New Talgos moving westward for testing

[CHamilton]

A reliable source posts on Facebook:

Heads up for those rail photographers living between Milwaukee and Peublo, CO. The first of Oregon's Talgo Train sets will leave North Milwaukee late this afternoon (29th) bound for interchange with BNSF Crawford, WI on Saturday. The consist includes an eclectic collection of Amtrak cars, 3 on each end as braking idlers, and the Talgo train set in the middle. Wisconsin & Southern Railroad 3802 is the initial power.

 

[Notelvis]

Interesting news -

I'm hopeful that the Wisconsin Talgos will find a good adoptive home rather than sitting idle and fueling (more) political vitriol.

 

[jis]

Interesting news -

I'm hopeful that the Wisconsin Talgos will find a good adoptive home rather than sitting idle and fueling (more) political vitriol.

If Colorado were to get a sudden urge to start a Front Range service and BNSF and UP were to be not paying attention enough to agree to such....... one can dream, can't one?

 

[Steve4031]

I dream of the Packer's demise on 12/16 when they will get there Azz's beat by the Bears. This will be more payback for messing up my Talgos.

 

[Blackwolf]

Here's the first YouTube video of them heading out.

 

[Texan Eagle]

Why do they need as many as three conventional Amtrak cars on each end for "protection"? Are the Talgos so fragile?

And oh, those flashing red lights and bells are mere decorations according to people of this town right? At least a dozen cars crossed the tracks after the lights and bells turned on.. what the heck!

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

What route will they take all the way to Oregon? I assume that they are going to PDX. At least this is more service for the Cascades, a good alternative to those poorly built Greyhound G4500s.

 

[AlanB]

What route will they take all the way to Oregon? I assume that they are going to PDX. At least this is more service for the Cascades, a good alternative to those poorly built Greyhound G4500s.

They'll take the route through Pueblo, Colorado; which is where they're headed for testing as noted in opening post. Colorado that is, not the testing part.

 

[X]

Why do they need as many as three conventional Amtrak cars on each end for "protection"? Are the Talgos so fragile?

I'm not one to say for certain, but (as per the OP) I believe it's to ensure enough working braking force, as the Talgo's brakes haven't been tested / certified yet.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

I love that interesting looking engine hooked up to the Talgo sets. I hope they have a safe trip to their destination.

 

[Blackwolf]

You know what I just realized? The baggage car on the rear of the consist is one of the 40th Anniversary museum cars now re-purposed for this task. Makes sense to me, though you wonder why the rest of them could not be used for this, instead of those revenue Cafe cars?

 

[AlanB]

I love that interesting looking engine hooked up to the Talgo sets. I hope they have a safe trip to their destination.

That's not an engine, just a cab car. The Talgo trainset will be powered by a conventional Amtrak engine.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

Ah, ok, thanks Alan.

 

[MattW]

I believe it does however produce head-end power which sounded like it was running in the video.

 

[Henry Kisor]

No wonder the Milwaukee Southern ran that engine long hood forward. The engineers needed protection from those crazy Wisconsin drivers. (I live in Illinois, therefore it is not only OK but also required for me to make fun of the cheeseheads.)

 

[NE933]

And oh, those flashing red lights and bells are mere decorations according to people of this town right? At least a dozen cars crossed the tracks after the lights and bells turned on.. what the heck!

I didn't wanna say anything in case it was deemed to be out of topic, but yes, the first thing noticable here is one car after another breaking the law of heeding to a red light. Flashing lights, bells, and the locomotive horn all in tandem. This is why crashes like the kind in Orlando a couple of days ago happen.

Edit for the following addtion: I count nineteen vehicles in the YouTube clip, driving over the tracks in front of the train. In fact, if you closely pay attention to the black jeep going from the camera's right to left, across the street, it slows almost to a stop, then clearly makes an obvious speed up in which we hear for a second the screech of rubber tires, just as the driver has decided '...f**k it, i can make it across by stepping on the gas..'.

I hope this footage is admissable in all the courts where train/vehicle crashes will be litigated, so that the judge and jury can see the folly of this phenomenon.

 

[Amtrak Cajun]

I was wondering about something. I know the talgos sorta make that air whistling noise, is that the tilt or leveling mechanism working?

 

[Agent]

No wonder the Milwaukee Southern ran that engine long hood forward.

Just so you know, it's the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad in Milwaukee.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

What route will they take all the way to Oregon? I assume that they are going to PDX. At least this is more service for the Cascades, a good alternative to those poorly built Greyhound G4500s.

They'll take the route through Pueblo, Colorado; which is where they're headed for testing as noted in opening post. Colorado that is, not the testing part.

I know that, I mean which line? If it's BNSF then I assume the ex-Burlington Route line to DEN then south to Pueblo?

 

[johnny.menhennet]

What route will they take all the way to Oregon? I assume that they are going to PDX. At least this is more service for the Cascades, a good alternative to those poorly built Greyhound G4500s.

They'll take the route through Pueblo, Colorado; which is where they're headed for testing as noted in opening post. Colorado that is, not the testing part.

I know that, I mean which line? If it's BNSF then I assume the ex-Burlington Route line to DEN then south to Pueblo?

I believe I saw somewhere that the consist was meant to be handed off to BNSF sometime today

 

[Trogdor]

You know what I just realized? The baggage car on the rear of the consist is one of the 40th Anniversary museum cars now re-purposed for this task. Makes sense to me, though you wonder why the rest of them could not be used for this, instead of those revenue Cafe cars?

It's not a museum car. It's a buffer car.

Their normal purpose is to operate as a "buffer" between single-level cars and Superliners when shuttling for maintenance purposes (either to Beech Grove, or to Brighton Park), since those cars can't be coupled directly to each other.

There are two such cars that I know of, 10404 and 10405. They just haven't managed to see a paint booth in the last 15 or so years.

 

[DET63]

I love that interesting looking engine hooked up to the Talgo sets. I hope they have a safe trip to their destination.

That's not an engine, just a cab car. The Talgo trainset will be powered by a conventional Amtrak engine.

No, it's an engine. It makes too much noise for an unpowered cab car.

 

[AlanB]

I believe it does however produce head-end power which sounded like it was running in the video.

Yes, the unit is indeed supposed to have a HEP generator.

 

[Trogdor]

I'm surprised that the HEP generator would be running. I wouldn't think there would be any need to have power on the train since there wouldn't be any people on board.

 

[AlanB]

I love that interesting looking engine hooked up to the Talgo sets. I hope they have a safe trip to their destination.

That's not an engine, just a cab car. The Talgo trainset will be powered by a conventional Amtrak engine.

No, it's an engine. It makes too much noise for an unpowered cab car.

Nope; not an engine. The Talgo trains were built without engines. Motive power will be provided by P42's and F59's.