Passenger Trains > 7(22) - Lengthly Delay Expected

7 of the 22nd made it about a mile out of the station when they encountered "mechanical issues". About two hours after it departed CUS, Amtrak Alerts says the train will return to CUS and a lengthly delay is expected. I suppose mechanical will look at the issue in the depot and if it can't be solved, passengers will get off and the train will return to the yard for a swap. Or maybe they already know it will be a swap at this point since Amtrak says lengthy delay at this time (17:00). 

From Amtrak Twitter

UPDATE: Empire Builder Train 7/27, which departed Chicago (CHI) on 1/22, has safely returned to Chicago, where crews will complete an engine swap. A lengthy delay is anticipated

ALC42 failure. Train went to the yard to get a new leader. 

If the train does re-depart from Chicago, train ops should be on the phone with bus operators out of Spokane and/or Seattle to see if they can turn the consist at Spokane and originate the eastbound Empire Buider from there in two days or what have you. Amtrak Thruway busses already have an existing route and bus that operates from Seattle to Spokane. Not saying it is even doable or there's availability, but this is something that used to come into play for the Empire Builders when running excessively late westbound. Otherwise this just cascades into another cycle of late trains and potential cancellations. 

I know when the P40s where new it was an issue at times back in the 90s, but these ALCs are defiantly in the Lemon lot!

The Strasburg Railroad can switch out locomotives faster than this. Over 4 hour terminal delay - essentially??? Chicago is practically the hub of LD locomotives. Sad that a unit is not kept on some sort of quicker standby for ANY of the long distance trains departing throughout the day......



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/23 17:40 by jp1822.

3.54 down at Milwaukee

Posted from Android

Just as late out of Staples, MN, yet Julie or whatever is laughingly optimistic that it will be on time by Spokane.

2 hours late into Pasco this morning, still not too bad from where they started

Posted from iPhone

Was going to say given how this run started it didn’t do too badly. They moved it along pretty smoothly and made up some time. Glad to hear the passengers on board didn’t experience subsequent issues.