Or have gone a week later. It's been beautiful there ever since we left. How's that for timing?
EB Mess - 2
- Thread starter andersone
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andersone
Conductor
ahh to be able to stay in Glacier til September,,, and poor #7 is only three and a half late into Minot today,,,,,pleaase Lord, no more pads to the sched before I depart in three weeks
montana mike
Conductor
Looks like the schedule has settled in to 4-5 hours late into CHI and back to 2-3 hours late into SEA/PDX, even on weekends. The construction pace has picked up according to BNSF. BTW--BNSF expects freight traffic to increase later this summer due to several unrelated issues, which may possibly add to the current delays for a while.
At least the delays are becoming more "predictable".
At least the delays are becoming more "predictable".
andersone
Conductor
so much for the only consistency in life is change,,,,, and I suppose I should be happy to eat a second dinner on the trip out ,,,,,,
Positive news: It looks like the #7 has done pretty well for several days, running only 1-2 hours behind and sometimes even less! Does this seem like a trend? I don't watch very closely so I am not sure how common this is.
I am taking it this weekend and now wondering if I don't need the survival rations I packed in case of an 11-hour delay. But as I learned from this forum: expect the worst, hope for the best!
I am taking it this weekend and now wondering if I don't need the survival rations I packed in case of an 11-hour delay. But as I learned from this forum: expect the worst, hope for the best!
If you take your "survival rations" you will not need them. If you leave them at the house, your train will be 30 hours late. Sorry this trains got issues. It changes day to day.
montana mike
Conductor
Yes, #7 has done somewhat better lately, but #8 continues its 4-5 hour delays into CHI most days. In talks with BNSF folks Amtrak is pressing them hard to try to get back to the "old" schedule some time this Fall, but BNSF has so far said it is too early to consider doing so and they will revisit options in a month or so. Removing the padding, given the current delays being experienced would mean 7+ hour delays into CHI most days and 2+ hour delays into SEA/PDX--certainly not comforting thoughts. I agree with BNSF that construction needs to wind down along with perhaps modestly less agricultural related traffic to get a sense of what can be done to try to return to the old schedule. One BNSF person surmised that it would be 2016 before the Hi-Line has sufficient capacity to run trains like BNSF and Amtrak would like them to run.
6-17: Not a good start for #7 leaving CHI today. Already over three hours late and still in CHI. :-(
6-17: Not a good start for #7 leaving CHI today. Already over three hours late and still in CHI. :-(
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NW cannonball
Conductor
#7(17) seems to have lost 4+ hours at Chicago - it's not only the Hi-Line that's hurting the EB's timekeeping.
As others have reported, there are intermittent problems at CHI, and on the CP from CHI to MSP, and occasional engine problems (like my son experienced last month, and others recently -- not able to get over Stevens Pass Eastbound without a BNSF helper (not to mention, on his trip 1 month back, getting stuck at Saint Anthony while a total Charlie Foxtrot freight evolution blocked the main for more than an hour - only 7 miles from SPUD)).
At least with the BNSF Hi-Line problems there's money going to fix that - cause it's hurting BNSF - and ND farmers - and intermodal -- and --
The other contributing factors have been mostly hidden by the big hi-line problems - but - "4 hours late departing Chicago" or "haven't enough power to get over the pass" -- these are also serious concerns.
Today it seems that except for 7(17) the EB trains are doing better than average -- and it's not even a weekend.
As others have reported, there are intermittent problems at CHI, and on the CP from CHI to MSP, and occasional engine problems (like my son experienced last month, and others recently -- not able to get over Stevens Pass Eastbound without a BNSF helper (not to mention, on his trip 1 month back, getting stuck at Saint Anthony while a total Charlie Foxtrot freight evolution blocked the main for more than an hour - only 7 miles from SPUD)).
At least with the BNSF Hi-Line problems there's money going to fix that - cause it's hurting BNSF - and ND farmers - and intermodal -- and --
The other contributing factors have been mostly hidden by the big hi-line problems - but - "4 hours late departing Chicago" or "haven't enough power to get over the pass" -- these are also serious concerns.
Today it seems that except for 7(17) the EB trains are doing better than average -- and it's not even a weekend.
NW cannonball
Conductor
Cut that quote - but --
Not enough power to make Stevens Pass?
Seems pretty sorry - see my other post.
So far, the wildfires in Washington have not affected trains 7 and 8, but trains 27 and 28 may be affected by a fire near Cheney, WA. http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-news/wildfire-burning-near-fishtrap-lake/27042992
Tonight's 28 got through with no trouble. Winds are expected to continue all night in the 15-20 mph range, and the area, which I know very well, features some very rugged terrain. Add to that bone-dry conditions and it makes for some tough conditions for firefighters.
Heard an uncomfirmed report that the UP line, which runs a mile or two south of the BNSF(and Amtrak line) in this area is on fire: Power poles, ties, signals, etc. Hope that isn't a sign of things to come for the BNSF if this report is true.
NW cannonball
Conductor
Totally off-the-wall -
Amtrak offers me a MSP - NOL routing - on the eb#8 and the City of New Orleans.
A very good price.
Is the EB-CONO still guaranteed connection?
Want to go that way.
Amtrak offers me a MSP - NOL routing - on the eb#8 and the City of New Orleans.
A very good price.
Is the EB-CONO still guaranteed connection?
Want to go that way.
If they offer it, it would be a guaranteed connection.
Just checked the Track-a-Train feature and apparently 27 is on the move out of Spokane so nothing extraordinary has appeared to affect the rail line yet.
27 is beyond the fire area near Cheney, and is scheduled into Pasco 15 minutes late. So it seems to have gotten through with minimal delay.
TraneMan
Conductor
I was looking at that last night! Thinking of a quick trip there in Feb.
TraneMan
Conductor
Friend conductor posted that there was broken rail, (Didn't say where, some where around the Fargo area) so that's why #8 was sitting in Fargo.
lrdc9_metroplitan_sub
Train Attendant
Ww
All Aboard Washington is reporting that the BNSF tracks are now closed in the vicinity of the Fishtrap Lake fire until further notice. This will affect tonight's trains 27 and 28.
TraneMan
Conductor
A report on Trainorders is saying the UP line was heavily damaged in the fire and that they will be detouring over the BNSF line. If true either the BNSF line isn't shut down or any shutdown won't last long.
Boy, when it rains it pours on the Hi-Ine! Just what the Builder needs, more Freights on its route! Maybe they'll put out a temporary schedule saying the Builder will arrive sometime this week into CHI and SEA!!!
Hope the fire is out and no-one is homeless or dead!!!! The weather witch doctors are promising an El Nino in the Pacific for Fall with more Rain etc Hope they're right as the West, NW and the SW really need it!!!
Hope the fire is out and no-one is homeless or dead!!!! The weather witch doctors are promising an El Nino in the Pacific for Fall with more Rain etc Hope they're right as the West, NW and the SW really need it!!!
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