Every single train had two or three old Heritage baggage cars tacked on the rear end. Sometimes an old Heritage diner or two.
Why?
Amtrak just bought all those nice, new V2 baggage cars. I could see one on each for bikes, etc.
The justification for the new bags was reduction of speed restriction (which wouldn’t apply here), and reduced maintenance cost. I it would appear using these cars would run up the train operating cost quite a bit.
Is it as a collision buffer? If so, why isn’t this done on all trains run in non-PTC/ACSES territory?
CN imposes speed restrictions on Amtrak trains of less than 30 axles, because they supposedly do not properly activate crossings and the signal system at higher speeds. The trains in the video all seem to have 7 cars plus the locomotive, 8 pieces of equipment = 32 axles.
I believe UP has a similar requirement for the Missouri corridor trains.
Can only imagine how archaic and ineffective CN’s signal system must be to have such a requirement.
CSX restricted single unit operations to 30 MPH account signal issues because relay dependent signal system did not detect the single unit fast enough to activate the track occupancy indication. Two units or a unit and a car and you were OK for timetable speed.
In Western Canada one unit is allowed 30 mph, 2 units or one unit pulling one car are allowed 50 mph, and there are no speed restrictions on 3 or more pieces of equipment. Axle counts do not figure into our rules, a 4 axle locomotive and a articulated car both count as one piece of equipment.
I fly to KC every so many weeks and my hotel room has a view of the tracks behind KC Union Station. The KC Mule has been pulling old junk cars for over a year now. At least 3 to 4 each run.
Yes, MO now has that requirement for number of axles. I had heard about it and asked a couple of conductors on River Runner and they confirmed that is the reason.It seemed odd to see those empty cars suddenly appear, making the train longer.
It will depend on the sensitivity of the track circuits. Back in the day CPR was able to operate single RDCs with little problem on their own tracks. For the train to Buffalo two cars were required to provide reliable detection into BCT.
On all the railroads I am familiar with - 2 on track pieces of rail equipment - 2 engines, a engine and a car have always been considered adequate to properly activate the signal system.
B&O ran into trouble in the early 50’s when operating single Budd 85 foot RDC cars at 79 MPH. The cars could enter and exit the detector circuits at 116 feet per second before the relays could drop and indicate occupancy.
Relay based signal systems are being replaced with microproscessor base signal equipment in the march toward PTC compliance on most Class 1 carriers.
For the Missouri River Runners, the extra cars are a requirement imposed by the Union Pacific. The UP identified a minimum number of axles necessary to activate the grade crossing protection. Typically the extra cars are baggage cars that are just along for the ride. The extra cars have been on the River Runners since the fall of 2016.
I believe the CN has a similar requirement for some trains in Illinois.
BTW…the Missouri trains are named the Missouri River Runners. There are four trips each day between KC and St Louis. The Missouri Mule name has not been used for several years.
CN imposes speed restrictions on Amtrak trains of less than 30 axles, because they supposedly do not properly activate crossings and the signal system at higher speeds. The trains in the video all seem to have 7 cars plus the locomotive, 8 pieces of equipment = 32 axles.
I believe UP has a similar requirement for the Missouri corridor trains.
First, Amtrak Empire Service trains are typically 5 cars and one loco, for 24 axles and they run at 110 mph, with road crossings. Ditto Harrisburg trains.
Second, it would be better to fill out trains with coaches and then price to maximize revenue than to fill out with non revenue equipment.
According to the minutes of meeting of the Group 305 Technical Subcommittee of April 19, 2018 the Caltrans and WSDOT Chargers are in revenue service. All 33 IDOT/Midwestern Chargers are finally accepted. 23 are on the property.
Two test on two Michigan corridors are not completed. As the Chargers are finally accepted it seems to be a different problem.
A number of unit are stored at Pueblo as there is not enough storage in Chicago until Amtrak relocates its P42.
Regards, Volker
Only slightly less ridiculous than dragging around a bunch of relics to meet a 32 axle rule would be using surplus P42s to make the axle count. Drag them around. At least they can help move the train if the Chargers conk out.