Amtrak 5 and 6 via Wyoming

[Chas]

Amtrak is now running in Glenwood Canyon (Colorado) again, according to this article, but slowly because of problems with debris on the tracks.
https://www.aspentimes.com/news/union-pacific-amtrak-resume-train-service-through-glenwood-canyon/

 

[Palmetto]

Detour again today it seems. Both trains are showing "service disruption" on Amtrak's website map.

 

[Barb Stout]

On the planned detours for MOW work that I've experienced, there was a smoke stop at Green River and I think there was a crew change there. Passengers were warned not to get in trouble with the UP, as there were some UP management who didn't want the problems that passengers would cause.

How might passengers get in trouble with the UP?

 

[Nick Farr]

How might passengers get in trouble with the UP?

Mostly railfans wandering around a yard and/or asking questions of UP staff who are managing an exception to their workflow.

Lots of passengers will try to hit a nearby convenience store, bar, etc....and it's a bit of a scramble. The usual stops are used to it, but railyards not so much.

 

[Geordie405]

We had a crew change at UP’s Green River yard in Wyoming where we were allowed off for a fresh air break / leg stretch.



I believe the other crew change is at Speer, WY.

 

[railiner]

We had a crew change at UP’s Green River yard in Wyoming where we were allowed off for a fresh air break / leg stretch.

View attachment 18558

I believe the other crew change is at Speer, WY.

Speer? Not much there...it never was a crew change point...

 

[NativeSon5859]

On 5 right now... we’re in between Rock Springs and Green River. No freight interference all afternoon, just once in the big yard just after departing DEN for about 20min. Besides that smooth sailing. Crew change was in Speer and I guess one in Green River which is not that far away. It’s been a nice ride! I’ll upload some pictures at some point.

 

[railiner]

On 5 right now... we’re in between Rock Springs and Green River. No freight interference all afternoon, just once in the big yard just after departing DEN for about 20min. Besides that smooth sailing. Crew change was in Speer and I guess one in Green River which is not that far away. It’s been a nice ride! I’ll upload some pictures at some point.

That surprises me...I've never heard of that happening before, either on a regular train when they went that way, or a detoured one. They must have brought the relief crews in and out of nearby Cheyenne in a Suburban....

 

[Willbridge]

That surprises me...I've never heard of that happening before, either on a regular train when they went that way, or a detoured one. They must have brought the relief crews in and out of nearby Cheyenne in a Suburban....

Given that Speer is out of the high rent district, an Expedition might be more appropriate than a Suburban.

 

[railiner]

Given that Speer is out of the high rent district, an Expedition might be more appropriate than a Suburban.

There are section roads that go in and out of Speer...not really difficult terrain. Besides, an Expedition is just a "Suburban wanna be", no more capable off-road.
Railroads have been using Suburban's as crew transports as far back as I can remember...some equipped for Hi-Rail operation.

 

[NativeSon5859]

Here are the times we reached each location along our detour...


Denver - 0805

Greeley - 1003

Speer/Cheyenne - 1103-1114 (engineer change)

Laramie - 1228

Rawlins - 1424

Rock Springs - 1607

Green River - 1635-1647 (full crew change)

Evanston - 1827-1829 (engineer change)

Ogden - 2017- 2020 (Engineer change)

Salt Lake City - 2115

 

[west point]

Have to wonder about crew. Wouldn't it require a UP pilot? Amtrak engineer change at Green river ? Suspect that the logistics of getting an Amtrak engineer in place could be somewhat difficult without some previous day's effort to get Amtrak engineer at correct point ? Had wondered if UP had enough personnel to provide pilots ?

One other consideration is whether any Amtrak engineers had previously qualified on the route and just needed one day's requalification with a pilot ?

 

[NativeSon5859]

Have to wonder about crew. Wouldn't it require a UP pilot? Amtrak engineer change at Green river ? Suspect that the logistics of getting an Amtrak engineer in place could be somewhat difficult without some previous day's effort to get Amtrak engineer at correct point ? Had wondered if UP had enough personnel to provide pilots ?

One other consideration is whether any Amtrak engineers had previously qualified on the route and just needed one day's requalification with a pilot ?

It was all UP pilots from the looks of it. The Amtrak conductors swapped out in Green River.

 

[Palmetto]

5 is running the normal route today; 6 is still in Salt Lake City, almost 8 hours late at this point.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

6 had already started the reroute when it got stuck behind a derailed freight. So 6 went back to SLC and will take the normal route.