Chicago to Rockford service

[neroden]

So will this train still be called the Black Hawk if it won't be running over the former Illinois Central yet?

Who knows? At the meeting a few years ago, an IDOT official was asked whether the train would be called the "Black Hawk", and the IDOT official responded with (from memory) "Is there a better name?" When nobody proposed a better name, he said "Then it's the Black Hawk."

So if someone proposes a better name, they'll probably use that.

Ah, found it:

http://www.rrstar.com/x1898603842/Amtrak-on-taret-for-late-2014-early-2015

 

[Big Iron]

So will this train still be called the Black Hawk if it won't be running over the former Illinois Central yet?

Who knows? At the meeting a few years ago, an IDOT official was asked whether the train would be called the "Black Hawk", and the IDOT official responded with (from memory) "Is there a better name?" When nobody proposed a better name, he said "Then it's the Black Hawk."

So if someone proposes a better name, they'll probably use that.

Ah, found it:

http://www.rrstar.com/x1898603842/Amtrak-on-taret-for-late-2014-early-2015

Quad Cities Rocket isn't being used anymore. Wrong line but a great name.

 

[Guest]

Why doesn't Illinois finish the Chicago to St. Louis high speed rail first before starting a new project like this? Seems like they have too many projects going and none of them get done to a high standard.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Welcome to the world of Parsons-Brinkerhoff completely controlling civil engineering in this country, with their ability to play the P2P system with the finesse of Leonard Bernstein conducting Beethoven's 9th.

 

[battalion51]

What is "dark territory"? Does that mean there aren't any signals?

Yep! No signals whatsoever- trains are granted main track authority by a track warrant (piece of paper). The FRA limits passenger trains to 59mph max in dark territory.

For Amtrak, so far as I know (there may be others, someone please say so) the only currently running train on dark territory is the Vermonter north of White River Junction. When it ran the Sunset Limited east of New Orleans was on dark territory between Flomaton AL and Tallahassee FL. In years past (pre Amtrak - 1950's and earlier) there were many passenger trains on unsignalled lines.

Silver Star from the wye to the station in Tampa. The Vermonter is also in dark territory from Palmer to Brattleboro. A portion of the Ethan Allen is dark as well, I believe right there near Rutland. This one I'm not sure on, but I want to say a portion of the Sunset's route (in BNSF territory in Louisiana) is also dark.

 

[rspenmoll]

So will this train still be called the Black Hawk if it won't be running over the former Illinois Central yet?

Who knows? At the meeting a few years ago, an IDOT official was asked whether the train would be called the "Black Hawk", and the IDOT official responded with (from memory) "Is there a better name?" When nobody proposed a better name, he said "Then it's the Black Hawk."

So if someone proposes a better name, they'll probably use that.

Ah, found it:

http://www.rrstar.com/x1898603842/Amtrak-on-taret-for-late-2014-early-2015

What about Forest City Hiawatha? The Forest City is a nickname for Rockford, and the train will run on former Milwaukee Road tracks, which is where I got the idea for the Hiawatha name

 

[CHamilton]

Canadian National upgrading railroad tracks in Rockford area

ROCKFORD — The railroad that was supposed to provide a route for Amtrak passenger trains through Rockford on service between Chicago and Dubuque is upgrading tracks here, even though Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn decided to use a different company’s rails.
Work began two weeks ago on 26 miles of Canadian National Railway Co. track between Irene Road in Boone County and Seward, west of Rockford, and a train bridge over the Rock River south of Morgan Street.
CN spokesman Patrick Waldron said 50 workers are replacing 18,000 railroad ties as part of the project, which will continue into June. Last week, piles of old railroad ties were visible from 11th Street, and crews were installing new ties west toward the river.
An additional 15 employees are upgrading a 690-foot bridge over the Rock River. Waldron said they’re replacing the bridge’s concrete decks that hold railroad ties, ballast rock and tracks in place. The bridge is behind the former Barber-Colman Co. complex on South Main Street.

 

[Agent]

Illinois has now switched to working with Metra to bring passenger service to Rockford over the Union Pacific. Here's a map for it. I hope it's not too much to hope for that Amtrak would also work to restart the Black Hawk and restore service all the way to Dubuque on the Canadian National.

https://www.wrex.com/news/metra-to-...cle_afe56eb2-1bac-11ee-8555-63a7e526a51b.html

 

[jis]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: Rockford Service is now being discussed in the Commuter and Transit Forum at:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/thread...-chicago-and-rockford-to-begin-in-2027.85517/
Quad Cities service is being discussed in this thread:

https://www.amtraktrains.com/threads/quad-cities-train-in-news.81080/
Please continue the discussions on those threads, one which is appropriate for the discussion.

Thank you for your understanding, cooperation and participation.