Passenger Trains > AMTK #4 over 8 hours late into Flagstaff

Watching the VR camera at Flagstaff and Amtk # 4 arrived a few minutes ago, 8 hours 25 minutes late.
Not off to a good start.
Anyone know why?  I did some searching and did not see anything.
TIA
Pat

Update: Southwest Chief Train 4 which departed Los Angeles (LAX) on 11/9 is currently operating approximately 7hr late due to an earlier mechanical issue between Barstow (BAR) and Needles (NDL).

Amtrak Alerts on Twitter is a good place to start >> https://twitter.com/AmtrakAlerts/status/1193584620727603201

as i have said before, too bad this website doesn't have a "heads-up" discussion board.  i would have liked to have shot a video of #4 moving up kingman canyon.  oh well..........

66

I went back to VR and saw where there is a BNSF locomotive on point.
Yet another Amtrak locomotive failure.
At 3:18 PM CST, it is still in station and the folks don't seem to be in any rush.
Pat

Two Horizon cars deadheading ?   

Any one have the car numbers.

From the station Camera, passengers taking a walk on the platform.

Oh a all aboard was sounded !! 2:29 PM

Westbound freight by 235-238.  #4 departed 241pm
Times as shown on station camera.

Sounds like single tracking ahead  ?

Another westbound freight at 255pm.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/19 13:57 by mundo.

4(9) with AMTK 169 and 837 departed Los Angeles but it seems like one of those "wave at it and wish it good luck" kind of trips.

The mechanical failure was to the AMTK 169 and occurred well prior to Barstow, not between Barstow and Needles as Amtrak tweeted.

4(9) had extended station stops at Fullerton (13 minutes) and Riverside (36 minutes).  Then it sat for nearly two hours at Rana, prior to San Bernardino, which is adjacent to both the BNSF and Metrolink facilities. BNSF ran 4(9) up the lower-gradient line over Cajon Pass and even at that, it only made 15-17 mph all the way uphill, losing time all the way and regaining speed only past Summit.  At that point it was over three hours late, and still had only the two Amtrak units.  It lost another 40 minutes to Barstow where BNSF 8493 was added.

The deadheading Horizon cars behind the power are the AMTK 54504 and 54510.

Finally departed Flagstaff at 240pm...almost an hour in the station.  Railcam screen shots:

 



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/19 13:58 by GenePoon.

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Don't tell me they sent the same defective engine east after what happened Friday on no. 3!

Sounds like troubles started in LA...

9:50P ALERT: Southwest Chief Train 4 which departed Los Angeles (LAX) on 11/9, is currently stopped at Riverside (RIV) due to mechanical issues. Updates to follow as more information becomes available.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/19 13:36 by ColdRainAndSnow.

Just departing Flagstaff at 3:42 PM CST.
Pat

Thanks Poon for the Horizon car numbers.

Still only two coaches and two sleepers.

#4 was stopped west of Flagstaff for a bit.  Rumor had it that the remaining operable Amtrak unit supplying the electricity  to the train went down.  Came into Flagstaff from that point only running at 30 to 35 mph.  Does that explain the long dwell time at Flagstaff??  Donno. 

The BNSF Unit was added to #4 at Barstow.

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

mundo Wrote:
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> Thanks Poon for the Horizon car numbers.
>
> Still only two coaches and two sleepers.
=====================================

You're welcome, Ed!  I actually was still up when this train went past the Cajon Pass (Hesperia) railcam...hours late.  I was among a couple of diehards who waited for it. On a moonlit night, the passage of Amtrak 4 in the dark is worth seeing, but THIS LATE????

It went past the camera at or near its normal speed, but by then it was going downhill.

MM171 Wrote:
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> #4 was stopped west of Flagstaff
>   Came into Flagstaff from that point only
> running at 30 to 35 mph. 

Hot on the heels of a freight. Most it can do is 40 on track that is carded for 40.

Posted from iPhone

Train continues to head east! Exepcted into Gallup still 9.5 hours late, but hoping to make up time by Albuquerque by coming in at 8.5 hours late. We'll see if that is to hold up especially with freight engine in the lead. Did Amtrak by chance release a #3 from Chicago with an extra locomotive (even if done today - 11/10/2019) in the hopes of potentially joining it up with this crippling train - which eventually needs to return power to BNSF!

jp1822 Wrote:
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> Did Amtrak by chance
> release a #3 from Chicago with an extra locomotive
> (even if done today - 11/10/2019) in the hopes of
> potentially joining it up with this crippling
> train -

Nope......just the usual 2 power units on todays #3 outa Chicago at LaPlatta.  Always Kansas City too.

3(10) has AMTK 157 "Big Game", 127

Also, more on 4(9), reported by a passenger on the train.  The delay at Rana was due to watering the train, because Los Angeles didn't do it.  The entire train, engines and cars, got water there from Metrolink, which explains why it took such a hit.  This delay was in addition to those caused by lame engine, which caused the long station stop at Riverside and the s-l-o-w climb...slower than most freight trains...up Cajon Pass. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/10/19 18:57 by GenePoon.

Terrible. 
We must be the laughing stock of  global railroading.
So, what does Propeller Head say?
Probably happily chuckling like mad.
Have another drink, DICK!!

"As long as the passengers don't ride on the roof of the long distance trains, I'm happy."

-PropellerHead

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 3(10) has AMTK 157 "Big Game", 127
>
> Also, more on 4(9), reported by a passenger on the
> train.  The delay at Rana was due to watering the
> train, because Los Angeles didn't do it.  The
> entire train, engines and cars, got water there
> from Metrolink, which explains why it took such a
> hit.  This delay was in addition to those caused
> by lame engine, which caused the long station stop
> at Riverside and the s-l-o-w climb...slower than
> most freight trains...up Cajon Pass. 
Someone should be on the carpet for letting the train leave LA without gettng watered... Geez...