Passenger Trains > New Mexico Rail Runner Tonnage Train

After doing track work, speed restrictions are put in place and gradually increased as tonnage moves over the track. In order to expedite that, NMRX has been running this heavy train over a section of track near Santa Fe. According to my engineer friend, the procedure is: They use the requirement of one pass at 10 mph, 40 passes at 25 mph, and 40 passes at 40 mph. This is in lieu of using a track stabilizer.
The long train, which is basically three NMRX trains combined into one, is seen passing Bernalillo, New Mexico on its way back to Albuquerque.

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NIce shot!  Are they hauling passengers again yet?

Thanks.

Randy Lundgren
Elgin, TX

texchief1 Wrote:
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> NIce shot!  Are they hauling passengers again
> yet?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Randy Lundgren
> Elgin, TX

Not yet.  No date has been announced to re-open.  

Doing track maintenance is a good use of the downtime. Don't have to worry about working around the schedule.

Newbie bonehead question here: what is a "track stabilizer"? 

Been to Santa Fe a couple of times - what an art and food scene going on there.  Riding the Railrunner is on the bucket list for next time.  Did make it out to the Amtrak station @ Lamy last trip - talk about a train station in the middle of nowhere!

WoodrowStool Wrote:
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> Newbie bonehead question here: what is a "track
> stabilizer"? 

It is a machine that applies a vibration to the track to settle newly poured ballast, so that the track won’t buckle due to stresses from heat or forces from braking trains, etc. Running trains over the track does the same thing, but of course delays the trains in the process and depending on traffic density could take a longer period of time.

Posted from iPhone

Re-opening on June 15, initially on an abbreviated schedule.