Passenger Trains > PALMETTO dies in Florence

Passengers who boarded Palmetto 90 at Savannah and other Charleston Sub. points completed a small portion of their trip north. ALC-42 312 quit less than two miles from Florence. CSX, who provided a crew van to shuttle passengers between the train and station, also sent ET44AH 3453, which had been switching Florence Yard, to bring the hapless train into the station so that baggage could be unloaded before tucking the equipment in the yard. The train was canceled because the train would have had no air conditioning if the CSX engine had taken it north. Passengers were bused beyond Florence.
Andy

Does any on here on TO think that the situation has not reached a point of absurdity?
 

Good response by CSX. Of course,they wanted the line freed up ASAP. Double track extends about 7 miles south of the Florence station. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/25 14:25 by ctillnc.

The Class I's need to demand 2 -3 units on each train. It is like the 1970's - put on 4 E units, and 2 would make it.
The Chargers from all practical purposes are 30 years old the day they roll out of Sacramento



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/04/25 14:51 by joemvcnj.

We now need to always refer to these units not as Chargers, but CRAPPERS.

They're crap.  Always have been.  And they're getting worse.  I see it here in California, too, and have spoken directly with engineers that have to use them.  They hate them.

CRAPPERS.

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We now need to always refer to these units not as
> Chargers, but CRAPPERS.
>
> They're crap.  Always have been.  And they're
> getting worse.  I see it here in California, too,
> and have spoken directly with engineers that have
> to use them.  They hate them.

Let's put it all together:

Siemens Immobility Crappers.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> coach Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > We now need to always refer to these units not
> as
> > Chargers, but CRAPPERS.
> >
> > They're crap.  Always have been.  And they're
> > getting worse.  I see it here in California,
> too,
> > and have spoken directly with engineers that
> have
> > to use them.  They hate them.
>
> Let's put it all together:
>
> Siemens Immobility Crappers.

When a broken engine can't even idle to provide HEP...you have to wonder.....GE and EMD probably could have been strong armed to provide diesel engines for these things....but SIemens probably never asked! 

engineerinvirginia Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> joemvcnj Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > coach Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > We now need to always refer to these units
> not
> > as
> > > Chargers, but CRAPPERS.
> > >
> > > They're crap.  Always have been.  And
> they're
> > > getting worse.  I see it here in California,
> > too,
> > > and have spoken directly with engineers that
> > have
> > > to use them.  They hate them.
> >
> > Let's put it all together:
> >
> > Siemens Immobility Crappers.
>
> When a broken engine can't even idle to provide
> HEP...you have to wonder.....GE and EMD probably
> could have been strong armed to provide diesel
> engines for these things....but SIemens probably
> never asked! 

EMD doesn’t have a reliable Tier 4 prime mover, GE had no interest in selling a compliant prime mover to a competitor. The only other prime mover that would be compliant was the CAT C175 and again why would CAT supplier a competitor with engines.

AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> EMD doesn’t have a reliable Tier 4 prime mover,
> GE had no interest in selling a compliant prime
> mover to a competitor. The only other prime mover
> that would be compliant was the CAT C175 and again
> why would CAT supplier a competitor with engines.

That is fine and good, but now we have a "what is" situation. 

Do nothing or wait too long for a solution is not a good choice as we watch Amtrak auger in.
 

AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> engineerinvirginia Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > joemvcnj Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > coach Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > We now need to always refer to these units
> > not
> > > as
> > > > Chargers, but CRAPPERS.
> > > >
> > > > They're crap.  Always have been.  And
> > they're
> > > > getting worse.  I see it here in
> California,
> > > too,
> > > > and have spoken directly with engineers
> that
> > > have
> > > > to use them.  They hate them.
> > >
> > > Let's put it all together:
> > >
> > > Siemens Immobility Crappers.
> >
> > When a broken engine can't even idle to provide
> > HEP...you have to wonder.....GE and EMD
> probably
> > could have been strong armed to provide diesel
> > engines for these things....but SIemens
> probably
> > never asked! 
>
> EMD doesn’t have a reliable Tier 4 prime mover,
> GE had no interest in selling a compliant prime
> mover to a competitor. The only other prime mover
> that would be compliant was the CAT C175 and again
> why would CAT supplier a competitor with engines.

Technically, CAT doesn't have to supply a competitor, in a way they would supply themselves. They own Progress Rail and they in turn own EMD. 

AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> engineerinvirginia Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > joemvcnj Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > coach Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > We now need to always refer to these units
> > not
> > > as
> > > > Chargers, but CRAPPERS.
> > > >
> > > > They're crap.  Always have been.  And
> > they're
> > > > getting worse.  I see it here in
> California,
> > > too,
> > > > and have spoken directly with engineers
> that
> > > have
> > > > to use them.  They hate them.
> > >
> > > Let's put it all together:
> > >
> > > Siemens Immobility Crappers.
> >
> > When a broken engine can't even idle to provide
> > HEP...you have to wonder.....GE and EMD
> probably
> > could have been strong armed to provide diesel
> > engines for these things....but SIemens
> probably
> > never asked! 
>
> EMD doesn’t have a reliable Tier 4 prime mover,
> GE had no interest in selling a compliant prime
> mover to a competitor. The only other prime mover
> that would be compliant was the CAT C175 and again
> why would CAT supplier a competitor with engines.

