Southwest Chief discussion Q4 2023 - 2024

[Eric in East County]

It is our understanding that if a SWC train is terminated in mid-passage and returns to its point of origin, those passengers who wish to return to the point of origin may do so, while keeping the same accommodations they had when they departed. They will also receive a full refund since they weren’t delivered to their final destination. (Rather than accepting the refund, we’d opt to have Amtrak Customer Relations reschedule our trip to some future date.)

 

[Cal]

In the past, Amtrak trains have been rerouted via Amarillo when Raton Pass was closed by snow.

When was the last time this happend?

 

[railiner]

When was the last time this happend?

In the past, Amtrak trains have been rerouted via Amarillo when Raton Pass was closed by snow.

That is one detour or route I have never done. If I had enough notice to get there in time, I'd grab the next flight to KCY or ABQ to ride it...

 

[Shanson]

I'm now scheduled to be on westbound 3 train through the affected area on Sunday the 10th (delayed 2 days). From what the more experienced people here know, should I expect this to be fine and cleared by then or would it be better to reschedule out another day or two? I don't want to have to do a last minute change again if possible.
Thanks for any advice

We are scheduled from ABQ to LV NM on Sunday the 10th, and from LV NM to KC beginning the 11th. Crossing my fingers. Sitting in Santa Fe at 30°. Slushy.

 

[Rasputin]

Supposedly two locomotives have been dispatched from La Junta to run west to clear snow from the line. Whether these are Amtrak locomotives, BNSF locomotives, or Lionel locomotives is unclear.

 

[Willbridge]

That is one detour or route I have never done. If I had enough notice to get there in time, I'd grab the next flight to KCY or ABQ to ride it...

The occasion that I experienced was at the end of 2011. I missed the opportunity to ride that rare mileage because Amtrak put me up in an Albuquerque hotel for what turned out to be three nights waiting for highways to Denver to open up. As it turned out, it would have been cheaper and faster for them to have sent me home via Amarillo and Galesburg.

Only the first trains in each direction ran the detour. I'm not sure what happened to trains on the following days.

It was especially memorable because I had to call my New Year's Eve date in Denver and ask her to cancel our reservations. I've posted here before about spending the holiday in ice-bound Albuquerque.

 

[TinCan782]

Supposedly two locomotives have been dispatched from La Junta to run west to clear snow from the line. Whether these are Amtrak locomotives, BNSF locomotives, or Lionel locomotives is unclear.

Saw that on Trainorders.

 

[Willbridge]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Supposedly two locomotives have been dispatched from La Junta to run west to clear snow from the line. Whether these are Amtrak locomotives, BNSF locomotives, or Lionel locomotives is unclear.

I'd surmise BNSF locomotives with an Amtrak pilot.

 

[Bob Dylan]

That is one detour or route I have never done. If I had enough notice to get there in time, I'd grab the next flight to KCY or ABQ to ride it...

It is rare mileage for sure, but there is absolutely Nothing to see but "Miles and Miles of Miles" as the saying goes!

Eastern New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma are sort of like the North Dakota to Eastern Montana part of the Empire Builder route, but even more so!

 

[railiner]

It is rare mileage for sure, but there is absolutely Nothing to see but "Miles and Miles of Miles" as the saying goes!

Eastern New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma are sort of like the North Dakota to Eastern Montana part of the Empire Builder route, but even more so!

Doesn’t matter, it’s several hundred miles of rare mainline mileage!

During my epic attempt in 1970-1971 to ride as many routes that were slated to become freight only with the advent of Amtrak, the San Francisco Chief was one of several that I missed.

 

[Cal]

During my epic attempt in 1970-1971 to ride as many routes that were slated to become freight only with the advent of Amtrak, the San Francisco Chief was one of several that I missed.

Now THAT must've been one heck of a journey!

 

[railiner]

Now THAT must've been one heck of a journey!

Not really…I didn’t do it all at once…it was a series of trips over many weekends and vacations over a year or so…

 

[Rasputin]

I see that No. 4 was eight hours late into Chicago yesterday (Nov. 17) and arrived at 10:57 p.m. As I understand from posts on another list, one of the locomotives failed east of Lamy, and the train reversed to Lamy, where the locomotive could be set out, resulting in a six-hour delay. Then, there was another delay at Raton, waiting for the arrival of the new crew. Corrections and additional information would be welcome.

 

[fredmcain]

I have a couple of friends who recently boarded the eastbound SWC at LA in order to return to Indiana. Just an hour or two west of Albuquerque, there was an onboard announcement that the line ahead "was blocked" due to a "snowstorm". (But I'm not sure if it was actually a "snowstorm" or something else).

The passengers on board were told that the train would terminate at Albuquerque and return to Los Angeles. Passengers were evidently given the choice of either detraining at Albuquerque and finding alternative transportation ON THEIR OWN or return to Los Angeles. Why in the world would they do that?

To say that there were some extremely upset passengers onboard would be an understatement.
Does anybody on our group know anything about this or have any additional information on this?

 

[alanh]

It's force majeure. If its the incident I remember, I-25 was also closed so bustitution wasn't possible.

 

[west point]

With I-25 closed Amtrak must not take chance of the train getting stranded as what happened on the Donner to SP! What I do not understand is why not detour on the Amarillo route?

 

[Shanson]

I was on board that train. The snow storm began Wednesday night Nov 6. The Chief was already enroute, so yes, the announcement was a surprise. Lucky for us, our destination was Albuquerque, but others were not so fortunate.
The west bound #3 had to terminate in La Junta., which (even if I-25 were open) had no buses to effect a train swap. The route was cleared by Saturday, but there was a lot of snow on the ground.

 

[Rasputin]

I understand that 3(22) was almost 16 hours late at Lamy due to an accident with a vehicle and a delay waiting for a fresh crew. Not sure where the accident was or the delay waiting for a crew.

No. 3(23) is 7 hours late, I believe, due to a delay waiting for a rested crew at Dodge City.

No. 4 arriving in Chicago today is 8 hours late. I think that 4(23) is about on time. Corrections and additional information would be welcome.