Today I received a copy of a communique that the UP will be operating the above as listed below. However, the message did not specify the direction, detailed route, and/ or the “turn-around” point for some of them, so you’re on your own for that information. Also, since the deadline to RSVP for the very limited number of seats available for some of these rides - typically only 150 - was 2 days ago, April 11th, I very much doubt if any seats are still available. Nevertheless, in case anyone wants to see, photograph, or perhaps even tour the train during the Open House at the Joliet Intermodal Terminal next Thursday, April 21st.
Paul North.
Thurs., April 14- West Chicago Yard - “Drivers’ Education”-focused train from UP’s West Chicago Yard - Departs at 9:00 AM, 10:45 AM, and 12:30 PM - trips will be approx. 1 hour long.
Sat., April 16 - West Chicago Yard to Union Railroad Museum trip and tour - Depart West Chicago Yard 12:30 PM, travel to Union Railroad Museum for private tour - Arrive approx. 1:30 PM - Return to West Chicago Yard approx. 4:00 PM.
Tues., April 19 - UP Metra Northwest Line - Witness driver behavior from the train crew perspective - “See the behavior of the drivers on the UP Metra Northwest Line at railroad crossings, and witness first hand what train crew members often see as they operate their trains.” Depart from Ogilvie Transportation Center 9:30 AM to Arrive Harvard, IL at 11:00 AM; Depart Harvard 11:15 AM to Arrive Ogilvie at 12:45 PM.
Weds., April 20 - UP Metra North Line - Ride the “Safety Outreach Special” and view rail crossings behavior - “See the behavior of the drivers on the UP Metra North Line at railroad crossings, and witness first hand what train crew members often see as they operate their trains.” Depart from Ogilvie Transportat
No, I don’t know. The 1st 4 trips are specifically limited to 150 people, but nothing about any limitations is mentioned for the Joliet event, which however is the only one to mention the UP’s business cars as special equipment.
Nevertheless, considering the close proximity of all these trips in both date and location - and that none overlap - I’d guess that the UP’s cars will be used for all of them. Perhaps there’s something about a TV set-up or something that can comfortably accomodate only 150 or so ? [:-,] Maybe it’ll be in “push-mode” with the theater-seating picture-window glass-ended inspection/ observation car leading ? [swg] Have half of the group in it on each leg ? [:-^]
But that’s why I wanted to get the word out, so there’s enough time to maybe do some supplemental research locally.
Close call - good odds. Actual crash - heavily against, just because it’s a different train - although maybe that will induce indifference instead, since it’s not one of the regulars whose danger is well-known and accepted . . . [:-^]
Recall from an article in Trains that the Rock Island’s Jet Rocket had that CCTV feature, and supposedly there was a close call almost every trip, which did wonders for the bar car revenues . . .
Considering all the mentions in this notice of pedestrians, and the behaviors described in the concurrent “Advance Train Warning System” (“ATWS”) tread here, they may well see a pedestrian incident, esp. if they pass a regular Metra train that’s stopped at a station. It may become more realistic than they anticipate . . . [sigh]
FWIW, if I had to bet, I would give the odds as slightly higher that the special would have a crossing incident; after all, this train will be highballing thru stations where the locals have come to expect trains to stop (although this would be more likely on routes like the North Line from Chicago to Lake Bluff).
There will also be a public open house at Joliet (Global 4) before the excursions out of there. The city of Joliet and the UP have been advertising both the open house and the special trains for a couple weeks now.
Although I’d really love to see what’s what at Global 4 next week, I know what the answer (and, yes, the inclination) would be for another trip the day after our nearly-two-week auto cruise.
Carl - Well, it would be by another mode, with a lot more interior room - and someone else would be doing the ‘driving’ . . . [swg] Also, it’s not like you’ve got to pack for another overnight or anything . . . Besides, what other commitments do you have, and when else will you have this kind of an opportunity ? - during a weekday yet ? [:-^]
Mr. Railman - I have no idea what the route will be. That’s why I posted all the info I had, so that perhaps someone else here who is more familiar with that area could make an educated guess.
