Train 4 Southwest chef really got hosed by a stalled freight train

Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum

Help Support Amtrak Unlimited Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Looks like 3 also took a big hit, but not this big...
Is this the train that has Metrolink coaches tagging along?

How likely is it to combine with the next 4?
 
Ya that is crazy... idk that metrolink coaches.. Ya because i think they run out of food by lunch on the original day.. So, who knows what that plan is. Maybe hookup to help feed the sleepers.. but the coach people snacks would run out too.... Still would get off and fly back at that rate lol... It is crazy.. I bet if you have travel insurance you could probably claim it for being so late..
 
Is this the train that has Metrolink coaches tagging along?
I didn't realize more Metrolink cars were being sent out. Would've wished to see it.

How likely is it to combine with the next 4?
Well they haven't combined it yet, so I doubt they will combine. However, if they lose several more hours and the next day's 4 stays on time I imagine they might combine at Kansas City, but again I find it unlikely.


Ya because i think they run out of food by lunch on the original day.. So, who knows what that plan is. Maybe hookup to help feed the sleepers.. but the coach people snacks would run out too
Probably took out the emergency rations and started feeding passengers that today, emergency rations is stew FYI, for all passengers, coach and sleeper. No fee. Then I believe they will make small snack packs with whatever's left in the cafe, not sure though. After that's out, they might order KFC for the whole train. I believe the crew is obligated to keep the passengers fed. Maybe not *well*, just fed.

Still would get off and fly back at that rate lol... It is crazy.. I bet if you have travel insurance you could probably claim it for being so late..
I'd stay on, it's an adventure!!! And Amtrak would almost positively give a partial-refund or a voucher at the very least. They've given vouchers over much, much, much less before.

Anyways, maybe it'll be on the La Plata cam at a decent hour.
 
what is longest day anybody has had to deal with? I'm only in 3hrs range for my trains... nothing crazy..

Day, or delay? I presume you mean the latter. A few years ago on the CZ, had a 12 hour delay into Emeryville following a freight derailment in Iowa, followed by a bus bridge from Denver to Glenwood Springs (because they short turned out train) where we caught up to an also late CZ. Arrved in Emeryville at 4 a.m. Fun time was had by all.
 
what is longest day anybody has had to deal with? I'm only in 3hrs range for my trains... nothing crazy..
Nothing as bad as this reported 15 hours +++
"BUT"
EB June 11 over 8 hours late - really screwed up a short weekend in Chicago town -
planned EB 6/11 MSP to CHI and the return 6/13
EB towed our 3 private cars down and back


A 19 hour delay is not from a stalled freight train. Got to be more than that.
Yeah maybe having something to do with the tracks diverging at the artificial horizon
 
Ya Sorry... I meant delay :) lol... started a new job.. and i'm on a computer all day and it is a bit ruff at the end.. of my night..

Or it was derailment somewhere on the freight side and it was never reported to new media..


the amtrakalerts never had a update either.. So, who knows right?!?!
 
Just curious, if a late running train arrives at Chicago Union Station during the hours it is closed, 11:59 PM to 5:30 AM, are the passengers allowed to remain in the building if they have a connection with a train departing later or to summon a taxi? Or does security just escort the passengers to an exit? I've changed trains in Chicago several times but always during regular business hours.
 
My trip on the Sunset Limited from Los Angeles to Orlando ran almost 24 hours late! I can't recall the exact details, it was not a prolonged halt in one place, just a series of delays. The final insult was they halted the train at the stop before Orlando, and the last stage was finished by road. No major issues about food, etc, I think they stocked up at New Orleans.
 
Just curious, if a late running train arrives at Chicago Union Station during the hours it is closed, 11:59 PM to 5:30 AM, are the passengers allowed to remain in the building if they have a connection with a train departing later or to summon a taxi? Or does security just escort the passengers to an exit? I've changed trains in Chicago several times but always during regular business hours.
June 11 arrived Union Station 11:xx pm were met by janitors & security and ushered out of the terminal everything closing down !
Had to get the police to let me back in to use the restroom - egads that was something of a rush !
 
Just curious, if a late running train arrives at Chicago Union Station during the hours it is closed, 11:59 PM to 5:30 AM, are the passengers allowed to remain in the building if they have a connection with a train departing later or to summon a taxi? Or does security just escort the passengers to an exit? I've changed trains in Chicago several times but always during regular business hours.

I was on No. 4, the Southwest Chief, once when we arrived in Chicago about 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. Customer Service staff and some ticket agents were on duty to assist passengers with reimbursement and re-booking. All passengers, coach and sleeper, were given the opportunity of accommodations in hotels at Amtrak's expense. I do not know if any choose to stay in the station for the night or if that would have been allowed.

At South Station in Boston, passengers arriving on a delayed Lake Shore, No. 448, are allowed to stay in the station for the night if they wish. At least that is how it was in the past. It is quite difficult for passengers when 448 arrives so late that public transportation has ceased, including the last bus to Maine. A bench in South Station is not the end of the world but you can see it from there.
 
14.5 hrs late (1:30 AM) on Sunset from LAX to Houston. Got caught behind a derailment west of San Antonio. Train was terminated and turned at Houston and passengers heading east were bussed.
 
June 11 arrived Union Station 11:xx pm were met by janitors & security and ushered out of the terminal everything closing down !
Had to get the police to let me back in to use the restroom - egads that was something of a rush !
Since July 12, there's one Metra line at Union Station (BNSF) with an after-midnight weekday departure and three lines (BNSF, Milwaukee North, Milwaukee West) with an after-midnight weekend departure. So Union Station can't close before those trains leave, 12:33am weekdays or 12:40pm weekends.
 
About 20 years ago I was on #6 which rolled into CHI at 2AM. (Had to detour over UP just as they were reinstalling the second track through Iowa.) We were met by a full complement of redcaps and ushered to station services for accommodations and alternate travel for those who had missed connections. They put us on a plane the next day.
 
About 20 years ago I was on #6 which rolled into CHI at 2AM. (Had to detour over UP just as they were reinstalling the second track through Iowa.) We were met by a full complement of redcaps and ushered to station services for accommodations and alternate travel for those who had missed connections. They put us on a plane the next day.
Chicago has much experience with making alternate travel plans for those missing connections.

Sometimes you receive VIP Service and sometimes you don't! As with all things Amtrak, YMMV!
 
I know you are being sarcastic but I wonder what would happen back in the Santa Fe, pre Amtrak days if the Super Chief was 19 hours late?
I don't know about the Super Chief, but on December 2, 1967, the westbound Twentieth Century Limited, on its very last run into Chicago, arrived nine hours late due to a freight derailment near Conneaut, Ohio.
 
Back
Top