California Zephyr discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024 H1

[amtk821]

Does anyone have any new information about the Zephyr derailment in Keenesburg, CO a few months back?

Is the consist still out there? I haven’t heard about it being moved yet, and neither 816 or 41 have been seen since, not even at Beech Grove Shops.

Trains Magazine ran an article claiming Amtrak and BNSF were suing the dairy company, but there’s been no updates since then.

Hoping the engineer made a full recovery.

 

[Agent]

There's a report from last month on another website (login needed for full-size photos) from a person that flew over the site that states that all of the train's cars and engines were still stored on the tracks of an oil facility that was next to the location of the incident.

 

[5280 Guy]

I hope they charged the milk truck driver.

 

[Agent]

And now High Plains Model Railroad Club posted a video from today of a BNSF engine with a buffer car and a BNSF inspection car leading what I'm guessing are the cars that have been waiting near Keenesburg.

 

[Amtrak25]

Which BNSF rail line is that, I assume not the one 5&6 use ?

 

[railiner]

Which BNSF rail line is that, I assume not the one 5&6 use ?

The caption says near Bartley, NE….that is east of McCook, on the regular Zephyr route…

 

[Agent]

I caught the deadhead move of cars I'm guessing were involved in the Keenesburg crash east of Ottumwa this morning. For reference, the consist was:
BNSF 3736 ET44C4
BNSF 808382 buffer car
BNSF 90 geometry car
AMTK 61049 baggage car
AMTK 39046 transition dormitory car
AMTK 32011 sleeping car
AMTK 32060 sleeping car
AMTK 38024 dining car
AMTK 33031 sightseer lounge
AMTK 34032 coach
AMTK 35007 snack coach

 

[amtk821]

With this, I think we can say for sure these cars are the ones from Keenesburg. A quick google search brings up this picture, showing car 39046 derailed there, which is one that Agent listed above.

 

[west point]

Maybe Amtrak is short of crews for where the accident occurred. It may have wanted consist at Beech ASAP? Anyone know if engineer involved has come back to work?

 

[Jackie C]

I booked my travel a few months ago and today I checked my ticket again and it changed from roomette number five to roomette number eight on the California Zephyr car 531. does anyone know why they would change my room?

 

[Bob Dylan]

I booked my travel a few months ago and today I checked my ticket again and it changed from roomette number five to roomette number eight on the California Zephyr car 531. does anyone know why they would change my room?

This happens frequently, usually someone wants to book two Roomettes Close together, or 2 Bedrooms that become a Suite.

Also sometimes Rooms are taken out of service for Mechanical defects or equipment is replaced by another car!

 

[Cal]

Is the 531 car closest to the diner?

 

[UserNameRequired]

Is the 531 car closest to the diner?

I have read if there are two sleepers, then the 31 is closest to the diner. Over the years or seasons, if there ended up being 3 sleepers, historically it ended up with the 30 number and then it was closest to the diner. Last I was riding CZ sleeper so we could take masks off in 2022, we were in the 32 or 40 car otherwise we ride coach for CZ to go to/from CHI.

 

[Willbridge]

I have read if there are two sleepers, then the 31 is closest to the diner. Over the years or seasons, if there ended up being 3 sleepers, historically it ended up with the 30 number and then it was closest to the diner. Last I was riding CZ sleeper so we could take masks off in 2022, we were in the 32 or 40 car otherwise we ride coach for CZ to go to/from CHI.

The third sleeper -- when running DEN<>CHI and sometimes nicknamed the Denver Zephyr -- on the end of the train is numbered 30, or at least it was in 2014 when this photo was taken.

 

[Agent]

Amtrak #6(13) is running with one engine to Chicago today. The other engine was reported to have been dropped off in Denver last night. There were already reports of mechanical issues with this Zephyr before it left Emeryville that contributed to it being over three and half hours late into Denver.

