Does anyone know the status of the Caltrans Comet IB cars?

[Agent]

The westbound California Zephyr came through Agency, Iowa slowly this afternoon. The name of this Comet coach is The Lark. Looks like a door was left open.

 

[rickycourtney]

Yup. 5003 is the last Comet IB coach to be delivered.

 

[rickycourtney]

In case anyone is interested... here is my roster for the Comet IB coaches, Horizon dinettes and NPCU's:

Comet IB Coach
Number Delivery Name Notes
5001 12/ /13 “The Comet” (former NJTR 5155)
5002 02/ /14 “The Meteor” (former NJTR 5158)

5003 04/27/14 “The Lark”
5004 03/06/14 “The Owl”
5005 12/14/13 “The Senator” (former NJTR 5162)
5006 11/ /13 “The El Dorado” (former NJTR 5163)
5007 07/10/13 “The Del Monte” (former NJTR 5164)
5008 04/03/13 “The Redwood” (former NJTR 5165)
5009 10/ /13 “The Valley Flyer” (former NJTR 5166)
5010 01/ /14 “The Golden Gate” (former NJTR 5158)
5011 09/21/13 “San Diegan” (former NJTR 5168)
5012 10/ /13 “The Feather River Express” (former NJTR 5169)
5013 05/25/13 “The Citrus Belt Limited” (former NJTR 5224)
5014 08/17/13 “The Spirit of California” (former NJTR 5230)

Non-Powered Control Unit
Number Delivery Name Notes
90215 10/20/13 “Bakersfield”

90218 03/04/13 “Oakland”
90225 06/27/13 “Sacramento” (Damaged in collision with a truck on 03/22/14. Being repaired at Beech Grove.)

Horizon Dinette

Number Delivery Name Notes
53501 07/17/13 “Golden Horizon”

53509 09/29/13 “Pacific Horizon”
53510 05/25/13 “Western Horizon” (name according to OTOL, but lettering has not yet been applied)

 

[ACS-64]

90229 is said to be headed West today on 5(11) suspected to be filling in for the wrecked 90225. 90229 was just overhauled.(Phase V paint??)

 

[Agent]

I think this goes in this thread. I caught the eastbound California Zephyr that is due into Chicago today at Agency, Iowa with four Comet IB coaches behind the engines. The coaches were CDTX 5007, 5013, 5009, 5014. #6(05) had a nice engineer too.

 

[cpotisch]

Anyone have any idea what they're doing or where they're going?

 

[Seaboard92]

If I make any bets it's Beech Grove.

 

[Agent]

Three more Comets are on Amtrak #6(06). These ones are CDTX 5008, 5012, and 5011.

 

[cpotisch]

It's the mass exodus of the Comets! Damn it, now I won't be able to sleep until I make a March of the Penguins spoof about some old Bombardiers.

 

[Trogdor]

Have these been withdrawn from service? Whats replacing them, given that the Siemens cars wont be around for a while yet?

 

[Thirdrail7]

They are headed to Pueblo for testing.

 

[Agent]

Looks like testing is over as four Comet coaches are heading back west on Amtrak #5(19). These four are CDTX 5012, 5008, 5011, and 5007. I'm guessing the remaining three will be following soon. This train was only two minutes late at Agency, Iowa.

 

[Agent]

Three more are returning home on Amtrak #5(20). The first one is CDTX 5013. I'm guessing the other two are 5009 and 5014.

 

[cpotisch]

So do the Caltrans Comets only operate on the NorCal routes, since I'm pretty sure all the videos I've seen of them deadheading are on the CZ?

 

[brianpmcdonnell17]

So do the Caltrans Comets only operate on the NorCal routes, since I'm pretty sure all the videos I've seen of them deadheading are on the CZ?

They typically operate on the San Joaquins.

 

[Blackwolf]

So do the Caltrans Comets only operate on the NorCal routes, since I'm pretty sure all the videos I've seen of them deadheading are on the CZ?

They're based out of Oakland, but operate exclusively on the San Joaquins.

 

[desertflyer]

They are headed to Pueblo for testing.

I know very little about what happens in Pueblo, but I'm interested in learning more. What type of testing would happen with cars in Pueblo?

Edit: Someone else told me PTC brake testing. Makes sense when combined with the reply from john small berries below. Thank you.

 

[john small berries]

They are headed to Pueblo for testing.

I know very little about what happens in Pueblo, but I'm interested in learning more. What type of testing would happen with cars in Pueblo?

The Transportation Technology Center is there. Test tracks, test facilities, etc.

http://www.aar.com/

 

[KmH]

Transportation Technology Center

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transportation_Technology_Center,_Inc.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Transportation+Technology+Center/@38.4307393,-104.3334332,8754m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8713000001e416e7:0x8935dd855aede4ca!8m2!3d38.4342429!4d-104.2860055

 

[desertflyer]

Does anyone know which San Joaquins are typically operated with the Comets? I had them on train 717 back in mid-September, but would be curious if anyone knew more.

 

[jamess]

Does anyone know which San Joaquins are typically operated with the Comets? I had them on train 717 back in mid-September, but would be curious if anyone knew more.

Used to be the first and last trip of the day, but I am not sure if that changed this year because the schedule has shuffled around every 3 months 

 

[Trogdor]

Does anyone know which San Joaquins are typically operated with the Comets? I had them on train 717 back in mid-September, but would be curious if anyone knew more.

When I asked an insider friend back in June, he said 710/717, and 711/716 were their usual turns.  Don't know if that's changed since then.