Coast Starlight discussion 2023 Q4 - 2024

[sublib]

Just rolled into Oakland on #11.
Pretty late already. Over 2 hours late.
Rained all the way down from SEA. Now, they've terminated the train in Oakland citing tracks washed out up ahead. Anyone know where the washout occurred?

Thanks.

 

[GDRRiley]

its somewhere between SLO and Gilroy, trying to get a firm location from some people I know.

 

[Cal]

If anyone wants to see the process of switching 14 into 11, this railcam has it with full radio chatter.

 

[Cal]

Now, they've terminated the train in Oakland citing tracks washed out up ahead

I understand that Oakland is the base in the BAy, and therefore makes it preferable to turn the train. But I feel like they could've gone the single hour further down to San Jose which is a pretty big stop?

 

[GDRRiley]

I understand that Oakland is the base in the BAy, and therefore makes it preferable to turn the train. But I feel like they could've gone the single hour further down to San Jose which is a pretty big stop?

Yes they could have but crew changes are at Oakland and thats where amtraks full yard is. The only thing SJ has going for it is a wye large enough to turn the whole train.

 

[Cal]

Yes they could have but crew changes are at Oakland and thats where amtraks full yard is. The only thing SJ has going for it is a wye large enough to turn the whole train.

By big stop I meant a lot of passengers, now everyone disembarking or boarding got screwed at San Jose. I think it would’ve been feasible to run the train down to San Jose (the engineer crew change is there anyway). Helps a lot of passengers and isn’t insanely hard to do.