Westbound #7 through Fargo today was cancelled due to a blizzard. What to do, what to do?
Apparently the powers that be at Amtrak decided the best way to get the train back to Chicago was to have the late #8 (eastbound Builder) couple up to the rear of the cancelled 7 and create an Amtrak giganto-train to Chicago. After a tip from a passenger on #8, I snuck out of the house to try and fan this 112 axle, 20 Superliner, 6 Genesis locomotive beast. I was lucky enough to get some photos as it stopped in Staples, Minnesota for a crew change and passenger boarding/deboarding. The train was so long they had to make three spots. I’ve posted one image so far.
Amtrak’s Auto Train between Lorton, Va and Sanford, FL routinely operates at up to 44 cars…which includes both Superliner passenger cars and auto racks for the passengers vehicles.
Question: Did the towing train MU to the other end? That would have made for much faster acceleration! I would assume that HEP was provided to the running backward train from its locos?
There were three on each end. The two trains were coupled back-to-back for the trip to Chicago, with three P42’s leading and three on the tail end. I posted a couple more pictures in a blog post describing the event:
It’s hard to see the three units on the tail but they were there. As far as DPU, I don’t think the three rear units were doing anything more than maybe supplying HEP. I do know the conductor called out one signal that I heard and they were doing 75 at that time so they had enough HP from somewhere to get up to speed.
The three trailing units had a “mechanical rider” in the cab of one of them, but no engineers that were checked out in this loco per radio chatter.
It was mighty cold. I’m a northern Minnesota native and I had cold fingers for the drive home. I’ve been out fanning many times in below zero weather and I think it may have been below zero at the time I shot these, the wind was howling as well. Thanks for the compliment.
…Looked over on Look4trains Jim and really enjoyed your exellent multi shots of the very unusual train. Bet that radio chatter from the train[s} was interesting.
12/30/10 to 1/1/2011, I was aboard the eastbound No. 8 Empire Builder, in sleeper #32023 (what the staff calls the No. 831 sleeper). East of Fargo on 1/1/2011, on the combined No. 8 and No. 7, apparently the rear three engines were used for HEP (TEP?) for the #7; whereas, the three lead engines were pulling and providing HEP for No. 8. The intercom systems for No. 8 and No. 7 were apparently kept separate.
After the two trains were coupled, the train accelerated noticeably more slowly, but I do not doubt that it held 75 a good part of the remaining trip.
For the rest of the trip (two extra meals for No. 8 passengers), the harried, but cheerful dining staff provided free meals for coach passengers, as well as those in sleepers.
I took some photos at MPS/ST Paul, but I could not get far enough from the train to show the whole. I saw others along the tracks taking photos.
As best as I can determine from walking the train (inside) and talking with a young conductor, the train consisted of the following: