Trains Passing

[Guest]

Do trains like EB, #7 and #8 "visibly" pass each other? I know in the northern plains it is mostly single track, so how do they pass....and do they ever see each other?

 

[NS VIA Fan]

Do trains like EB, #7 and #8 "visibly" pass each other? I know in the northern plains it is mostly single track, so how do they pass....and do they ever see each other?

This YouTube link pretty well explains it...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdO9IgOmXZI

 

[Ziv]

I think Harlem Montana is the place they pass each other most often. Gorgeous plains views in the spring and early summer. Gets a little brown and dry in the late summer. Winter is pretty incredible on the Hi Line. The link will give you an idea of what winter meant in the past.

http://www.ag.auburn.edu/~schmisp/ansc3400/energy/waiting-for-a-chinook.jpg

 

[Linda T]

Do trains like EB, #7 and #8 "visibly" pass each other? I know in the northern plains it is mostly single track, so how do they pass....and do they ever see each other?

I was on the EB Cardinal once when the west bound was approaching. Both trains slowed and came to a stop opposite each other. A side door opened and we could see a LSA/conductor (not sure who) with a bag (looked like potatoes) lean over to our train and hand it over. Later during super I inquired and we were told that our train was short on dinner rolls and the other had some so we met and they handed them over to us. I'm really glad we stopped to get the rolls, cause they were good. I still to this day cannot believe they stopped just for dinner rolls, but that is a true story, I actually saw the bag. And we wonder why Amtrak's late.

There are a lot of places where it's single track (on all routes), and many where it's either double track, or at least a siderail where a train can pull off to let another pass. If you travel Amtrak very often you'll see lots of freights pass by, and the Amtrak heading in the opposite direction.

 

[user 1215]

It's very difficult to pinpoint a "meet". If all schedules are running as they are supposed to, the probability of catching a meet is much greater. But as soon as one train or another misses schedule, all bets are off.

 

[MrFSS]

I was on the EB Cardinal once when the west bound was approaching. Both trains slowed and came to a stop opposite each other. A side door opened and we could see a LSA/conductor (not sure who) with a bag (looked like potatoes) lean over to our train and hand it over. Later during super I inquired and we were told that our train was short on dinner rolls and the other had some so we met and they handed them over to us. I'm really glad we stopped to get the rolls, cause they were good. I still to this day cannot believe they stopped just for dinner rolls, but that is a true story, I actually saw the bag. And we wonder why Amtrak's late.

Last time I rode the Alaska Railroad they did that, only with people.

Seems the crew that leaves Anchorage as the train heads to Fairbanks swaps with the people who left Fairbanks that AM so everyone goes home for the evening instead of having to spend the night away. I guess the whole crew swaps. It was out in the middle of nowhere, too.

 

[AutoTrDvr]

I was on the EB Cardinal once when the west bound was approaching. Both trains slowed and came to a stop opposite each other. A side door opened and we could see a LSA/conductor (not sure who) with a bag (looked like potatoes) lean over to our train and hand it over. Later during super I inquired and we were told that our train was short on dinner rolls and the other had some so we met and they handed them over to us. I'm really glad we stopped to get the rolls, cause they were good. I still to this day cannot believe they stopped just for dinner rolls, but that is a true story, I actually saw the bag. And we wonder why Amtrak's late.

Last time I rode the Alaska Railroad they did that, only with people.

Seems the crew that leaves Anchorage as the train heads to Fairbanks swaps with the people who left Fairbanks that AM so everyone goes home for the evening instead of having to spend the night away. I guess the whole crew swaps. It was out in the middle of nowhere, too.

That is correct. I've been on that train (Alaska Railroad) twice. It's even more important because during the summer tourist season, they have volunteer High School students that ride with the train and give little tour lectures and sell small souvenirs, etc. on board. They (the students) also have to switch with the operating crew and must be home on time.

