California Zephyr discussion

[Agent]

Flooding in Grand Junction is part of the issue.

So it looks like yesterday, Wednesday, a #5 and a #6 were disrupted by mudslides in the Rocky Mountains. Today, as stated, a #5 and #6 were disrupted by flooding which resulted in them taking a detour route in Nebraska that skipped the stops at Hastings, Holdrege, and McCook.

 

[zephyr17]

So it looks like yesterday, Wednesday, a #5 and a #6 were disrupted by mudslides in the Rocky Mountains. Today, as stated, a #5 and #6 were disrupted by flooding which resulted in them taking a detour route in Nebraska that skipped the stops at Hastings, Holdrege, and McCook.

Based on where they got on and got off their normal route, per asm.transitdocs location tracking, they took BNSF through Alliance. The middle part of the detour wasn't tracked, but each end was.

 

[Sauve850]

After riding Amtrak the first year on the old Northern Pacific route from Chicago to Spokane and have been on some or all the western superliner routes every year in the last 15 years there has never been an issue of theft I was aware of.

Although after getting settled in my roomette on the California Zephyr at Union Station in Chicago, there were two well-dressed gentleman that came on board and introduced themselves to the two guys in the next roomette as detectives explaining to the guys they were making a routine check. Of course I knew that wasn’t true as it never happened on a train I boarded anywhere on Amtrak. But the detectives first question was how much cash they had. One guy said they had $1500 as they just came from the casino. After asking a few more questions, they did ask to see the cash. Well it seemed by the conversation they actually had over $10,000 in cash. So then the detectives told them they would need to go with them to the police station to straighten things out! So I’m making the assumption the detectives knew they had a large amount of cash and had an idea why. After they took the guys off the train, I decided I was glad the two guys were not armed. If there had been shots fired they probably would have took the sleeper off the train, so I may have never left Chicago that day?

One summer several years ago I flew to Reno from SLC to ride CZ to Chicago. I spent the night in Reno and was leaving the next day. After boarding I had a knock on my door and a detective identified himself. I was a single guy, backpack and small suitcase and one way ticket in a bedroom. He wanted to search. I told him we needed to get my attendant or conductor first. His radio went off and I could here someone directing him to the next car so he said never mind. I saw him and another person escort some other guy off the train. My attendant later said it wasnt unusual for detectives to board at the Reno stop.

 

[railiner]

Based on where they got on and got off their normal route, per asm.transitdocs location tracking, they took BNSF through Alliance. The middle part of the detour wasn't tracked, but each end was.

Wow! That’s interesting “rare mileage”…
I wonder why they didn’t just go from Lincoln to Grand Island, then over the UP to Sterling, and back on the BNSF to Fort Morgan?
That route, if pilots were promptly arranged,
would have added relatively little delay to the schedule.
I am guessing UP would not cooperate…

 

[PaulM]

So it looks like yesterday, Wednesday, a #5 and a #6 were disrupted by mudslides in the Rocky Mountains. Today, as stated, a #5 and #6 were disrupted by flooding which resulted in them taking a detour route in Nebraska that skipped the stops at Hastings, Holdrege, and McCook.

Being a geography buff, I would be interested in more detail. How does the Rockies and Grand Junction affect Hastings, etc. Did they skip Denver also?

 

[zephyr17]

Being a geography buff, I would be interested in more detail. How does the Rockies and Grand Junction affect Hastings, etc. Did they skip Denver also?

It didn't. They were separate events, one in Colorado, the other in Nebraska. Though the root cause for both may have been heavy spring runoff from the Rockies.

 

[Willbridge]

It didn't. They were separate events, one in Colorado, the other in Nebraska. Though the root cause for both may have been heavy spring runoff from the Rockies.

The Nebraska detour was more miles than using the UP, but keeping it all BNSF likely was simpler.

The rare mileage would have included part of the route of the CB&Q Adventureland, which linked Kansas City, Omaha, with Billings and carried through cars west on the NP and GN. Another segment was on one of the two CB&Q routes between Denver and Billings.

 

[railiner]

The Nebraska detour was more miles than using the UP, but keeping it all BNSF likely was simpler.

The rare mileage would have included part of the route of the CB&Q Adventureland, which linked Kansas City, Omaha, with Billings and carried through cars west on the NP and GN. Another segment was on one of the two CB&Q routes between Denver and Billings.

You are most likely correct. Nowadays, the BNSF seems to take its responsibilities to Amtrak more seriously than some other roads, and will do what it can to overcome disruptions.
In the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, detouring over other roads seemed easier and more common than today, besides the fact that there were more alternatives available…

 

[amtrakp42]

According to the F&B Committee Members I talked to last week, that is precisely one option that is being explored by them.

