Amtrak “Cascades” NPCU number 90230 (see picture below) was leading Amtrak train 383, the evening westbound Illinois Zephyr on its way to Quincy, IL tonight in a very rare occurrence…anyone care to venture a guess what this NPCU was doing in service in Illinois?
Heading to the shops for an overhaul?
Or filling in because of a power shortage…?
(you said guess)
This particular NPCU (I also saw it sitting at 18th Street) is a long way from its usual assignment but there are several NPCU’s based out of 18th Street to handle various short-haul runs.
The following info is from Bob Johnston who covers Amtrak for Trains Magazine.
The NCPU is filling the power roster here while other units assigned to the Midwest are going through service at Beech Grove. The unit is available because the Cascades trainsets are rotating through a rehab line-new interiors, seats, mechanical overhaul. While the work is being done on the Cascades cars, Superliner cars are running on the Vancouver-Seattle route. Interestingly, one of the recently designed Superliner combo diner/lounge has been taken out of the City of New Orleans pool and put on the Vancouver train.