Ann Rutledge - It's Happening

[ShiningTimeStL]

Just as I had suggested. Well done, Gardner. You may have finally earned my respect. Perhaps you really are serious about this after all. However... let's see it actually take place, first. And with 110mph coming and Venture cars to fix again, oof. That's a lot for the Midwest equipment and crew pool.

Unless...

Reading this again, I realize it says two "existing" round trips. If they use the one already in place... then does the rest of the Missouri state funding go towards restoring the morning train? Assuming ILDOT pays for the majority of the Ann Rutledge.

https://hsrail.org/blog/amtraks-fun...rfdU7gW3O4FeKB3T12fWgY3s0_5GFxVGy3HfzlPDjofpw

 

[Amtrak25]

I don't remember what the axle count requirements are west of St Louis, but would they simply run the whole train through to and from Chicago with such cars and not bother with any switching in St Louis ?

 

[MikefromCrete]

As far as I can tell, the only thing that would change would be running equipment through St. Louis from Chicago to Kansas City. It would not restore a second St. Lous-Kansas City train, nor eliminate the need for state subsidies on both sides of the Mississippi. With the exception of several Northeast Regional proposals, all the trains listed are state-supported. I don't see that these plans call for ending the state support requirements. The example given for eliminating state support is for physical right of way improvements, such as the South of the Lake plan, which could proceed without having to squeeze money out of Indiana.

 

[John Bredin]

I think this is to free up a trainset, which by itself is welcome news.

The Cal-IDOT order is for 17 trainsets for Illinois service, but as I recall the existing (pre-Covid, both Illinis and Salukis and both River Runners running) Chicago corridors use 17 trainsets total. Wisconsin is going to get its own trainsets -- three cafe-less sets according to the Amtrak capital plan -- but that brings us to 20 trainsets.

Add two trainsets each for the Rockford and Moline services, as mentioned in the attachment above, and the buzzer from the Apollo 13 scene with Gary Sinise sounds -- you've exceeded your limit. Not to mention that the Twin Cities service (hopefully!) will need a Cal-IDOT trainset with a cafe rather than a cafe-less Hiawatha set. Unless there's a option yet to be exercised, we'll be seeing Amfleets or Horizons in Chicago corridor service even with all the new trainsets running.

 

[Metra Electric Rider]

I think this is to free up a trainset, which by itself is welcome news.

The Cal-IDOT order is for 17 trainsets for Illinois service, but as I recall the existing (pre-Covid, both Illinis and Salukis and both River Runners running) Chicago corridors use 17 trainsets total. Wisconsin is going to get its own trainsets -- three cafe-less sets according to the Amtrak capital plan -- but that brings us to 20 trainsets.

Add two trainsets each for the Rockford and Moline services, as mentioned in the attachment above, and the buzzer from the Apollo 13 scene with Gary Sinise sounds -- you've exceeded your limit. Not to mention that the Twin Cities service (hopefully!) will need a Cal-IDOT trainset with a cafe rather than a cafe-less Hiawatha set. Unless there's a option yet to be exercised, we'll be seeing Amfleets or Horizons in Chicago corridor service even with all the new trainsets running.

I'm sure Siemens would be happy to build more.... for a price. Although, seriously, I thought that there was an option, but can't remember if they'd take it already.

 

[west point]

Options might be very financially helpful for Amtrak to activate all options. I expect that any option will have an inflation clause but probably will not meet the present inflation indexes now or in the future?

 

[Cal]

They really should get a Chicago-Kansas City train on the same route as the Chief, it's actually faster than driving.

 

[ShiningTimeStL]

At the very least, ending the axle count issue for the one train might make Missouri happy by freeing up some costs. If I remember correctly, the last iteration of the Ann Rutledge was more than partly paid for by ILDOT. Currently, I believe Missouri pays for slightly more than what's needed for the current single daily round trip--why, I'm not sure, I can only guess because they're too busy with their other theatrics to even adjust the numbers. If just enough money is freed up, it might allow MODOT to rearrange some things and have a second train run on weekends, which they initially suggested. That would at least make day trips to Hermann or Washington out of St. Louis viable once again, which is crucial to the tourist economy.

 

[Amtrak25]

How does thru-running from Chicago end the axle count issue that is set by the UP west of St Louis ?

 

[ShiningTimeStL]

How does thru-running from Chicago end the axle count issue that is set by the UP west of St Louis ?

The River Runner typically only has two revenue coaches plus the café. Before the UP signalpocalypse, it regularly ran as a three car train. The Lincoln, at peak service levels, typically runs with six or seven cars. Unless I'm grossly misunderstanding what "running thru" means, the six to seven car consist of the Lincoln-turned-RR wouldn't need to grab three whole Viewliner bags full of sailboat fuel just to trigger UP signals. Maybe one. I can't imagine them dropping three coaches at St. Louis before continuing to KC. To me this seems like an awfully convenient way to solve multiple issues. If it's not, and all this serves is to lengthen schedules to free up two coach cars... somebody better get on the horn with RPA.

 

[ShiningTimeStL]

The River Runner typically only has two revenue coaches plus the café. Before the UP signalpocalypse, it regularly ran as a three car train. The Lincoln, at peak service levels, typically runs with six or seven cars. Unless I'm grossly misunderstanding what "running thru" means, the six to seven car consist of the Lincoln-turned-RR wouldn't need to grab three whole Viewliner bags full of sailboat fuel just to trigger UP signals. Maybe one. I can't imagine them dropping three coaches at St. Louis, then picking up the empties before continuing to KC. To me this seems like an awfully convenient way to solve multiple issues. If it's not, and all this serves is to lengthen schedules to free up two coach cars... somebody better get on the horn with RPA.

 

[Amtrak25]

I assume 303 becomes same day 306, and 314 becomes 313.
A run thru of 303/313 and 314/304 would also require 2 train sets.

If Lincoln trains are 5 cars and the Runner trains are 3 cars, the run thru would require 2 more cars, unless they chop coaches west of St Louis and add baggage cars.

301 would become 306 instead of 304.
300 and 302 still become same day 305 and 307.