Here is the link: http://www.aaprco.com/convention/2014midterm/2014gulfportspecial.html Enjoy! Aaron Gulfport, MS
Aaron, thanks for this notice. This is exciting. I hope I can find out what time it will be coming through Saucier. However, I definitely will go to GPT while it's parked there.
I wonder if the train will have GPS tracking? Aaron, is there a way to find out? Does anyone have a contact within AAPRCO?
Yes! I will be chasing this train on Sunday when it heads back northbound to Hattiesburg, MS I wont get it on thursday due to work. My plan is to catch and chase this train from the Gulfport Depot and chase him all the way up to Hattiesburg, MS. Some of my key spots I am going to try and catch him at are Lyman at Hwy 53, Saucier at the old freight depot, get a shot a Perkinston I'm thinking about going up on the bridge for that shot. Get him at Wiggins in the downtown area and then get him anywhere else I can get him at. After doing all the re-search on the KCS Gulfport Sub I don't Amtrak has not ever run on this line before witch makes it a rare move. I'll be ready for this day to get here! Aaron Gulfport, MS
Aaron, your chasing plan sounds good, especially from the Hwy 49 bridge at Perkinston. Though, in Saucier, I suggest you consider photos at the Old Still Rd crossing south of the old freight depot. If you stand in the field north of the crossing, you could have long-distance shots with the train coming around the curve from the Saucier-Lizana crossing in the distance. Another suggestion would be the Old 49 crossing north of the old freight depot. There you could be back far enough from the tracks to catch more of the train's length. Unfortunately, I won't be able to join you because I'll be in church, assuming the train leaves GPT around 9 or 10. However, I plan to see it while parked in GPT.
I will go check out that area next weekend to look around those areas at Old Still Rd and such for a good shot. Sorry you won't be able to catch this train on sunday but you still get to see it at Gulfport while it's parked near the port. What is the speed limit for the trains on the KCS Gulfport Sub now these days I wanna say about 25 mph to 30 mph. Aaron Gulfport, MS
The Gulfport Branch speed restriction is 25 mph until the upgrade project is complete in a few months. At that time the Branch is expected to be certified as Class 4 allowing the speed restriction to be raised to 49 mph, and certified for double-stack train operation. Leastwise this is what the project engineer told me at the kick-off meeting in May, 2011, and the work appears to be following the schedule he described.
KCS funded the upgrade project in anticipation of capturing a significant increase in container traffic due to the nearly $600 Million expansion of the Mississippi State Port at Gulfport. The Branch already has increased its traffic from six trains a week before the upgrade to twelve trains a week today. The interim speed increase from 10 mph to 25 mph now allows a single crew to do a one-day round trip between Gulfport and Hattiesburg within the twelve-hour hog law, while also serving several customers along the route. At Hattiesburg, traffic can be forwarded on to the KCS Meridian Speedway yard at Jackson via CN trackage rights, or interchanged with NS for forwarding to Atlanta and the mid-Atlantic and northeast markets. Personally, I think CN regrets that ICG sold the Gulfport Branch to Mid-South Rail back in 1986. On the other hand I don't think that CN would have committed the funds to upgrade this Branch.
Here is a new UPDATE about this Amtrak AAPRCO Train. The train will now leave Gulfport, MS on Sunday May 25th at 6:30am. The link: http://www.aaprco.com/convention/2014midterm/gulfport-update-11may2014.pdf Aaron Gulfport, MS
Aaron, thanks for the update. I might be able to catch the train coming north through Saucier if it leaves GPT at 6:30 Sunday. Also, it may block us coming home from choir practice Thursday between 7-7:30, with luck...LOL
The upcoming American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners special passenger train has this theoretical schedule: Tue 20 May LV NOUPT 07:30 - AR Monroe 16:15 (UP) Wed 21 May LV Monroe 07:00 - AR Meridian 15:30 (KCS) Thu 22 May LV Meridian 10:30 - AR Gulfport 17:00 NS/KCS) Sun 25 May LV Gulfport 06:30 - AR NOUPT 13:30 (KCS/NS) These are the 12 cars and when they arrived in New Orleans, but this may not be how they are arranged on the train: 800255 Berlin - CRESCENT 4/17 800029 Dearing - CRESCENT 4/17 800702 Lambert's Point - CITY 4/19 800710 Northern Dreams - CITY 4/19 800045 Caritas - CITY 4/19 800069 Cimarron River - CITY 4/19 800606 Prairie View - CITY 4/19 800588 Northern Sky - CITY 4/19 800111 Georgia 300 - Crescent 4/19 800713 Federal - SUNSET 4/18 800355 Pacific Sands - SUNSET 4/18 800693 Tioga Pass - SUNSET 4/18 Motive power is unknown, but one unit may be the 822 in the Phase III Heritage Scheme.
Thank you for this update. I MIGHT be able to catch this train coming south to Gulfport, MS on thursday I get off work around 5:00pm I will be cutting it close I'll have to see what happeneds on thursday. It will be great to have Amtrak 822 leading this train that will make it a great treat! and for it to come down the KCS Gulfport Sub. I'm sure we will found out the power on this train sometime tomorrow Aaron Gulfport, MS
Aaron, I hope you can get photos/videos on Thursday, or Sunday as it heads back north. I doubt if I'll be able to catch it as it comes through Saucier in either direction, though....?
Ken, I believe there are photos of each car on either the AAPRCO site or a site that Google popped up when I put in "AAPRCO Car Charter"...I think? Sorry, I can't be more specific, but I erase History each time I close IE.
I will be for sure chasing this train on Sunday the 25th from the Gulfport Depot all the north to Hattiesburg, MS. So Pictures and Videos for sure! of this chase on the KCS Gulfport Sub I will for sure be posting the links on here for you all to enjoy. One of my buddies who was chasing this train today from New Orleans, LA to Monroe, LA told me the power for this train is Amtrak 822 leading and Amtrak 162 trailing. Aaron Gulfport, MS
Hank- Here it is: http://www.aaprco.com/chartercars/index.html Interesting for me is there are least four Milwaukee Road cars in that list.
