Since the Empire Builder (eastbound only) will be rerouted via (I think La Crosse-Savanna-Rochelle-Aurora-Chicago) on BNSF on certain days in October…any idea what time she will whiz by Rochelle? Any info, ideas would be appreciated. Thanks Onetrack49
Sorry,no info here.I checked Amtrak.com and it didn’t say anything about a reroute.
Interesting, a return to the old route of the GN-CB&Q days. I used to take it home from school to Chicago. In the Savanna-Chicago segment it really flew, especially through Rochelle.
I was on the eastbound Empire Builder @11 years ago when the Empire Builder detoured over the BN through Rochelle due to a strike on the CP. The train left Minneapolis/St. Paul (Midway) very early in the morning and went through Rochelle in the early afternoon, somewhere in the 1-3pm range (sorry, I forgot the exact time). I think that the eastbound Empire Builder is still on roughly the same schedule, so I would look for it at Rochelle sometime after 12 and no later than 4. If it shows up later than 4, I would have to think that it’s very late. Also, if it shows up later than 4, it will have to go through the commuter rush on the BNSF racetrack and there would be some issues with passengers making eastern connections.
CC
Why the temporary switch?
IIRC, there was info about a month ago on the Trains Newswire about upcoming work on CP’s line from La Crosse east to Sparta.
Thanks for the replies. This was on the TRAINS Magazine Newswire on 9-16-05:
Amtrak to detour Empire Builder during CPR work
CHICAGO — Amtrak said that owing to a Canadian Pacific Railway rail replacement program in Wisconsin, train No. 8, the eastbound Empire Builder, will be detoured over the BNSF Railway between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago on specific days in October. The Empire Builder runs from the Pacific Coast cities of Portland, Ore., and Seattle, combining at Spokane, Wash., and continues to Chicago by way of Fargo, the Twin Cities, and Milwaukee.
The CPR project is replacing 29,200 feet of continuously welded rail in three locations on the Tomah Subdivision, from one mile west of La Crosse, Wis., to three miles east of Wisconsin Dells, Wis. The work will take place Monday through Thursday of each week beginning Oct. 3 and ending Oct. 27. The Amtrak detour will be in effect on Oct. 4-6, 10-13, and 17-18.
Amtrak will provide substitute bus transportation for passengers destined to, or originating from, Red Wing and Winona, Minn., plus La Crosse, Tomah, Wisconsin Dells, Portage, Columbus, and Milwaukee, Wis.
Passengers from local points destined beyond Milwaukee will board regular Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service trains from Milwaukee to Glenview, Ill., and Chicago.
Train No. 7, the westbound Empire Builder, will not be affected by the work and will operate on its regular route and schedule.
I think Chris30 has it pretty close for the time to Rochelle, though without all those stops, it could be ahead of schedule to Chicago. If you are planning to go out and get photos or just see it, why not call Amtrak after 8 AM that morning and ask for the ETA to Chicago, then subtract about 2 hours to Rochelle.
I find it a little strange that they are including Red Wing, Winona, and LaCrosse in the service detour. I suppose it has to do with the fact they want to use an all BNSF route for crew purposes.
Why does the crew matter for an all BNSF route other than maybe they need a BNSF pilot? [%-)] All train operating crew members are Amtrak employees.
It was exactly the pilot part that I was thinking of. I understand the rest are Amtrak employees. Normally a CP pilot would get on at St Paul for the remainder of the trip to Chicago.
The only other possibility is, LaCrosse may pose a problem because of station access, and not wanting to back up to get out. LaCrosse is really where the detour starts.
I guess it’s just easier for the train to skip everything east of St Paul, and send the bus from St Paul to Milwaukee, stopping at all stations in between. Beside, the number of passengers at those 3 stops may not justify the hassle.
Actually, it’s the switch between railroads at St Paul that makes the Empire Builder so interesting from a modeling perspective. Are there any other Amtrak long distance trains that change railroads mid run? The Sunset Limited does under normal circumstances
If CP is the normal route then wouldn’t the Amtrak crew be qualified on the CP route and not require a pilot?
No stops, but the C&I line through northwest Illinois is a very busy single track railroad. The BNSF DS will have their hands full trying to get the Builder through and I would expect some delays.
CC
I see your point. I get it now. Live and learn.
Chris, I would think the bigger problem would be fitting the Builder into the freight flow along the BNSF, not getting it across the C&I, though I guess those two things are interrelated.
Why does this affect #8 and not #7?
Because the reroute is for track work which will be done during midday, and # 7 is scheduled to leave Milwaukee @ #355p.m., and Wisconcin Dells @ 5:55p.m., so the track work would be finished by the time # 7 goes by.
The connection at Grand Crossing in La Crosse doesnt setup great for an eastbound CP to BNSF interchange, plus the track isn’t the best, hence the full BNSF routing.
Well, today’s the first day for the detour, and still nothing on the Rochelle webcam- although it’s possible that it may have snuck through without getting captured (looks like there’s lots of false triggers in the recent picture archives).
GOTCHA! Webcam captured it at 3:37 PM.
I wonder how you’re able to copyright that image when you didn’t take the photo and you do not own the rights.