Passenger Trains > Amtrak STILL has no second engine for the Heartland Flyer

When the AMTK 61 crapped out its HEP and forced termination of the TxEagle there, the consist was pulled by a leased Union Pacific engine to Fort Worth, where attempts to fix it were unsuccessful.  It went back to Chicago, which could not fix it after it broke down on its way north on an earlier Train 22...they just patted it on the head and sent it on its way.

Amtrak used the second engine on the push-pull Heartland Flyer for the Texas Eagle, and has continued leasing the UP engine.  Chicago STILL have not been able to send an Amtrak engine to Fort Worth for the Heartland Flyer.

This is a screen grab by David Gaines from the Fort Worth station webcam of the departing Heartland Flyer, still with the UP engine facing north.  It has been nearly a week, I think...



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/25 16:54 by GenePoon.

---

Yeah those UP engines just don't pull the same as Amtrak's...

JG

I'd love to see the monthly nationwide expense report for borrowed freight locomotives. I bet it would be an eye opener.

jgilmore Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah those UP engines just don't pull the same as
> Amtrak's...
>
> JG

cause they move?

A post in the Heartland Flyer group says that the AMTK 154 is the only serviceable engine in Chicago that is not currently assigned.

GenePoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A post in the Heartland Flyer group says that the
> AMTK 154 is the only serviceable engine in Chicago
> that is not currently assigned.

That’s currently working Train 40 (9) paired with #155.

Posted from iPhone

Peak45068 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GenePoon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > A post in the Heartland Flyer group says that
> the
> > AMTK 154 is the only serviceable engine in
> Chicago
> > that is not currently assigned.
>
> That’s currently working Train 40 (9) paired
> with #155.
>
=========================

So much for their hopes that it would be sent to TX/OK.

It's too bad they can't get some new power to free up some P42's....

Lucky to have the UP unit.
Perhaps they like having one reliable unit on the train.

Look at the bright side. Every rental comes off their bonuses.

How about this:  every time an Amtrak engine fails and needs to be replaced, a $1000 comes off the bonus of the appropriate people at Amtrak's headquarters?  

Absolutely! Let the punishment fit the crime.

PumpkinHogger Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> It's too bad they can't get some new power to free
> up some P42's....

You mean RELIABLE new power.

What would help Amtrak is if.
Amtrak had a few more routes serving Dallas/Ft Worth.
And maybe that would have had Amtrak.
To build some kind of a facality with a few assigned cars and Locomotives

Jerry Martin
Los Angeles, CA
Central Coast Railroad Festival

texas would have to step up