Amtrak #7 Detour?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Today while railfanning at the BNSF Eola yard in Aurora, IL (my favorite hangout) I had my scanner on and thought I heard the dispatcher talking to Amtrak #7 (The Empire Builder) but thought it must be my imagination as #7 travels from Chicago up the lake to Milwaukee then West through LaCrosse to Minneapolis and on West from there. Well, I heard it again and then again and then came a train at an unusual time for either the Chief or the Zephyr (our normal afternoon Amtrak trains).

Does anybody know if #7 really did detour over the BNSF triple track (it would have then gone up the C&I line through Rochelle and on to LaCrosse if it were detouring as it has done this in the past once in a rare while). Thanks!

2

In the early 90s I was on the Empire Builder when it was rerouted over the (then) BN between Chicago and La Crosse[:D].I was glad to get some rare milage on Amtrak.

3

Greetings,

Well I can tell you that Amtrak #7 did not detour on the BNSF. Myself and a couple of other railfans (one of the being dnelson from this forum) were trackside waiting for #7 because the word was the the Milwaukee Road Superdome #53 was supposed to be on the rear of #7 going up to Minneapolis to the Friends of the 261 but we were shut out. No Superdome on #7. But #7 rolled by us just south of Milwaukee right on time

Keith

4

OK, and thanks. I was certain I heard abaout #7 detouring but no dice. I can tell you that the Westbound Chief on Saturday had a private open end observation car on the rear end painted and lettered for New York Central…quite a sight. Thanks again.

5

Actually, I’m curious if the Empire Builder was detoured over the UP tracks as a result of the big derailment in St Paul Wednesday, which blocked the mains shared by the BNSF and the CP. I haven’t been down to Dayton’s Bluff since I went there to see the mess, the day it happened. I would think that it has been cleared and repaired by now.

6

Hi Keith,

I caught #7 yesterday in Elm Grove. Supposedly the superdome is going to be on it tonight (just in time for the forecasted rain).

Erik

7

Is that the Dome that was up for sale by North Carolina?

Jay

8

Erik,

Dave and I were at Waterford Ave on Sunday when Amtrak #7 rolled past with no Superdome on the rear of the train.

But being on vacation has advantages, here are some photos from today (4-11) of the Superdome and Lamberts Point on the rear of Amtrak #7.

And Yes this was the dome that was for sale by North Carolina on ebay, Friends of the 261 bought it.


Here is Amtrak #7 at Waterford Ave just south of Milwaukee with Milw Road Superdome and Lamberts Point on the rear on their way to Minn/St. Paul


Milwaukee Road #53 Superdome and Lamberts Point on the rear of Amtrak #7


Milw Rd Superdome westbound in Downtown Milwaukee just after departing Milw Amtrak Depot.


Quite a crew on the rear platform of the Lamberts Point

Vacations can be nice.

Keith

9

…I’m curious, why would it require 3-4000 hp engines to pull the pictured #7 Amtrak train…? It is rather common to see 3-engines pulling a 100 car plus freight train.