Passenger Trains > Amtrak ALC42 301

Number 7 took a delay today in Glenview due to engine 301. Having all types of faults, sensor errors/failures, electric issues. Sounded like there was an attempt to reboot but to no avail. From what could be made out on the radio, they will try another extended stop in Milwaukee to troubleshoot. 

312 is the only working engine as of leaving Glenview, so they will likely pick up a BNSF engine in St Paul. For the Portland section, I assume Seattle will have to send a spare unit to Spokane so that the Portland section of this train has HEP for the passengers. 

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Siemens Immobility - the Yugo of passenger rail locomotives.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/22 14:31 by joemvcnj.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Siemens Immobility - the Yugo of passenger rail
> locomotives.

Yet their equipment works very well in Europe.

You can say that about CAF too, then look at the fiasco the Viewliner-II order was. 
Is Kawaski as horrible with 5 year late deliveries with defects (LIRR M-9) in Kobe, Japan as they are in Nebraska ? 

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Siemens Immobility - the Yugo of passenger rail
> > locomotives.
>
> Yet their equipment works very well in Europe.


As do Yugo automobiles in what's left of their home country.

At least the electonic bell sounds nice.....



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/27/22 18:32 by ghemr.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Siemens Immobility - the Yugo of passenger rail
> > locomotives.
>
> Yet their equipment works very well in Europe.

That’s because Americans are totally incompetent when it comes to maintaining anything modern.

Or is it anything manufactured here has defects as built and delivered, and that is usually late besides.
It is not just Siemens, but I see examples of CAF (Amtrak & WMATA), Kawasaki (MTA), Bombardier (banned by MTA from even bidding).  

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Or is it anything manufactured here has defects as
> built and delivered, and that is usually late
> besides.
> It is not just Siemens, but I see examples of CAF
> (Amtrak & WMATA), Kawasaki (MTA), Bombardier
> (banned by MTA from even bidding).  

So American workers are incompetent?

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Or is it anything manufactured here has defects
> as
> > built and delivered, and that is usually late
> > besides.
> > It is not just Siemens, but I see examples of
> CAF
> > (Amtrak & WMATA), Kawasaki (MTA), Bombardier
> > (banned by MTA from even bidding).  
>
> So American workers are incompetent?

We know the plants all have high turnovers, in need of incessant re-training, and constant monitoring of quality control. 

I think without knowing the details of specific problems assigning blame at this point to plant workmanship or mechanical failure is pure speculation when it could be anything to specific parts, electronics, or software tweaks or adjustments that need to be made. All are a factor in modern machinary with a lot of automation, software, and electronics. I think the best way to approach this with Amtrak is simply to ask how they are working work with Siemens to resolve issues and get the reliability up.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/28/22 07:53 by lordsigma.

The BrightLine units seem to be doing just fine, five years into their service.

They are maintained in the West Palm Beach shops by American workers, supervised by (American) technicians from Siemens.

Most new units (and cars / trucks) have teething issues.  The Amtrak Acela I units were withdrawn from service for a full year while they were updated and fixed. And, returned under Amtrak's Reliability Centered Maintenance program. Amtrak workers were assigned to the Acela fleet, the computers pinpointed flaws and repairs, so they could be resolved before breakdowns. Amtrak and Alstom supervisors kept the Acela fleet running at a high level of reliability until Amtrak decided to kill the initiative.

lordsigma Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I think without knowing the details of specific
> problems assigning blame at this point to plant
> workmanship or mechanical failure is pure
> speculation when it could be anything to specific
> parts, electronics, or software tweaks or
> adjustments that need to be made. All are a factor
> in modern machinary with a lot of automation,
> software, and electronics. I think the best way to
> approach this with Amtrak is simply to ask how
> they are working work with Siemens to resolve
> issues and get the reliability up.

Check the Midwest Units for the answer on that!

Posted from Android

BNSF 7021 added to the 301 and 312. Took a 2 hour delay adding the rescue GEVO at Northtown. 

sethamtrak Wrote:
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> BNSF 7021 added to the 301 and 312. Took a 2 hour
> delay adding the rescue GEVO at Northtown. 

Train #8/28 of Nov 26th, left a locomotive in Minot for Train #7/27 of Nov 27th. Not sure if the freight loco will get ditched in Minot or continue on once the Amtrak loco is added at Minot.....

Neat videos, thanks.  Is this the North Glenview Metra station, or at the downtown one?

Rich

PasadenaSub Wrote:
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> Neat videos, thanks.  Is this the North Glenview
> Metra station, or at the downtown one?
>
> Rich

Downtown Glenview. There was talk of moving Amtrak to North Glenview but I am not sure if that will ever happen.