Passenger Trains > Amtrak: refueling while en roue?

When a train stops for a refueling break and crew change, does a crew have to stay with the train?  And, is this the off-going crew, or the new crew?

I noticed an assistant conductor or conductor watching the refueling on #1 in Tucson this morning.  Since it was just one truck for at least two locomotives, I figured it would take a while.

Usually when 1/2 stops for fuel @ Kirby one of the engineers drops down to watch the refueling.

SP7615

Empire Builder refuels just east of the Havre station, in a BNSF facility. Amtrak crew runs through between Minot and Shelby. 

For the Florida trains, 91, 92, 97, 98, the fueling is done at Jacksonville, FL. for the most part the new crews are already outside and waiting for the inbound crews to discuss whatever needs to be. The fueling is already underway, and there really isn't much time where no one is watching. Blue flags are up during the process, so nothing will move until they're down. I usually hear the Conductor ask the Engineer if everyone is in the clear, and if all blue flags are down on the scanner, or the Engineer will inform the Conductor when that happens..

Electric trains are "refueled" on the go with no delay...

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

MojaveBill Wrote:
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> Electric trains are "refueled" on the go with no
> delay...

It's hard enough for Amtrak to budget its trains now without being expected to string wire all the way from Chicago to Seattle or New Orleans to Los Angeles to avoid refueling delays....

Refueling can be done under the sole supervision of mechanical personnel and does not require an operating crew present.  HOWEVER, "en-route" would assume a "live" train, therefore an operating employee is required at any time passengers are present.

Tuscon is not a crew change location so the same crew stays, in fact the Engineers of the eastbound train #2 also perform locomotive calender day inspections in TUS.  At locations which are also crew change points, the outbound crew would typically be present unless for some reason they are not on duty yet.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/21 12:32 by thetuck.

Thanks for all the details

It looks like everybody was in the act in the shot back in 2016.

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