Passenger Trains > More Double Dash-8s and Hiawatha Cancellations

Hiawatha 337 departs from Glenview with the double dash-8 set. 7 was an hour and 15 mins late out of Chicago due to mechanical issues. Hiawatha 335 with 90221 and a charger died as it arrived into Milwaukee. Train is totally disabled in Milwaukee. 338/339 canned as a result. Bus transportation (was) being sourced for 338/339 says Amtrak. 

Either they will send an engine up to Milwaukee on 341 to replace the charger enough to get it to Chicago tomorrow or they will attach the 90221/charger set to the double dash-8 set on 342 for an engine swap in Chicago then deadhead the set to Milwaukee tonight/tomorrow am.

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341 out of Glenview on-time with the 518 and 154. 

342 was about 20 down (due to slow running) with 514 solo. 519 was dropped in Milwaukee to assist the broken down charger for 336 and 337 tomorrow. This set will get a new west facing engine overnight for train 331. Not sure what it will be, Chicago is scraping the bottom of the barrel with 514, 518 and 519 all on the road today alone. 

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Nice photos and images! It's always weird when you are onboard and all is well, only to see it fell apart right afterward. 336 with the daul P32-8BWH's was fine and on time, 335 flew by 336 like normal - but apparentely that was the end of that. 

I read some comments recently about the P32-8BWH's going to Beech Grove for scrap or disposition, and it only took a few weeks for this to be the new scenario. Have to wonder if anyone is second guessing that move, if it was true. 

Seems there should be extra P42s around or are they stored or out of service?

Bob

Posted from Android

robj Wrote:
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> Seems there should be extra P42s around or are
> they stored or out of service?
>
> Bob
>
> Posted from Android

With 70 ALCs in service, you would think so. There must be a bunch of P42s stashed away. Only a few have been made into cab cars. Beech Grove must be stuffed with retired P42s. That is pretty much the only possible explanation. 

So handy when your switchers can also pull trains.  I guess in the future they can just bustitute.

Sure - there may be 70 ALC42 units on Amtrak property (and delivered Chargers for the corridor routes), but there's hardly a surplus of diesel locomotives or retired P42s...... Exhibit A is Amtrak still using the "Pepsi" units in daily assignment to keep trains moving and on-time. They are the oldest locomotive in daily assignment. Not sure if those units sent to Beech Grove are really being retired or not. I do not know the status of the optional "add-on order" that was executed to obtain more ALC42s but pretty sure the option was exercised. Not sure where production and delivery is though for those add-on units.  

For every new Charger that is put in service a P42 goes out.

Every piece of rolling stock is a cost-center to be minimized for the bone-us, anything surplus goes against that philosophy.

To Hell in a Day Coach all over again.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/25 07:57 by PumpkinHogger.

PumpkinHogger Wrote:
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> For every new Charger that is put in service a P42
> goes out.
>
> Every piece of rolling stock is a cost-center to
> be minimized for the bone-us, anything surplus
> goes against that philosophy.
>
> To Hell in a Day Coach all over again.

Well, that's a poor policy when considering the failure rate of the AC42s and the Chargers!!!! Meanwhile P42s get called back to service, but they are half baked and not being properly maintained cause Amtrak's banking on the Sieman's junk! 

There may have been 73 ALC42s delivered but currently there are around 22 out of service for various reasons. 2 ( 300 and 342) have been wrecked as a result of truck strikes so they won't turn a wheel again. 

RU412 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There may have been 73 ALC42s delivered but
> currently there are around 22 out of service for
> various reasons. 2 ( 300 and 342) have been
> wrecked as a result of truck strikes so they won't
> turn a wheel again. 

So about a third of the ALC42 fleet is inoperable.........

RU412 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There may have been 73 ALC42s delivered but
> currently there are around 22 out of service for
> various reasons. 2 ( 300 and 342) have been
> wrecked as a result of truck strikes so they won't
> turn a wheel again. 

Proof?

AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> RU412 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There may have been 73 ALC42s delivered but
> > currently there are around 22 out of service
> for
> > various reasons. 2 ( 300 and 342) have been
> > wrecked as a result of truck strikes so they
> won't
> > turn a wheel again. 
>
> Proof?

Those with access to Amtrak asset equipment status and deployment reports, which, used to be a standard monthly report that was published on Amtrak's website.......