Passenger Trains > Engine shortages in DC cause severe delays

19/97 last night both lost 5 hours/9hours respectively last night sitting and waiting in DC account no availalbe diesels. I believe from watching the maps that they had to wait for other trains to arrive to grab the diesels off the northbounds arriving into DC and still had to send them over to the diesel shop before reattaching them to the respective trains. On top of that, Amtaks phone lines were so busy this morning at 730am EST they wouldnt even take calls. Combine this with the Floridian issues and other DC issues from 48 hours ago, things are spiraling a bit for Amtrak this year on the East Coast. 

More Issues were reported here: https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,6193854 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/06/26 04:50 by Amtrak-P42.

With all the ALC-42's placed into service, they should have servicable locomotives coming out of their ass. 

Joe, I had exactly this thought!!  What the hell is going on?  Chicago is doing a bit better, but in Amtrak whack-a-mole, the issue is now DC!

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With all the ALC-42's placed into service, they
> should have servicable locomotives coming out of
> their ass. 

One would think Amtrak would be flush with locomotives!!!

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> With all the ALC-42's placed into service, they
> should have serviceable locomotives coming out of
> their ass. 
Amtrak is mismanaged and has been for years, a real crime and a shame.
John in White Marsh, Maryland

With many east coast trains severely delayed, this is the result. It is not mismanagement; it is the turns the equipment make that, when operations are relatively normal, go smoothly. As usual, the couch potatoes are wrong.

Ah, the all knowing agitator is here.  

If it is not mismanagement, friend, what is it?  You seem to have your finger on the pulse of Amtrak, or at least you think so.  Please share.

agitator Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With many east coast trains severely delayed, this
> is the result. It is not mismanagement; it is the
> turns the equipment make that, when operations are
> relatively normal, go smoothly. As usual, the
> couch potatoes are wrong.

Regarding 98 today in DC, it arrived early, left nearly an hour late.  It was at WAS from 5:58 am to 8:04 am.  Seriously?

agitator Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With many east coast trains severely delayed, this
> is the result. It is not mismanagement; it is the
> turns the equipment make that, when operations are
> relatively normal, go smoothly. As usual, the
> couch potatoes are wrong.

As usual, the Amtrak Apologist is wrong. One expects spare locos to be present. This is a railroad, not a warehouse with Japanese Just In Time inventory. 

To: agitato

I thought you knew more about Amtrak than your post reveals.

You tell us these terrible delays are not AmManagement's fault--equipment turnaround is.

But, sense turnarounds are the result of AmManagement decisions --- how can it not be their fault?

 

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> With all the ALC-42's placed into service, they
> should have servicable locomotives coming out of
> their ass. 

There are a lot of things coming out of Amtrak's caboose, but serviceable locomotives apparently isn't one of them.

It's possible that the holiday weekend caused fewer than usual employees to be available for servicing, etc and turn arounds.

Does Amtrak have a priority for who gets serviced locomotives when supply gets tight?  So, 40/41 and Cardinal will wait, while 97 has first dibs?

agitator Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> With many east coast trains severely delayed, this
> is the result. It is not mismanagement; it is the
> turns the equipment make that, when operations are
> relatively normal, go smoothly. As usual, the
> couch potatoes are wrong.

As usual, you are wrong.

Mismanagement relies upon problems not occurring. Real life proves that problems do occur. Mismanagement occurs when management does not foresee that problems WILL OCCUR.

Amtrak. When you have to get there in the absolutely worst way possible. Option of last resort for those in the know.

Posted from Android

Where are tbe new locomotives 376+ assigned? How many are in service?

How many regional Sienens units are still out of service, requiring Amtrak replacements?

Posted from Android

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> agitator Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > With many east coast trains severely delayed,
> this
> > is the result. It is not mismanagement; it is
> the
> > turns the equipment make that, when operations
> are
> > relatively normal, go smoothly. As usual, the
> > couch potatoes are wrong.
>
> As usual, you are wrong.
>
> Mismanagement relies upon problems not occurring.
> Real life proves that problems do occur.
> Mismanagement occurs when management does not
> foresee that problems WILL OCCUR.

Good management is able to pivot and respond accordingly to avoid total mismanagement. Amtrak's never mastered that art - only the constant blame game. 

In the Northwest, the Cascades have generally not experienced locomotive shortages, and after a period with most of our Washington state-owned Cascades Chargers out of service, we now have, I believe, six of them back on the road, or at least in testing, from what I'm seeing on the Olympia-Lacey railcam. Seattle just sent P42 164, which was in Cascades service for a while, east on the Empire Builder, apparently to replace another sick P42 and its BNSF leader that came in on 7 that same morning. My guess is the 164 or one of its sisters will head for Washington DC as soon as it gets to Chicago. I suspect there will be no replacement in Seattle.

"...but in Amtrak whack-a-mole, the issue is now..."

Thats one of the best descriptions I've heard about Amtrak in a long time!