those speeds.  At some point the ACS and PTC elements were deacticated for conversion to a UP-standard PTC system.  I'd bet that the grade crossing safety tie in was not included with the new system and trains are still limited to 80 for that reason.

Fun fact, what became the standard PTC implementation with GPS and wireless radio communication was originally concieved as a grade crossing safety system for Midwest HSR.  Midwest HSR was always limited by grade crossing density (the fast Zephyr services were all ended due to grade crossing accidents in the 1930's).  Two way dynamic communication with active grade crossing protections could stop/slow a train if an unsafe situation developed.  Since work on that had already been done starting in the 90's that was sold as the PTC solution over cab signals and transponders.

Highly ironic that the one use that it was pretty much designed for actually had that system removed.

kbmiflyer Wrote:
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> If Lincoln Service trains are now all under PTC,
> whey are they still running at 80mph?

Because:
The political photo ops have come and gone.
The politically connected UP doesn't need 110mph
Nobody in power knows or cares about asking the right questions

Maybe Rich Harnish or Joe Szabo could get some answers.

As of May 15th, 2019

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