I don’t expect to, or really need to, ride a train like this. If, after days of driving, I wake up on time to get to Joliet, and leave my wife to put things away, do laundry, retrieve our mail (how, without a car?), etc., I don’t think that would be very nice…particularly when this vacation was (and still is!) so much about trains.
Mr. Railman: can you tell me about any alternative route that a UP train would take between West Chicago and Union other than its own line from West Chicago to Union, a.k.a. the Belvidere Sub?
Point noted and well-taken - seems familiar, and I concur - just wanted to make the case for it. But in the circumstances you outline, that would not be fair, and no sense alienating an otherwise railroad-cooperative spouse, particularly if there’s not a compelling need, reason, or justification to go see or experience something rare, etc.
Just to clarify something about passing regular Metra trains stopped in stations, BNSF does this all the time on its Chicago-Aurora line, and has done so for eons. Their engineers just lay on their horns as they fly by. I’ve been told (although I’ve never seen the supporting numbers) that BNSF’s accident experience with this practice is similar to UP/CNW’s (which historically have not allowed trains to pass stopped passenger trains in stations with grade crossings). I think the problem UP is trying to address with ATWS isn’t that the “passing stopped trains” practice is inherently unsafe. Rather, it is that they are CHANGING exisiting practices and expectations.
Just to clarify something about passing regular Metra trains stopped in stations, BNSF does this all the time on its Chicago-Aurora line, and has done so for eons. Their engineers just lay on their horns as they fly by. I’ve been told (although I’ve never seen the supporting numbers) that BNSF’s accident experience with this practice is similar to UP/CNW’s (which historically have not allowed trains to pass stopped passenger trains in stations with grade crossings). I think the problem UP is trying to address with ATWS isn’t that the “passing stopped trains” practice is inherently unsafe. Rather, it is that they are CHANGING exisiting practices and expectations.
I am guessing the train should consist of three UP business cars, with the UP 7400 on one end and the UP 2010 on the other end, operating in Pull-Pull mode. I saw the 7400 and 2010 in at Proviso last week when I went to work on the ZG2LT and three business cars at W. Chicago. Friday when I came back through they were all put together. They were running employee appreciation trains to Belividere on Sat and Sunday.
If they go up the Harvard and North Lines expect an ATS equipped unit to be on the point on each end. Last year they put two ratty looking ATS equipped 9400 series Dash 8’s on the point for the runs in ATS territory.
You are essentially correct, with the exception being that there are 4 business cars (2 domes, 2 coaches).
They did even worse for the trip on the Kenosha sub: a REALLY ratty-looking UPY550 on the north end, and an equally ratty-looking UPY734 on the south end.
I wonder why they used the Geeps–I’ve seen Oak Creek coal trains on the line being led by post-SD60 power.
Are you sure about that? I seem to recall in the past getting off westbound suburban trains in Wheaton and waiting for freights to pass on the center track, usually moving at a pretty good speed.
I’m not sure if the rules have changed since I was running on the CNW, but back then (pre-1992), a station that was adjacent to a road and/or pedestrian crossings was not to be entered if there already was a train occupying the station, unless the move was made at Restricted Speed.
Cripes - looks like a new record for power-to-cars ratio - “1 loco, 1 car” ! Even allowing for the Geeps, the average has to be around 3,000 HP per car, or maybe 40 to 50 HP per ton ! That’s almost enough to turn in a decent showing while drag-racing an automobile on that parallel concrete road ! (I know, though - not all are ‘on-line’).
Youre tantalizingly close on accomplishing the ‘techie’ thing. Try this:
Do a "Reply’ to get a fresh ‘screen’.
Type {img}{/img} without any spaces between anything there - except instead of the braces - { and } - that I had to use, you use the squared-off brackets, [ and ] ;
Paste the URL for one of your photos right in the middle between the back-to-back brackets - ][
Then click on the “Post” and you’re done !
Just wait until it’s acknowledged as having been accepted and posted, and your photo should appear in your new post when you either refresh or return to the thread, etc.