Can the Empire Builder turn in 36 minutes?

[zephyr17]

Just checked train status. Train 7(14) is estimated to arrive Seattle at 11:39 pm tonight. Train 8(16) is estimated to depart at 12:15 am.

Who thinks they can actually turn the train in 36 minutes?

I wonder why the didn't turn it in Spokane and bustitute? I know two bustitutions would be rough on passengers, but I don't see Amtrak management being all that concerned about passenger experience, frankly.

 

[GAT]

Just checked train status. Train 7(14) is estimated to arrive Seattle at 11:39 pm tonight. Train 8(16) is estimated to depart at 12:15 am.

Who thinks they can actually turn the train in 36 minutes?

I wonder why the didn't turn it in Spokane and bustitute? I know two bustitutions would be rough on passengers, but I don't see Amtrak management being all that concerned about passenger experience, frankly.

I guess we'll know tomorrow when we can see what actual time it departed SEA. I just hope they don't keep passengers waiting hours at SEA station after midnight.

 

[WWW]

Only with the airlines - a 36 minute turn is possible - I have done this - but fair it is only one coach/cabin unit not some 2 or more.
Would that Service Disruption due to the derailment east of Stanley have anything to do with this ?
I think that there would be a normal turn around of 8 hours or more.
Cruise ships do it all the time 2-4 thousand passengers NO not 36 minutes but easily in 6 hours.
Maybe the EB was using a train consist from the Coast Starlight ?
Maybe the consist arrived empty and was already prepped to board loading only passengers and their luggage
Need more information about the turning of the trains at terminating destination stations Seattle - Portland - Chicago

 

[Acela150]

The had to have had a new trainset ready. It’s happened before.

 

[thully]

8(16) departed at 5:09am this morning. Would hate to have tickets on that - would be up all night unless they gave you a firm departure time (and even then you’d need a last-minute hotel). Something you sometimes see mid-route, but quite unusual to see it at the origin. As someone with a ticket on 8 in a month I really hope this doesn’t happen to me - I‘d honestly take bustitution with a middle of the night transfer over this…

Right now, 8(17) isn’t showing a status at all - wonder what’s happening there? Wondering if the system is just confused since 8(16) left on the 17th - 7(15) seems to be running on time.

 

[WWW]

If you are relying on Amtrak's Track a Train - it is not an exact science and not all trains are accounted for.
Yesterday here at MSP EB #8/?? transited through on stealth mode in the evening some 14 hours late from schedule ?
The derailment issue east of Stanley ND causing a service disruption bus bridging had #7 becoming #8 at Minot -
Don't know how the bridge was done at Williston #8 becoming #7 - Minot has WYE to turn a train around - Williston ?

7 & 8 are two day trips and 4 train sets (consists) are involved - I have seen a full house of 3 7's and 2 8's frequently due to weather.

With the accident in Montana and the recent one in Missouri Amtrak must be reaching its wits end of having train sets
available to make up the next days schedule. Beech Grove must be working overtime fix replace repair return to service -

I was in Chicago awhile back and #7 was late because #8 from the day before was L-A-T-E to the extent that the train set was not
cleaned and serviced in time - other substitutions not possible because of delays.

AND then there is the B-I-G staffing issue - you don't want to get started on that !

 

[Dakota 400]

After one of my Seattle visits, I was returning on the EB. Arriving at the station, the Westbound EB had yet to arrive and departure time for the train was unknown. The agent said that it "would take awhile" to turn it around. Actually, it was about 2-3 hours which I thought was quite reasonable. And, the train had been properly prepared: my roomette and the restrooms/shower was clean and there were no issues with menu items in the dining car or at the Cafe being unavailable.

 

[jis]

#7 has apparently arrived in SEA today (7/17) at 12:11pm

8(17) is shown as scheduled to depart on time at 4:55pm

 

[west point]

Maybe Amtrak is going to combine 8/16 and 8/17 into a super Builder?

 

[zephyr17]

8(16) departed at 5:09am this morning. Would hate to have tickets on that - would be up all night unless they gave you a firm departure time (and even then you’d need a last-minute hotel). Something you sometimes see mid-route, but quite unusual to see it at the origin. As someone with a ticket on 8 in a month I really hope this doesn’t happen to me - I‘d honestly take bustitution with a middle of the night transfer over this…

Right now, 8(17) isn’t showing a status at all - wonder what’s happening there? Wondering if the system is just confused since 8(16) left on the 17th - 7(15) seems to be running on time.

Yeah, didn't think they'd be able to turn it in 36 minutes...they turned it in 5:20 (11:44 pm - 5:09 am), which is around what I expected the actual turn to be, I could not see them doing in less than 4.

8(17) isn't showing in Amtrak's TYT or asm transit docs because it isn't scheduled to leave until 4:55 pm. Trains do not show in either until at least scheduled departure, maybe actual departure. 8(17) is showing predicted on time departure on Train Status. 7 today was only 38 minutes late so they'll likely make an on time turn.

Maybe Amtrak is going to combine 8/16 and 8/17 into a super Builder?

8(16) left at 5:09 am this morning. 8(17) should be roughly 12 hours behind it.

 

[zephyr17]

The had to have had a new trainset ready. It’s happened before.

There is no protection Superliner equipment kept at either Seattle or Portland. Knowing that, that there is no alternative to turning the incoming consist, was part of the reason I started this thread in the first place.

There was option to pull the diner and a couple sleepers and a coach off the turning Starlight consist to make up a replacement Builder, and swap the Builder's equipment into this morning's Starlight. But the Starlight didn't arrive on time, either. It didn't arrive until 10:56 pm, only about an hour before the Builder. Breaking up the Starlight's consist to construct a replacement Builder consist would likely have consumed that extra hour and made little difference in the end.

Had the Starlight arrived on time, it would have been more of a possiblity.