Question is where are they going to get the employees to carry this task out?? With 2 in the kitchen below and 3 on the diner floor to serve would not work. A few years ago every diner had 5 on diner floor and 3 in the kitchen and they served coach passengers, but even then could not get to all passengers from coach who wanted a meal. When I rode Zephyr, Starlight, and Empire Builder last year they did have a couple of coach attendants help in diner,usually not sleeper attendants as they kept busy with passengers wanting meals in their room. Also the coach attendants would have to leave at stops to help boarding process. And with the antiquated Amtrak computer system could a person order a meals all thru the trip and really expect to get it right. Ticketing passengers is hard enough. Although I did notice on the photo shown of Amtrak moving 2 new locomotives thru Denver that there was on;y one sleeper car and the dorm car!

You are most likely correct. Nowadays, the BNSF seems to take its responsibilities to Amtrak more seriously than some other roads, and will do what it can to overcome disruptions.
In the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, detouring over other roads seemed easier and more common than today, besides the fact that there were more alternatives available…

And when they detour on another route the Amtrak engineers are not certified on that track, so freight railroad has to supply a engineer to ride along which just isn't going to happen now as they are lucky to have enough to run their own trains.

 

[jis]

Question is where are they going to get the employees to carry this task out?? With 2 in the kitchen below and 3 on the diner floor to serve would not work. A few years ago every diner had 5 on diner floor and 3 in the kitchen and they served coach passengers, but even then could not get to all passengers from coach who wanted a meal. When I rode Zephyr, Starlight, and Empire Builder last year they did have a couple of coach attendants help in diner,usually not sleeper attendants as they kept busy with passengers wanting meals in their room. Also the coach attendants would have to leave at stops to help boarding process. And with the antiquated Amtrak computer system could a person order a meals all thru the trip and really expect to get it right. Ticketing passengers is hard enough. Although I did notice on the photo shown of Amtrak moving 2 new locomotives thru Denver that there was on;y one sleeper car and the dorm car!

You don’t sell more than you can serve. That has alwAys been the case even in the past. Everyone often did not get served by the Diner even with all that staff. This really does not require rocket science.

 

[anilou]

I have joined partly because of curiosity. We were ready to ride the CZ from DEN to EMY on May 11, but there was a massive rock slide just west of Denver. We flew instead, but the last text I got from Amtrak was about bussing everyone to Grand Junction. Then what? How did those folks travel from there?

Does anyone know what happened to the CZ going west from Denver on May 11?

 

[zephyr17]

I have joined partly because of curiosity. We were ready to ride the CZ from DEN to EMY on May 11, but there was a massive rock slide just west of Denver. We flew instead, but the last text I got from Amtrak was about bussing everyone to Grand Junction. Then what? How did those folks travel from there?

They got on the trainset that had been the eastbound 6 that got stopped at Grand Junction and was then operated back west as 5. The passengers from 6 were bused from Grand Junction to Denver to board the trainset you would have been on that then ran back east.

That is generally called a "bus bridge" by people here and is common when tracks are blocked by nature or major freight derailments. Bus bridges seem to have become more common than detours in recent years.

 

[railiner]

Bus bridges seem to have become more common than detours in recent years.

That’s for sure. Usually bus companies are far more eager for the “business”, react much quicker than rail alternatives, where they do exist…

 

[anilou]

They got on the trainset that had been the eastbound 6 that got stopped at Grand Junction and was then operated back west as 5. The passengers from 6 were bused from Grand Junction to Denver to board the trainset you would have been on that then ran back east.

That is generally called a "bus bridge" by people here and is common when tracks are blocked by nature or major freight derailments. Bus bridges seem to have become more common than detours in recent years.

That makes sense. Thank you for the explanation. I wonder what time they got to Emeryville.

 

[basketmaker]

One summer several years ago I flew to Reno from SLC to ride CZ to Chicago. I spent the night in Reno and was leaving the next day. After boarding I had a knock on my door and a detective identified himself. I was a single guy, backpack and small suitcase and one way ticket in a bedroom. He wanted to search. I told him we needed to get my attendant or conductor first. His radio went off and I could here someone directing him to the next car so he said never mind. I saw him and another person escort some other guy off the train. My attendant later said it wasnt unusual for detectives to board at the Reno stop.

I was also profiled on the CZ which I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. I posted this a couple years ago.