 

[leemell]

Do trains like EB, #7 and #8 "visibly" pass each other? I know in the northern plains it is mostly single track, so how do they pass....and do they ever see each other?

I was on the EB Cardinal once when the west bound was approaching. Both trains slowed and came to a stop opposite each other. A side door opened and we could see a LSA/conductor (not sure who) with a bag (looked like potatoes) lean over to our train and hand it over. Later during super I inquired and we were told that our train was short on dinner rolls and the other had some so we met and they handed them over to us. I'm really glad we stopped to get the rolls, cause they were good. I still to this day cannot believe they stopped just for dinner rolls, but that is a true story, I actually saw the bag. And we wonder why Amtrak's late.

There are a lot of places where it's single track (on all routes), and many where it's either double track, or at least a siderail where a train can pull off to let another pass. If you travel Amtrak very often you'll see lots of freights pass by, and the Amtrak heading in the opposite direction.

We saw the samething on the Crescent last year with much more food between dining crews.

 

[Tracktwentynine]

Do trains like EB, #7 and #8 "visibly" pass each other? I know in the northern plains it is mostly single track, so how do they pass....and do they ever see each other?

On the Empire Builder, there are 4 meets.

For example, let's look at an eastbound Builder. It should meet westbound Builders at Spokane, east of Havre, near Detroit Lakes, and once more between Milwaukee and Chicago.

 

[George Harris]

Do trains like EB, #7 and #8 "visibly" pass each other? I know in the northern plains it is mostly single track, so how do they pass....and do they ever see each other?

If you get your hands on an employee timetable for the line, you will see with each line segment where it is single track adn where it is double track and on teh single track segments a list of siding locations and lengths. The meeting point will be at one of these siding locations if it is a single track line.

 

[TrainLoverJoy]

Do trains like EB, #7 and #8 "visibly" pass each other? I know in the northern plains it is mostly single track, so how do they pass....and do they ever see each other?

If you get your hands on an employee timetable for the line, you will see with each line segment where it is single track adn where it is double track and on teh single track segments a list of siding locations and lengths. The meeting point will be at one of these siding locations if it is a single track line.

 

[TrainLoverJoy]

I know it varies considerably from train to train, but has anyone had the experience of hearing an announcement "we are about to meet/pass our "sister train."

 

[Bierboy]

I know it varies considerably from train to train, but has anyone had the experience of hearing an announcement "we are about to meet/pass our "sister train."

Yes....not always...but often they will announce it.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

I've seen trains pass each other all the time. I was riding on a train on a single-track line, then we went onto a passing loop, then the opposite Amtrak popped out from the front and passed us. The two tracks are usually very close, like a double-track line for about two miles.

 

[amamba]

I know it varies considerably from train to train, but has anyone had the experience of hearing an announcement "we are about to meet/pass our "sister train."

Yes. When i was on the eastbound EB this July, they made an announcement that we were going to have a brief stop when meeting the westbound EB somewhere in Wisconsin. We had two amtrak staff members get on board our train to help provide hotel vouchers, etc for the pax that had missed connections.

 

[MattW]

The two Crescents usually pass a bit north of Charlotte. When I rode, there was no announcement of course as it was about 2:00 am, but I stayed up long enough to see it (barely) and hear the meet on my radio "Amtrak 20, Amtrak 19, lookin' good to us, over" "Amtrak 19 you look good as well have a good trip, out." Well, it was something like that anyways.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Do trains like EB, #7 and #8 "visibly" pass each other? I know in the northern plains it is mostly single track, so how do they pass....and do they ever see each other?

If you get your hands on an employee timetable for the line, you will see with each line segment where it is single track adn where it is double track and on teh single track segments a list of siding locations and lengths. The meeting point will be at one of these siding locations if it is a single track line.

What's the best way to get an emplolyee timetable without been an employee. Another, albiet harder, way to see where trains pass would be getting a track map, but you would need lots of calculations to see which train gets where at what time.