Passenger Trains > Starlight woes

If anybody doesn't know already, Starlight disruptions:

14(1) terminated at SAC and turned to stub 11(1).
11(1) terminated at KFS  and turned to stub 14(1).

11(2) and 14(2) annulled.

UP GMP2OK-26 derailed 35 cars on the Cantara Loop bridge.


https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,6145983

and I'll ask what we're all wondering: what's wrong with using the FRC for the starlight??

Well, everything. For starters it’s not just UP and the FRC as much of a potential reroute would involve BNSF. Since Amtrak crews aren’t qualified UP and BNSF would both have to cough up pilot crews, and the way the railroads are being run now they simply aren’t available at a moment’s notice. Twenty years ago a detour might have happened, in today’s world the extra employees that could allow the involved railroads to rapidly respond simply don’t exist anymore.

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

Posted from iPhone

And I bet it's bad as it is having to detour certain UP freights too no thanks to that manifest going on the ground, and don't tell me it's the same location where the SP freight went on the ground back in 91!

"Train will return all customers back to their point of origins..."  --Amtrak


"During my time there would have been a bus bridge."

--40 year veteran Amtrak management employee at HQ, who retired under the Joe Boardman edict, "Take early retirement or risk being fired."



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/26 13:57 by GenePoon.

Info from an e-mail chain is expecting the opening March 4 during daylight.

Additional info says much of the Contractor heavy equipment is being packed up for travel. There was a huge number of heavy low boy trailers parked in the area.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/26 18:55 by TCnR.

JDLX Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Well, everything. For starters it’s not just UP
> and the FRC as much of a potential reroute would
> involve BNSF. Since Amtrak crews aren’t
> qualified UP and BNSF would both have to cough up
> pilot crews, and the way the railroads are being
> run now they simply aren’t available at a
> moment’s notice. Twenty years ago a detour
> might have happened, in today’s world the extra
> employees that could allow the involved railroads
> to rapidly respond simply don’t exist anymore.
>
> Jeff Moore
> Elko, NV
>
> Posted from iPhone

Not that it changes what you've stated, but I don't see the need for UP pilot crews. The BNSF crews are qualified east of Binney Jct. 

Outside the box is not Amtrak's forte.

portlander Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> JDLX Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Well, everything. For starters it’s not just
> UP
> > and the FRC as much of a potential reroute
> would
> > involve BNSF. Since Amtrak crews aren’t
> > qualified UP and BNSF would both have to cough
> up
> > pilot crews, and the way the railroads are
> being
> > run now they simply aren’t available at a
> > moment’s notice. Twenty years ago a detour
> > might have happened, in today’s world the
> extra
> > employees that could allow the involved
> railroads
> > to rapidly respond simply don’t exist
> anymore.
> >
> > Jeff Moore
> > Elko, NV
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> Not that it changes what you've stated, but I
> don't see the need for UP pilot crews. The BNSF
> crews are qualified east of Binney Jct. 

But can the BNSF pilot be assigned to a NON-BNSF train on a BNSF trackage rights move?

Details matter.

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> portlander Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > JDLX Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Well, everything. For starters it’s not
> just
> > UP
> > > and the FRC as much of a potential reroute
> > would
> > > involve BNSF. Since Amtrak crews aren’t
> > > qualified UP and BNSF would both have to
> cough
> > up
> > > pilot crews, and the way the railroads are
> > being
> > > run now they simply aren’t available at a
> > > moment’s notice. Twenty years ago a detour
> > > might have happened, in today’s world the
> > extra
> > > employees that could allow the involved
> > railroads
> > > to rapidly respond simply don’t exist
> > anymore.
> > >
> > > Jeff Moore
> > > Elko, NV
> > >
> > > Posted from iPhone
> >
> > Not that it changes what you've stated, but I
> > don't see the need for UP pilot crews. The BNSF
> > crews are qualified east of Binney Jct. 
>
> But can the BNSF pilot be assigned to a NON-BNSF
> train on a BNSF trackage rights move?
>
> Details matter.

It all comes down to "what does the contract say?"

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> portlander Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > JDLX Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Well, everything. For starters it’s not
> just
> > UP
> > > and the FRC as much of a potential reroute
> > would
> > > involve BNSF. Since Amtrak crews aren’t
> > > qualified UP and BNSF would both have to
> cough
> > up
> > > pilot crews, and the way the railroads are
> > being
> > > run now they simply aren’t available at a
> > > moment’s notice. Twenty years ago a detour
> > > might have happened, in today’s world the
> > extra
> > > employees that could allow the involved
> > railroads
> > > to rapidly respond simply don’t exist
> > anymore.
> > >
> > > Jeff Moore
> > > Elko, NV
> > >
> > > Posted from iPhone
> >
> > Not that it changes what you've stated, but I
> > don't see the need for UP pilot crews. The BNSF
> > crews are qualified east of Binney Jct. 
>
> But can the BNSF pilot be assigned to a NON-BNSF
> train on a BNSF trackage rights move?
>
> Details matter.

Only if it's a P42 and not a Charger.

ProAmtrak Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And I bet it's bad as it is having to detour
> certain UP freights too no thanks to that manifest
> going on the ground, and don't tell me it's the
> same location where the SP freight went on the
> ground back in 91!

YES

portlander Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Not that it changes what you've stated, but I
> don't see the need for UP pilot crews. The BNSF
> crews are qualified east of Binney Jct. 
>

BNSF crews are qualified but under Amtrak contracts the pilots must be home road, thus UP pilots would be needed.