California Zephyr discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024 H1

[Golden grrl]

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.

yes that is exactly what happened. Stayed on s side of Platte river. Then crossed Missouri pretty much as per usual. Train had been delayed into Denver by speed restrictions. Then an electrical problem further delayed Denver departure. All made for early daylight ride into Lincoln and a chance to see the Loess Hills on Iowa side as we continued our journey. Thanks to all who replied.

 

[railiner]

The “rare mileage” for this detour was from Ashland to Plattsmouth. I believe this route is about 19 miles shorter than looping through Omaha…

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.

What bridge does BNSF have at Omaha?
They used to use the UP bridge there to get to Council Bluffs, and then run down their line on the Iowa side to rejoin their mainline at Pacific Junction. Other roads also had trackage rights on the UP bridge. The only other rail bridge across the Missouri River at Omaha, is the long out of service, Illinois Central bridge.
UP thru freights cross the Missouri a few miles north over their former C&NW bridge at Blair…

 

[zephyr17]

Maybe it wasn't a bridge, but the BNSF Omaha Sub? That's hard by the river in some places and might be impacted by levee work. We all know how journalists can misinterpret railroad related issues.

 

[Golden grrl]

The “rare mileage” for this detour was from Ashland to Plattsmouth. I believe this route is about 19 miles shorter than looping through Omaha…


What bridge does BNSF have at Omaha?
They used to use the UP bridge there to get to Council Bluffs, and then run down their line on the Iowa side to rejoin their mainline at Pacific Junction. Other roads also had trackage rights on the UP bridge. The only other rail bridge across the Missouri River at Omaha, is the long out of service, Illinois Central bridge.
UP thru freights cross the Missouri a few miles north over their former C&NW bridge at Blair…

I mentioned the bridge as example of what flood waters were coming to Omaha, but as I said originally, it was a BNSF one at Sioux City, not at Omaha. Sorry my post was confusing. I saw a photo of the downed bridge in water-see railwayage.com article “BNSF Suffers South Dakota Bridge Collapse” for a drone picture and maps.

According to another article I found (after our conductor announced the train would not go to Omaha), Omaha and NRD told BNSF to close track in Omaha so a new flood wall could be deployed “to prevent the flanking of the levee system via the railroad tracks .” see nebraskaexaminer.com, “Worst yet to come” dated 24 June. So no bridge out in Omaha, just temporary shutdown of tracks.

Train detour went just as zephyr17 described. Not so much “rare mileage” (a grrl can wish, can’t she?) but still a great end to my first rail adventure in half a decade. Had great photo ops rolling down from WIP to Den with the 15 mph speed restrictions from the 95+ local temperatures, then further mechanical delay out of DEN - so we got a DAYlight ride for a change in parts of eastern Nebraska we once called home…what could be better!
oh, and not sure if we got a BNSF guide or not at the same time, but the train had to stop, back up, and wait for a manual switching to keep us from going up the Omaha sub and instead go along on the Creston Sub. I was last seat in last car, so could hear some of the conductor messages, but could not see if anyone climbed on engine-there was a BNSF truck there with two guys to start with, but only one in truck when it drove away. But I could only observe from one side of train.
Thanks again to all who responded; I sure do benefit from your knowledge.

 

[Willbridge]

This also explains why Train 5 came through Omaha. It was just there soon enough to get through before the closure.

 

[railiner]

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.

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

Thinking more about it...it is a lucky thing, I suppose, that Omaha has not suffered a similar fate like Phoenix, or like Boise did, with the host railroad deciding to truncate part of their line as a thru route....if they did, Plattsmouth could have become another "Maricopa"...

 

[jacket94]

Sitting in Denver on #5 and very surprised to see them cleaning all of the windows. I thought that was a thing of the past!

 

[Kate B]

They've cleaned windows at Denver the last few times I went through in the past few years. Made me jump when I caught them in my periphery!

 

[user 14106]

Sitting in Denver on #5 and very surprised to see them cleaning all of the windows. I thought that was a thing of the past!

Chief still gets done at ABQ I believe as well. So those trains are in a bit better shape than others window wise usually.

 

[Agent]

Good news. Amtrak #6(30) is the first Zephyr back through Omaha since the water started rising. It is also traveling three hours late due to flash flood warnings earlier in Nebraska.

 

[Taste Within Reach]

Hey guys! I just booked a roomette on CZ, and it shows CAR 632. Does anyone know what type of car that is? Thx!

 

[zephyr17]

Hey guys! I just booked a roomette on CZ, and it shows CAR 632. Does anyone know what type of car that is? Thx!

Should be a standard Superliner sleeper, one car (the 31) away from the diner.

No way to tell in advance whether it is a Superliner I or II, or whether it's been through the current cosmetic refresh program.

The transdorm runs in the 40 car line on the CZ.

 

[Taste Within Reach]

Should be a standard Superliner sleeper, one car (the 31) away from the diner.

No way to tell in advance whether it is a Superliner I or II, or whether it's been through the current cosmetic refresh program.

The transdorm runs in the 40 car line on the CZ.

Thanks! What's the major difference between Superliner I and II? Are the differences similar to those between Viewliner I and II?

 

[zephyr17]

Thanks! What's the major difference between Superliner I and II? Are the differences similar to those between Viewliner I and II?

The car layout is identical, unlike Viewliners I and II.

Prior to the current, ongoing cosmetic refresh, the Superliner Is were rehabbed several years ago. They received faux wood paneling on the aisles instead of carpet on the walls (one of the weirder interior design choices of the past), extremely bright "nuclear dawn" LED aisle lighting, much improved redesigned restroom facilities that fit in the same spaces but feel more open. They also retain some original features such as the extremely narrow (like 5"), nearly useless closets instead of a cubby with a strap and hanger on the IIs.

