Passenger Trains > Amtrak 8 (30) on the move from Spokane

Amtrak 8 (30) is again moving east.  Through Newman Lake, WA, milepost about 52 Spokane Sub,  at 0740.  Two locomotives 206 leading and 305 trailing.

Any idea why it sat in Spokane for 7 hours?  Also Amtrak 7(29) has been sitting between Whitefish and Libby MT for several hours.

Waiting on # 28. 27 was late getting into Portland from a broke down BNSF train. Then 28 was delayed do to a car on the tracks.
Dennis

Posted from iPhone

8(30) had to wait for arrival of 28(30) which started out 3+ hours late due to 27 being delayed by a stalled underpowered freight just west of Spokane, and then was further delayed by a car on the tracks near Bingen.

7(29) has been sitting just outside the south portal of the Flathead Tunnel for several hours now - "disabled freight train" again from the Amtrak Twitter feed.  It would take some time to get a dogcatch crew to that location if it becomes necessary.

7(30) has been sitting in Minot, which I would assume is waiting for a rested crew but could be something else.

Glad I completed my westbound trip yesterday...

Thanks for the information.

This has cascaded from 1) late trains leaving Chicago and 2) then late turns to get back from the West Coast. On top of it, there's other things that add to the fun - broken down freights and cars on the tracks. But had the train been in its original departure time slot???? All what if's.....

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This has cascaded from 1) late trains leaving
> Chicago and 2) then late turns to get back from
> the West Coast. On top of it, there's other things
> that add to the fun - broken down freights and
> cars on the tracks. But had the train been in its
> original departure time slot???? All what
> if's.....

Grim. In fact maddening. But this "cars on the tracks" thing, are those autos, or rail cars? Or both? (They'd have the same effect.)

The WestBound 27 was delayed 4-5 hours going to Portland on the 29/30th when a double grain train ripped in half around Sprague. It cascaded to the EB last night. But hey I'm sure BNSF saved a ton by running that double then making two conventional trains out of the mass at Sprague. 

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This has cascaded from 1) late trains leaving
> Chicago and 2) then late turns to get back from
> the West Coast. On top of it, there's other things
> that add to the fun - broken down freights and
> cars on the tracks. But had the train been in its
> original departure time slot???? All what
> if's.....

No because I remember waiting on no. 3 one Friday back in 05 for a train show in Del Mar that Saturday, left ABQ on time and got screwed by a car left on the tracks near Isleta!

Posted from Android

widowsihler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> jp1822 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This has cascaded from 1) late trains leaving
> > Chicago and 2) then late turns to get back from
> > the West Coast. On top of it, there's other
> things
> > that add to the fun - broken down freights and
> > cars on the tracks. But had the train been in
> its
> > original departure time slot???? All what
> > if's.....
>
> Grim. In fact maddening. But this "cars on the
> tracks" thing, are those autos, or rail cars? Or
> both? (They'd have the same effect.)

One of a few Amtrak Twitter Service Alerts that ended up delaying this particular Empire Builder train. Train 28 had been delayed due to a late turn of equipment from train 27, which was delayed due to the freight train issue:

Empire Builder Train 28, which departed Portland (PDX) on 7/30, is stopped east of Bingen W Salmon (BNG) due to a vehicle on the tracks. Updates to follow.