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Passenger Trains > Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg


Date: 02/04/25 16:38
Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: GenePoon

CZ 5(4) is stuck at Galesburg, two hours late.   SWChief 3(4) passed it and is through Galesburg.

My guess is that CZ 5(4) is still in the Galesburg station area with Mechanical issues. It is tracking slightly west of the station at zero mph.   It arrived Galesburg with SW Chief 3(4) close behind, moved slightly, and then 3(4) made its station stop and departed.

3(4) had been delayed west of Princeton:

_ Delay Notification: As of 4:38 PM CT Train 3 is stopped
_ west of Princeton (PCT) due to a disabled train blocking
_ the tracks. Crews are working to clear the tracks and resume
_ service. A lengthy delay is anticipated. Updates to follow
_ as additional information becomes available.


Guess who the "disabled train" was...Amtrak would not admit...

_ Mechanical Issues: As of 4:33 PM CT Train 5 is stopped west
_ of Princeton (PCT) due to mechanical issues. Mechanical
_ crews are working to resolve the issues and resume service.


Train 5(4) was delayed 45 minutes, got underway, but had to stop three times on the way to Galesburg.

When Amtrak has problems that they cannot solve remotely by yakking on a
cellphone with Chicago Mechanical...and even when they can...often they
beg for real help from BNSF, which maintains a major engine terminal at the former
CB&Q Galesburg yard.  But if the problem is in a Siemens engine, BNSF would
have little experience.



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 02/04/25 16:41 by GenePoon.



Date: 02/04/25 17:14
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: Peak45068

Train is still in Galesburg station. Engines 15 (just had a major external clean in Chicago) and 30 sounded terrible as they limped into the station.

Posted from iPhone



Date: 02/04/25 17:26
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: portlander

I haven't seen 5/6 run with a Charger. Not saying that it hasn't happened, but if so, it's rare.



Date: 02/04/25 22:17
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: coach

Those Chargers use a German high RPM engine, I believe.  Compare that to EMD's and GE's lower RPM engines, which for the most part = better reliability and longevity.  Add to ti those weird open "X-box" openings alongside the carbody, exposing the unit to severe cold and snow and rain.  When I saw that, I couldn't believe it.

Low compression, low RPM is almost always better when it comes to engines.  Remember when EMD tried to push their V-16 645 engines to 3500 hp in the SD-50's?  It didn't work out, most of the engines were dumped by the railroads, and it cost EMD dearly in sales, from which they never recovered.



Date: 02/05/25 00:06
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: andrewamtrak

The Chargers use a Cummins QSK95 engine

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Those Chargers use a German high RPM engine, I
> believe.  Compare that to EMD's and GE's lower
> RPM engines, which for the most part = better
> reliability and longevity.  Add to ti those weird
> open "X-box" openings alongside the carbody,
> exposing the unit to severe cold and snow and
> rain.  When I saw that, I couldn't believe it.
>
> Low compression, low RPM is almost always better
> when it comes to engines.  Remember when EMD
> tried to push their V-16 645 engines to 3500 hp in
> the SD-50's?  It didn't work out, most of the
> engines were dumped by the railroads, and it cost
> EMD dearly in sales, from which they never
> recovered.

Posted from Android



Date: 02/05/25 07:52
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: joemvcnj

portlander Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I haven't seen 5/6 run with a Charger. Not saying
> that it hasn't happened, but if so, it's rare.

You won't for a while. They looking for a DEF fluid contractor in Denver. 



Date: 02/05/25 08:05
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: portlander

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> portlander Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I haven't seen 5/6 run with a Charger. Not
> saying
> > that it hasn't happened, but if so, it's rare.
>
> You won't for a while. They looking for a DEF
> fluid contractor in Denver. 

Interesting. That seems like an easily solvable problem.



Date: 02/05/25 08:27
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: ProAmtrak

So did they fix the problems on no. 5?



Date: 02/05/25 12:16
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: Lackawanna484

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So did they fix the problems on no. 5?

Operating 4 hours 38 minutes late @ Denver CO.



Date: 02/05/25 13:35
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: Trainatic

Just went by the Big 10 curve rr webcam with a BNSF leader.
Joe



Date: 02/05/25 13:40
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: Peak45068

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> portlander Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I haven't seen 5/6 run with a Charger. Not
> saying
> > that it hasn't happened, but if so, it's rare.
>
> You won't for a while. They looking for a DEF
> fluid contractor in Denver. 

They’ve been looking for many many months.

Posted from iPhone



Date: 02/05/25 13:46
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: Lackawanna484

> >
> > You won't for a while. They looking for a DEF
> > fluid contractor in Denver. 
>
> They’ve been looking for many many months.
>

I wonder what's the issue? I googled DEF suppliers in the Denver area and got six companies.

Posted from Android



Date: 02/06/25 05:15
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: dan

Maybe RTD that owns the terminal is really touchy.   No holding tanks get pumped there.  train now 7 hours late



Date: 02/06/25 05:29
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: bmarti7

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe RTD that owns the terminal is really
> touchy.   No holding tanks get pumped there. 
> train now 7 hours late

Hasn't yet arrived Salt Lake as of 6:28 MST.



Date: 02/06/25 16:08
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: bobs

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe RTD that owns the terminal is really
> touchy.   No holding tanks get pumped there. 
> train now 7 hours late
No maybe about it...RTD is very strict about what's allowed to be done service-wise in the station area.  No black water pumping allowed.  I doubt they would allow DEF to be trucked in, so there would have to be some sort of permanent installation.



Date: 02/06/25 16:20
Re: Calif Zephyr 5(4) stuck at Galesburg
Author: Alco251

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Those Chargers use a German high RPM engine, I
> believe.  Compare that to EMD's and GE's lower
> RPM engines, which for the most part = better
> reliability and longevity.  

As I have said many times on this forum, here's a complete list of high horsepower, high RPM diesel engines that have achieved long-term success in main line railroad applications:

 



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