Superliner IIs did not undergo that rehab, retaining their aisle wall carpet, original restroom layouts, dimmer aisle lighting (which I prefer). Since they haven't really been touched since their delivery in the early 1990s, they generally look pretty worn and tatty. Ironically, the older Superliner Is, delivered 1979-80, look much newer. I imagine this is changing with cars that have undergone the cosmetic refresh.

The main exterior spotting feature is Superliner Is have weird looking European designed trucks. Superliner IIs have much more conventional looking trucks. I cannot really describe it, but I knows it when I sees it.

 

[PVD]

I leave NY Monday, LSL So I should be on the CZ Tuesday & Weds. Return is Sunday & Monday Hoping all the Flooding is gone, and I don't get buried by heat slow orders. LSL back after that. Roomettes all legs.

 

[PVD]

Both outbound trains show "sold out" Why am I getting Bid UP invites?

 

[Shanson]

Amtrak is just trying to get your hopes up. Or there's been a last minute cancellation that is not showing in reservation system yet.

 

[railiner]

The car layout is identical, unlike Viewliners I and II.

Prior to the current, ongoing cosmetic refresh, the Superliner Is were rehabbed several years ago. They received faux wood paneling on the aisles instead of carpet on the walls (one of the weirder interior design choices of the past), extremely bright "nuclear dawn" LED aisle lighting, much improved redesigned restroom facilities that fit in the same spaces but feel more open. They also retain some original features such as the extremely narrow (like 5"), nearly useless closets instead of a cubby with a strap and hanger on the IIs.

Superliner IIs did not undergo that rehab, retaining their aisle wall carpet, original restroom layouts, dimmer aisle lighting (which I prefer). Since they haven't really been touched since their delivery in the early 1990s, they generally look pretty worn and tatty. Ironically, the older Superliner Is, delivered 1979-80, look much newer. I imagine this is changing with cars that have undergone the cosmetic refresh.

The main exterior spotting feature is Superliner Is have weird looking European designed trucks. Superliner IIs have much more conventional looking trucks. I cannot really describe it, but I knows it when I sees it.

The I’s have fabricated trucks, while the II’s have heftier-looking cast trucks.

Perhaps the biggest contrast between types, is that when you compare the difference between Viewliner’s, the I’s have toilets in their Roomettes, the II’s do not. Superliner’s do not in either Roomette version…

 

[jis]

The I’s have fabricated trucks, while the II’s have heftier-looking cast trucks.

Perhaps the biggest contrast between types, is that when you compare the difference between Viewliner’s, the I’s have toilets in their Roomettes, the II’s do not. Superliner’s do not in either Roomette version…

Just to clarify, Superliner Is have fabricated trucks. Superliner IIs have GSI trucks.

All Viewliners have GSI trucks. The Is use Buckeye cast components while the IIs use cast parts from Columbus(?), the company that took over from Buckeye upon its bankruptcy.

Ventures have fabricated trucks that are standard in Europe and now in China, Russia and India in most new rolling stock.

 

[railiner]

Here’s a post from an old thread that illustrates the difference…
https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/superliner-i-vs-ii-slepper.49996/post-388776

 

[PVD]

Leaving Chicago, does the CZ do lunch or is the first meal dinner? I don't remember, and I'll pick up something before I board if appropriate. And returning from Emeryville, is breakfast meal one, or lunch? I can eat at the hotel if need be, it's comp so no loss to me.

 

[zephyr17]

Leaving Chicago, does the CZ do lunch or is the first meal dinner? I don't remember, and I'll pick up something before I board if appropriate. And returning from Emeryville, is breakfast meal one, or lunch? I can eat at the hotel if need be, it's comp so no loss to me.

First meal westbound out of Chicago is dinner. First meal eastbound out of Emeryville is lunch.

 

[PVD]

Thanks, that's sort of what I thought, but always better to ask.... If the Westbound Lake is not terribly late, getting lunch in Chicago is easy. My hotel has breakfast, so that works as well. Thanks

 

[Traveller]

First meal westbound out of Chicago is dinner. First meal eastbound out of Emeryville is lunch.

May I jump in here for the eastbound, what about lunch before arriving in Chicago if ontime?

Thanks

 

[trimetbusfan]

The car layout is identical, unlike Viewliners I and II.

Prior to the current, ongoing cosmetic refresh, the Superliner Is were rehabbed several years ago. They received faux wood paneling on the aisles instead of carpet on the walls (one of the weirder interior design choices of the past), extremely bright "nuclear dawn" LED aisle lighting, much improved redesigned restroom facilities that fit in the same spaces but feel more open. They also retain some original features such as the extremely narrow (like 5"), nearly useless closets instead of a cubby with a strap and hanger on the IIs.

Superliner IIs did not undergo that rehab, retaining their aisle wall carpet, original restroom layouts, dimmer aisle lighting (which I prefer). Since they haven't really been touched since their delivery in the early 1990s, they generally look pretty worn and tatty. Ironically, the older Superliner Is, delivered 1979-80, look much newer. I imagine this is changing with cars that have undergone the cosmetic refresh.

The main exterior spotting feature is Superliner Is have weird looking European designed trucks. Superliner IIs have much more conventional looking trucks. I cannot really describe it, but I knows it when I sees it.

The IIs now have extremely bright LED lights as well. In the transdorm near crew rooms, I’ve noticed that some crews will go as far as taping over the lights near their rooms. I don’t know why they can’t put the lights on the sleepers in ‘night mode’ like they can do in the coaches.