Then what prime mover does EMD use for the SD70ACe-T4 if "EMD doesn't have a reliable Tier 4 prime mover?"

Seek legal waivers to get out of this Tier IV nonsense.  EPA's Lee Zeldin would hand them out like X'mas cards. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/25 02:47 by joemvcnj.

Excellent point!

Interestingly, the Meteor had a single locomotive this morning at Ashland, VA.  No doubt one unit was dropped at Florence.  So will Savannah, Yemasee, and Charleston pax be bussed to Florence this morning?

We will know in 15 minutes.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Seek legal waivers to get out of this Tier IV
> nonsense.  EPA's Lee Zeldin would hand them out
> like X'mas cards. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/25 04:20 by Chessie1963.

DutchDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > engineerinvirginia Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > joemvcnj Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > coach Wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > >
> > > > -----
> > > > > We now need to always refer to these
> units
> > > not
> > > > as
> > > > > Chargers, but CRAPPERS.
> > > > >
> > > > > They're crap.  Always have been.  And
> > > they're
> > > > > getting worse.  I see it here in
> > California,
> > > > too,
> > > > > and have spoken directly with engineers
> > that
> > > > have
> > > > > to use them.  They hate them.
> > > >
> > > > Let's put it all together:
> > > >
> > > > Siemens Immobility Crappers.
> > >
> > > When a broken engine can't even idle to
> provide
> > > HEP...you have to wonder.....GE and EMD
> > probably
> > > could have been strong armed to provide
> diesel
> > > engines for these things....but SIemens
> > probably
> > > never asked! 
> >
> > EMD doesn’t have a reliable Tier 4 prime
> mover,
> > GE had no interest in selling a compliant prime
> > mover to a competitor. The only other prime
> mover
> > that would be compliant was the CAT C175 and
> again
> > why would CAT supplier a competitor with
> engines.
>
> Then what prime mover does EMD use for the
> SD70ACe-T4 if "EMD doesn't have a reliable Tier 4
> prime mover?"

A non reliable one.  

Typhoon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DutchDragon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> > >
> > > EMD doesn’t have a reliable Tier 4 prime
> > mover,
> > > GE had no interest in selling a compliant
> prime
> > > mover to a competitor. The only other prime
> > mover
> > > that would be compliant was the CAT C175 and
> > again
> > > why would CAT supplier a competitor with
> > engines.


> > Then what prime mover does EMD use for the
> > SD70ACe-T4 if "EMD doesn't have a reliable Tier 4
> > prime mover?"


> A non reliable one.

LOL!

How much responsibility does Cummins have for its role in this whole situation?

If the problem is "engine shutting down", that could be the result of engine and software integration issues.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/25 08:19 by Lackawanna484.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Seek legal waivers to get out of this Tier IV
> nonsense.  EPA's Lee Zeldin would hand them out
> like X'mas cards. 

Not a good answer.  I lived in Truckee, CA in the 1970s.  Many were the days that you could not see the mountains because they were obscured by all the exhaust smoke from the SP going up over the Pass.  Better now, let's not go backward.

So the SC-44 is less reliable then a gen set switcher!!

Maybe just install the same prime movers that BrightLine uses in its Chargers?

DutchDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > engineerinvirginia Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > joemvcnj Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > coach Wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > >
> > > > -----
> > > > > We now need to always refer to these
> units
> > > not
> > > > as
> > > > > Chargers, but CRAPPERS.
> > > > >
> > > > > They're crap.  Always have been.  And
> > > they're
> > > > > getting worse.  I see it here in
> > California,
> > > > too,
> > > > > and have spoken directly with engineers
> > that
> > > > have
> > > > > to use them.  They hate them.
> > > >
> > > > Let's put it all together:
> > > >
> > > > Siemens Immobility Crappers.
> > >
> > > When a broken engine can't even idle to
> provide
> > > HEP...you have to wonder.....GE and EMD
> > probably
> > > could have been strong armed to provide
> diesel
> > > engines for these things....but SIemens
> > probably
> > > never asked! 
> >
> > EMD doesn’t have a reliable Tier 4 prime
> mover,
> > GE had no interest in selling a compliant prime
> > mover to a competitor. The only other prime
> mover
> > that would be compliant was the CAT C175 and
> again
> > why would CAT supplier a competitor with
> engines.
>
> Then what prime mover does EMD use for the
> SD70ACe-T4 if "EMD doesn't have a reliable Tier 4
> prime mover?"

The 1010 is a poor engine and the SD70ACe-T4 is a massive flop.