Passenger Trains > Amtrk NEC maintenance opportunity

With fewer trains these days, perhaps Amtrak can get ahead on some maintenance and construction work on the NEC, and/or move some work to days instead of nights.
Anyone know if they are doing anything like this?

RRTom Wrote:
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> With fewer trains these days, perhaps Amtrak can
> get ahead on some maintenance and construction
> work on the NEC, and/or move some work to days
> instead of nights.
> Anyone know if they are doing anything like this?

No;  They are limiting employee exposure wherever possible due to COVID-19, which means only the bare necessary essential maintenance.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/20 11:59 by OTG.

The other huge issue is that the major "Parts" and "Hardware" are long lead time items;  Some of them, such as turnouts and Central Instrument Houses, can be more than a year from ordering to delivery.

So perhaps some limited shuffling is possible, but not a lot.

Brian

They could also do some needed TLC to the P40's so they don't break down as much.

Posted from Android

Great let’s start with you!

dtoeppen Wrote:
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> It's a great opportunity to paint stuff and clean
> stuff, too. Everybody should be called in to clean
> superliners with toothbrushes. They could use a
> good interior cleaning.

Posted from iPhone

dtoeppen Wrote:
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> It's a great opportunity to paint stuff and clean
> stuff, too. Everybody should be called in to clean
> superliners with toothbrushes. They could use a
> good interior cleaning.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's why I love the internet.

OTG Wrote:
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> RRTom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > With fewer trains these days, perhaps Amtrak
> can
> > get ahead on some maintenance and construction
> > work on the NEC, and/or move some work to days
> > instead of nights.
> > Anyone know if they are doing anything like
> this?
>
> No;  They are limiting employee exposure wherever
> possible due to COVID-19, which means only the
> bare necessary essential maintenance.

If this is true, then they will be even behinder when things get back to normal.  There are lots of small to medium projects that can be done with material on hand and are only limited by available track time.  It's not like all the materials are just-in-time delivered from the factory.

It's often difficult to work those jobs and maintain social distance practice.  I could unions hopping on that right away. 

If any construction work requires N95 masks, construction should stop and such masks be turned over to the medical community. 

NPR mentioned the difficulty for construction workers in the UK. Social distancing can be tough.

Posted from Android

Maybe they are doing it all wrong here in North Carolina where construction hasn't stopped.  The big highway expansion I drive through every day to work and CSX's new yard in Rocky Mount are going strong, for example.  Those are union projects and nobody is wearing one of those masks that will make everything all right.
The never-ending installation of fiber optic cables everywhere continues apace as does new commercial and residential construction.
 

dtoeppen Wrote:
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> It's a great opportunity to paint stuff and clean
> stuff, too. Everybody should be called in to clean
> superliners with toothbrushes. They could use a
> good interior cleaning.


Sure...put yourself at risk and still practice "social distancing"..??!!

In Pa, ALL state construction projects are suspended until further notice...

Posted from Android

dtoeppen Wrote:
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> What I had in mind was more like solitary work,
> one employee per car, max.
> Maybe push back and ask for clarification of
> assumptions before going all middle school in the
> forum?


I'm sorry you think that. You have your opinion about this virus, I have mine....and made some changes accordingly.

Stay safe everyone...

Posted from Android