Train Washing Facilities updates?

[JWM]

Link below to an article on train washing facilities from Trains in July. It mentions that facilities are completed or under construction at Boston, New Orleans, Hialeah, Sanford etc. Can anyone update this with current status? https://www.trains.com/trn/news-rev...trak-train-wash-facilities-ready-soon-report/

 

[F900ElCapitan]

I can say from reports and watching some traincams that Chicago appears to be up and running and making a dent in the number of dirty cars.

 

[GDRRiley]

Goleta will be interesting given the trainsets are going to layover on 2 different spurs with the only connection being the mainline.
SLO will be getting one as part of Central Coast Layover Facility

 

[JWM]

The "Trains" article stated there was to be one in Sanford, but no mention of Lorton. I guess the Auto Train will make a round trip on one wash.

 

[John Santos]

The "Trains" article stated there was to be one in Sanford, but no mention of Lorton. I guess the Auto Train will make a round trip on one wash.

That kind of makes sense since in the winter, there is a fair chance of freezing temperatures in Lorton but essentially zero chance in Sanford. It must be significantly more expensive to build and maintain a washing stand in a place that can freeze versus one in Florida. Also, given the choice or washing the train once every round trip versus washing the train twice every round trip versus the current situation, washing the train never, I think the third option is the clear loser.

 

[Qapla]

Makes you wonder if the Silver Meteor and the Floridian will also use the wash facility in Sanford since they go right past it on the way to/from Orlando

 

[joelkfla]

Makes you wonder if the Silver Meteor and the Floridian will also use the wash facility in Sanford since they go right past it on the way to/from Orlando

Running a train loaded with passengers through a car wash? Sounds like fun, but unlikely. As you said, the Silvers go right past the yard, not through it, so you'd be looking at a reverse move and at least a half hour schedule impact. And there are plans to build at both Hialeah and Sunnyside anyway.

 

[zephyr17]

Makes you wonder if the Silver Meteor and the Floridian will also use the wash facility in Sanford since they go right past it on the way to/from Orlando

Amtrak historically only washed consists during turns at terminals, so probably not.

Washing the Meteor and Floridian will almost certainly depend on washracks at Miami, Sunnyside (New York) and Chicago. They blow right past the one at Sanford.

 

[zephyr17]

Running a train loaded with passengers through a car wash? Sounds like fun, but unlikely.

IIRC, they did run the original (1949-1970) CZ through a washrack in Denver, so there is some precedent (though non-Amtrak).

 

[jis]

Makes you wonder if the Silver Meteor and the Floridian will also use the wash facility in Sanford since they go right past it on the way to/from Orlando

No. They will use the one in Hialeah at their southern terminus.

 

[railiner]

IIRC, they did run the original (1949-1970) CZ through a washrack in Denver, so there is some precedent (though non-Amtrak).

And also the one at Portola …both carrying passengers…