Hope the new ones without all of the toilets work better in the cold.
On #48 coming home from Rochester last month, 4812 (VL 62040) was out of commission due to some of its pipes freezing and bursting in Chicago. I checked and it wasn't even particularly cold in CHI that day, but that's what happened. So yeah, this definitely sounds to me like one of the most likely causes of this.
I was thinking of them cutting the P32 in NYP and having an ACS-64 take it the rest of the way (and vice versa). And if they did start a BOS-ALB corridor, couldn't one of those trains just take the current slot?
Why do we need a sleeper on the Adirondack?
:blink:I'll be the guy to say it. They won't get that slot back. And I'm sure you agree that if one takes away a train from a route on any freight line, the chances they get that slot back aren't to good unless an outside third party is involved. For instance the Solar Train from Chicago to Carbondale. The state of Illinois had to talk with CN to convince them to give Amtrak a slot to run that Solar train.
Performing an Engine change in NYP isn't really practical. It happens on occasion, but it's not an everyday thing. NYP is congested enough and throwing an engine change in would just add to the mess.
Fair enough. Does it make any difference that the ACS would attach to the opposite end of the train from the P32, which would allow them to detach one at the same time that they attach the other. I mean could that speed up the process enough, or is it just that any sort of coupling/uncoupling operation in Penn is really something to avoid?
Third Rail may have more insight on this then I do. But personally I think it would make it a little more complex. With the reason relating to Blue Flag rules. But I can tell you that you can't take off a Dual Mode engine on one end and hook up an Electric Motor at the other end at the same time. Look at how the engine change on 42/43 is performed. Again, this is all due to Blue Flag rules.
There is a capacity limit on the number of trains that can be run between NYP-BOS on Shore Line East. If they could run an additional train along that route, I'd rather extend the Silver Meteor and/or Silver Star to BOS than reroute the LSL as you suggested to give one seat ride service from BOS/New England to Florida. Plus, you'd also have to service the LSL in BOS rather than in New York.Yeah, I've always felt that the Boston section of the LSL is sort of a weird outlier service because it's the only single-level LD "train" that doesn't terminate in NYP.
What I wonder is could it possibly make sense to stop splitting/combining the LSL, and instead just run the whole thing into NYP and then onto BOS (via the NEC)? The full trip to Boston would take a bit longer, but likely not that much considering it wouldn't have to spend nearly as long in ALB (so maybe a 2 hour longer ride to Boston now, while shortening the trip to New York). Doing this would give all passengers access to all onboard services like thedinerSleeper Lounge, baggage car, and Cafe/Business car for the entire trip, instead of losing some east of Albany. It would also provide a direct link between the Empire Corridor and the NEC, and make it easier for cars to be serviced or repaired if need be.
And though Lake Shore service to PIT, SPG, WOR, and FRA would be lost, it could be replaced by that proposed BOS - PIT/ALB corridor discussed here. Yes, there wouldn't be any more direct service from those stations to points west of ALB, but don't many AUers choose to avoid staying in the Boston sleeper anyway and instead go coach or BC to ALB, where they switch to an NY sleeper? So needing to transfer in Albany definitely doesn't seem to be the worst thing in the world.
Anyhow, that's just an idea that likely will come crashing down upon closer inspection, but I'm putting it out there anyway.
You;re missing a key point from Jis' post:
Look at you map, Cpotisch. A train arriving from the Empire Connection is already pointed towards Sunnyside Yard and Boston and vice versa. All you've done as add an additional engine change...one in Albany and now, one in New York.