Local LEO do board Amtrak trains! A few years ago I booked a quick ride for fun and relaxation from FMG to EMY and back in a roomette. The return the following day. Well that apparently triggers certain computers like Amtrak, NCIS and DEA to that could be a drug/money mule type of itinerary. Well, shortly out of RNO on #5 a gentleman came up behind me as I was taking pics in the lounge car. There was another gentleman with him. Both dressed in t-shirts and shorts. The first guy bent over and quietly ask me if I was Karl which I of course said yes. He raised the bottom of his t-shirt to expose a Reno Police Department badge. I thought that I may have taken a picture or several maybe on the RNO platform of some criminal activity. He explained to me why he was on the train and that was he and his colleagues were part of the Reno PD Drug Interdiction Task Force. And that my itinerary had been flagged. Nicely ask if I would allow them to check my baggage and if could pat me down. I said absolutely and to follow me to the trans/dorm #24 at the front of the train. He and the other officer followed me to my room. They waited until we got there and did a normal frisk of me. Then ask if they could go through my luggage which was fine with me. Only had a small bag and camera bag. They checked it and said thank you. I said no thank you (I've worn "Blue Lives Matter" bracelet for several years) and that I sincerely appreciate what they do. I did ask him if they did this every day and how far do they ride? He said they go out to Truckee and then back on #6 maybe once or twice a week. I did notice that the other two officers did apparently pinch a couple of young men as they escorted them off the train at TRU. Guess is they maybe had some weed on their person. Some these days would be all up in arms for being "profiled" but I think it is a great tool for law enforcement! Gotta say this was one of the best and most memorable Amtrak excursions. Loved it.

 

[Bonser]

That makes sense. Thank you for the explanation. I wonder what time they got to Emeryville.

Is the Zephyr still being plagued by mudslide east of Denver? I see that an eastbound was cancelled yesterday and a westbound has a service suspension today.

 

[Agent]

Flooding last week took out a bridge or two in Nebraska. The first two trains detoured across Nebraska. Then #5(27) and #6(26) were annulled between Denver and Chicago.

 

[Bonser]

Flooding last week took out a bridge or two in Nebraska. The first two trains detoured across Nebraska. Then #5(27) and #6(26) were annulled between Denver and Chicago.

Thanks for the update. I'm taking Zephyr east from Emeryville to Chicago on Wednesday and have my fingers crossed.

 

[Agent]

The Benkelman Post and News Chronicle posted on Friday of a railroad bridge near Stratton, Nebraska damaged by the flash flood and posted on Saturday of it getting repaired. The railroad said they expected the track to be open again last night.

 

[librarian]

I was on The Zephyr westbound from Chicago to Sacramento on May 17-19. We detoured west of Omaha north of the regular route, eventually returning to the route at Fort Morgan, CO, 7 hours late. By the time we reached Sacramento, we had lost a total of 10 hours due to track work beyond Salt Lake City and freight interference; I arrived at my hotel at 1:15 am. I returned May 23-25 and we remained on the regular route to Chicago, arriving 2 hours late due to the usual.

 

[anilou]

Was the bus bridge between Grand Junction and Denver still happening then?

 

[ygbsm]

I rode the Zephyr from Denver to Emeryville May 22-23, there were no detours. 2 hours late.

We had two bedrooms in car 531. The whole car smelled like raw sewage throughout the trip.
A/C in the dining car broke down, so they shut the kitchen down and we did not get the dinner, breakfast or lunch we paid for.

Scenery was worth it, but just barely.

Amtrak is making it right, but the equipment failures are troubling. Car 531 is a Superliner that hasn't been upgraded yet, and it shows. Both jump seats were ripped and one armrest fell off.

 

[zephyr17]

I rode the Zephyr from Denver to Emeryville May 22-23, there were no detours. 2 hours late.

We had two bedrooms in car 531. The whole car smelled like raw sewage throughout the trip.
A/C in the dining car broke down, so they shut the kitchen down and we did not get the dinner, breakfast or lunch we paid for.

Scenery was worth it, but just barely.

Amtrak is making it right, but the equipment failures are troubling. Car 531 is a Superliner that hasn't been upgraded yet, and it shows. Both jump seats were ripped and one armrest fell off.

The coming upgrade/refurbishments will be cosmetic refurbishments only. No upgrades to or refurbishing of mechanicals, such as HVAC or plumbing/waste systems.

At a budget of about $60K per car, cosmetics are all they are budgeted for.

 

[tgstubbs1]

A/C in the dining car broke down, so they shut the kitchen down and we did not get the dinner, breakfast or lunch we paid for.

What did they do for you in stead of the meals?

 

[coalman]

Hello fellow train lovers,

I am thinking of taking the California Zephyr the entire way some time between November 2022 - March 2023. I have taken it from Emeryville to Chicago before in October 2019, but I wish to travel along that route again when the mountains are covered in snow. I was wondering if you had any recommendations regarding:
1. Which particular month in that range (November to March) is best?
2. Which direction is best in the winter if one wishes to see mountains covered in snow?
3. How likely is it that the California Zephyr is cancelled due to bad weather in the winter?

Are there any other factors you are aware of that I have not considered? Money is tight for me, I will likely not be able to do this again, so I really appreciate any pieces of advice you may have for me!!

Thank you so much to all of you who take out some time to help me out!!

Did you take your trip in this 500 year snow winter? Was there lots of snow? any holdups?