Can anyone tell me why train 3 or 4, SouthWest Chief aways seems to be running 3 and sometimes 4 hours late? Is it because of the express freight they are now carrying or is their road work along the way. The late arrival sure causes problems if they do depart or arrive from a city where you live and need to take a bus to get to our home city. Thanks.
Robert, I hope BNSF has improved track conditions - we rode #3 last Dec. Chi-LA and expected smooth ride - started bouncing leaving Chi. and rough all the way to L.A. I couldn’t leave upper berth while moving; one terrific lurch near Gallup sent sauce bottles and flower vases flying in diner; somehow we stayed on rails. My wife caught me from falling in aisle and her elbow still hurts now. Only smooth times were slowing for stops! Train SHOULD run 3 hrs. late for safety (max 45 not 90).Jim Bradley National Director Hawk Mountain Chapter NRHS.
I haven’t ridden the Chief in about 10 years or so, but I did ride the Zephyr from Chicago to Omaha and back in July of this year. BNSF’s track was very poor, lots of rocking and rolling of the cars. And, lots of slow areas where I didn’t see any evidence of trackwork being performed. We arrived in Omaha about 2 hours late, and on the way back the Chicago arrival was about an hour and a half late. Along with the track conditions, the train was halted twice to replace a brake hose. Luckily, the Three Rivers departed Chicago about six hours after the scheduled arrival of the Zephyr. In actuality, I think we departed an hour or so later than scheduled on that train from Chicago. However, the ride back to PA was much smoother, and we arrived in Harrisburg on time. I give credit to the crew of that train for making up the time. We even tripped a hot-box detector coming down the grade into Altoona, and had to run at 15mph for about 10 miles!