Passenger Trains > NS leader on Cardinal

A little bird tells me that the locomotive on 51(12) developed a "mechanical issue" at Remington, Va. yesterday.  3.5-hour delay waiting on NS power so the train could continue.

Currently running 4.5 hours late approaching Indy.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/20 06:27 by Dcmcrider.

NS 9771 was added.  I photographed it in Hinton, WV around 2145 last night.

I assume it will have to be brought ALL the way back on a subsequent #50 ? What happens to it when they hit CSX trackage ?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/20 07:15 by joemvcnj.

Nice of NS to pull a unit off a passing train. I don't think NS has extra power sitting around at Manassas, or a spare crew to move it.

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Every time I go by the NS yard in Manassas there are several engines idling near the admin building

Nothing.  The NS locomotive led through VA and WV on BB / CSX

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> What happens to it when
> they hit CSX trackage ?

As of around 830am Pacific Time, crew of 51(12) reported to CSX that the NS9771 was having problems, would drop out of load when speed exceeded 40mph, with traction motor fault warning.

It lost only a few minutes to Dyer but there is no posted arrival time at Chicago, yet.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/20 12:35 by GenePoon.

It should be noted that both locomotives are GE products built in Erie PA.

Amtrak's latest estimate was another 1 1/4 hours lost between Dyer and Chicago...and that's even with a hefty pad in the schedule.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/20 13:21 by GenePoon.

Lost almost two hours between Dyer and Chicago. 5 hr 54 min late.

It's possible NS gave them a faulty engine on purpose......

Bovine Scatology. How many miles/hours did it take to break down?

I had something somewhat similar happen in 2000, but it did not involve a bum Amtrak unit. Amtrak 51 stalled on the hill near Manassas and waited close to four hours for an NS unit. When one showed up it was a GP38-2 short hood forward, which limited its speed to 50mph and required a crew member in the cab on the fireman's side to call signals. This was when CSX still crewed the Cardinal. The GP38-2 went to Chicago but I didn't. Several pax had Western longhaul connections (I was on Train 5). Amtrak took us off, put us on taxis to Indianapolis airport, and we flew to O'Hare on American Airlines. Van to CUS, then onto our trains.

This was Amtrak's fault: the CSX conductor told me that due to empty private cars on the rear end going to STL, the engineer knew the solo P42 would stall. He advised Amtrak, but was told to shut up and run the train. It stalled exactly where he said it would. Arrogance at Amtrak is not new.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/13/20 18:10 by GenePoon.

Amtrak #51 at Dyer today, 2-13-2020.            PRRFan

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Does the Cardinal still have business class? Looking at the photos it has 2 cafe/dinette cars. When I rode several years ago one cafe/dinette car served as the food service car (cafe and diner lite), while the 2nd car was BC and a table section for sleeper patrons. Is this still the same setup today?

Posted from Android

That NS unit looks good in the snow!

I hope things run smoother when the Chargers arrive..

fulham Wrote:
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> Does the Cardinal still have business class?
> Looking at the photos it has 2 cafe/dinette cars.
> When I rode several years ago one cafe/dinette car
> served as the food service car (cafe and diner
> lite), while the 2nd car was BC and a table
> section for sleeper patrons. Is this still the
> same setup today?

Yes,...see image

 

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engineerinvirginia Wrote:
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> It's possible NS gave them a faulty engine on
> purpose......

I swriously doubt that!

Posted from Android

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
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> It's possible NS gave them a faulty engine on
> purpose......

I seriously doubt that!

Posted from Android

I looked at the Cardinal timetable in the schedule section of Amtrak's web page and there is no mention of Business Class...only coach and sleeper.  The icons do not even show it.  Maybe Amtrak figure's that when people actually book space on the train they will see that BC is offered.