 

[Harmon Shay]

Not at all, but there is a tendency to rule them out due to their recent issues with Amtrak and SNCF orders. Through their Bombardier subsidiary they continue to be a leader in bi-level commuter cars and hold the patents/blueprints for the Superliner fleet. This could give them an advantage. It is entirely possible they could botch this up too, but the FOI post showed they had been invited to participate. Siemens is likely to run into the capacity concerns mentioned previously and might not commit to building a new domestic bi-level facility for what will be a very small and possibly one-time order.

If Hitachi was going to break into the NA long distance market the logical place would have been the Airo order - a style of train they deliver around the rest of the world. Do they even build bi-levels in any quantity?

It seems to me that many of the problems with the Avelia sets, at least according to Alstom, is the sometimes-questionable Northeast Corridor track and the Avelia design. I doubt if standard bi-levels would have problems with track.

 

[thefirewarde]

It seems to me that many of the problems with the Avelia sets, at least according to Alstom, is the sometimes-questionable Northeast Corridor track and the Avelia design. I doubt if standard bi-levels would have problems with track.

If the SNCF Avelia launch wasn't having similar issues to Amtrak's rollout I'd be a lot more confident it was Bombardier merger trouble. My understanding is also that Alstom had trouble building a computer model of the NEC, which may have been made more difficult due to the complexity of the infrastructure there but doesn't speak well of their design practices either. Especially given the myriad of parties that seemed to think they could assist.

 

[Golden grrl]

Amtrak 6 (23) now late in Denver with power issues &announcement of detour due to flooding at Omaha. Will bus Omaha passengers @ Lincoln . Question: What detour route from Lincoln To Iowa likely?

 

[Willbridge]

Amtrak 6 (23) now late in Denver with power issues &announcement of detour due to flooding at Omaha. Will bus Omaha passengers @ Lincoln . Question: What detour route from Lincoln To Iowa likely?

It depends on exactly what segment is underwater. Usually, it's east of Omaha station, and if so it's straightforward to use the UP through Council Bluffs.

As of this posting, Train 6 is picking up speed on its regular route out of the Denver metro area, so they're probably not doing anything exotic.

 

[Golden grrl]

I wonder about Council Bluffs since they are underwater too. Man I was sure hoping for a big chance of rare mileage!

I should add that BNSF lost a bridge earlier today at SiouxCity and Omaha has shut down a BNSF crossing of the river for emergency levee work. Parts of Ne Iowa got 18" rain this weekend.

 

[Willbridge]

I should add that BNSF lost a bridge earlier today at SiouxCity and Omaha has shut down a BNSF crossing of the river for emergency levee work. Parts of Ne Iowa got 18" rain this weekend.

Well, this is interesting! Train 5 (24) shows as having made the regular route through Omaha. Eastbound, OMA is blocked off in the reservation system for Train 6 on Tuesday morning. And the reservation system shows that one can buy a ticket from Hastings to Creston.

Good night.

 

[zephyr17]

Based on what sales it is allowing and what it isn't it looks like it will stay on the BNSF Creston Sub straight over to Plattsmouth instead of going up the BNSF Omaha Sub to Omaha. It crosses the Missouri at Plattsmouth on the Creston Sub anyway.

That routing makes sense to skip Omaha while still serving Lincoln and Creston. Plus it's really the BNSF main where the Omaha Sub is more secondary.

 

[Golden grrl]

Just now leaving Lincoln. Changed conductors just like normally would in OMA. Will soon see how route to Creston changes.

 

[Agent]

#6(23) has skipped Omaha having going straight from Lincoln to Plattsmouth. Looks to have made up an hour as well.

 

[zephyr17]

#6(23) has skipped Omaha having going straight from Lincoln to Plattsmouth. Looks to have made up an hour as well.

Well, location tracking on asm.transitdocs.com confirms it did stay on the Creston Sub. And it is shorter.

I wonder if they picked up a BNSF pilot crew. I doubt the Amtrak crew was qualified between Ashland and Plattsmouth.