I rode through Minot on the Empire Builder in 2007, and the temperature was -11 F. We were running on time, no problem, below zero weather all the way into Havre.
IMO the many loco failures are not being disclosed for whatever reason. Brightline does seem to have fewer failures, but the engine cycles of the diesel are probably much less due to track mostly level without many slow sections. As well, maybe not as much time for prime movers operating at max HP?
