Even though part of the initial setup of Amtrak required hosts to advance trains, unimpeded, that has been frequently ignored. Many of those hosts had extensive experience with passenger operations beforehand, thus knew well what to expect. So that is not a good excuse. Amtrak has on occasion experienced equipment failures. It happens. And too the hosts as well, which delays Amtrak. For long distance operations, across a host's system, infrastructure failures are no responsibility of Amtrak, which too many in the public do not comprehend... Weather also plays a part, but effects everything involved. A good amount of the time, under normal operating conditions, it is simply the host. From the home office on down to their dispatchers, with pressure...
I watched sometimes in dismay as Amtrak took over the passenger service during the 70's. In the negotiations the first thing they lost was their Class 1 status, (top priority billing). The only two trains that had higher status in the order of things, the Fruit Express or the Mail Train. These were known to go around and take the lead over the Chief's. Usually while the Chief was at a station stop. Although the fruit express would have to be iced and that took considerable time, when at station. So, the Chiefs and these Two top priority trains would play Leap Frog across America. Most of the complaints according to Trains Wig Wag, was the declining service on the then known name passenger trains. Don't get me wrong if anyone knew how to run passenger trains and keep them on time it was the Santa Fe, Burlington Northern and Union Pacific. Can't speak to the other northern railroads but I suspect they did too. Southern Pacific was okay. They loved their commute service in San Francisco and the Coastal or Valley Daylights. So, they served their public well. Again declining service, pointing to the absence of dining cars replaced by vending cars on some of their Daylights. Today, the C's, Z's, Unit Trains and United Parcel trains all have top billing over the Amtrak Passenger Trains. One thing that would help Amtrak and the railroads. Get their departing trains out of station on time. Railroads run on a type of scheduling and if Amtrak misses the hole that's been made for them. Well...they are going to run later and later. Need to get out to the door to another Graduation. Aiiyiiyii !!! What were we thinking when we put in a order for all those babies? You got to love it.
That's an excellent point Rick. With Precision Scheduled Railroading now in vogue, Amtrak must step up their commitment to PSR or the rancor will become worse. ATK's 75 new Siemens locomotives will help, but they'll not be in service until mid-year 2021.
"...if Amtrak misses the hole that's been made for them". As I wrote above, stating again, this can only happen if there is no mechanical failure of their equipment, no infrastructure issues (not Amtrak's fault!), weather troubles (not Amtrak's fault!) and the host gets them going (solely the host's problem) on time. Just because ATK is late does not automatically make it their fault. You cannot ignore the variables which are consistently in this picture. You'd be surprised how often it is NOT their fault! After their station work is done, if still sitting there, place the blame elsewhere, as it should be. If advanced late, place the blame elsewhere, as it should be.
AMEN To That!!!! Last summer, ATK 19 (southbound Crescent) sat for three (3) hours about five miles east of Meridian, MS station while NS refueled four trains worth of power @ 4 engines each using Meridian's passenger platform track to allow the semi-tankers to park in the station parking lot. Our conductor was furious because his engineer, and he himself were approaching Hog Law shut down. This delay was in addition to multiple NS caused delays further north that made 19 a total of 12 hours down into NOL, the worst I have ever experienced on 19 and 20. BTW, we left WAS on the advertised.
No argument with you there! Until we get to whose to blame. One scenario okay maybe more. If Amtrak, can't get a crew up for it's trains and they have to leave late because of it (that is there fault). If a locomotive/diesel fails on departure (that could be there fault). Check list, glossed over. If they are still switching and making up the train at departure time (isn't it obvious?). If they miss their scheduled window/hole for departure, the one they are allowed to operate in...What? Whose fault is it? Santa Fe employees used to talk about how the locals, some slow freights all had to be out of the way of the crack passenger trains. You didn't want to block progress or be responsible for fowling Santa Fe's finest, the fast mail or fruit express as per the schedule. The variables of generalized operations of a railroad are akin, "To teaching an elephant to dance," as said by a railroad executive. You knew this was coming: By the way you can teach an elephant to dance. Circus's have been doing that for years. Like I said earlier, Santa Fe and other railroads figured it out. Kept things on schedule. During an era when locomotives had to be switched out for servicing. Fruit or perishable trains had to get through before everything went bad. REA reefers could be found as head end equipment (needing icing, in route) on various name passenger trains. That know how must have died-out with that generation of Rails. Do you think? Do I dare add, (in the old days) despite the weather conditions, flash floods, washed out bridges or right of way. The trains would be rerouted and managed to get through. Delays, yes! That was about the only time you saw 4,6,9,12 hour delays. One documented example: Is the SP rerouting over Cajon Pass, through Barstow, out to Cadiz, down to Parker, and back to home rails/tracks in Phoenix. Now is that so difficult? And that route is still open should Amtrak, ever need to use it. Sigh! I don't know you tell me? Railroads have forgotten what passenger service is all about. True or false?
You won't believe how late #4 SWC, got into LaPlata, MO. Saturday afternoon. Even the chatter room was a buzz about it. One last frustrating question: When in the wild, wild world of railroading are they going to get that platform finished? #4 had to make four forward moves to get passengers on board. Is that an example of what I've been talking about? No my ire isn't up. Yet!
When the individual companies owned their own passenger trains before 1971, it was their logos that were in front of shippers and passengers. who were the railroad's bread and butter. Today, who owns Amtrak, the elected Representatives and Senators, and their appointed Amtrak Board Of Directors, all of whom nobody respects, including me and all of you. And you wonder why each Amtrak train gets no respect. Because nobody's reputation or profit is on the line.
You got it! There in lies the problem. Now, if this were to represent who got re-elected. I wonder what that would mean?
I finally found the video I was looking for. It's a long video so be forewarned. I'd suggest you grab a favorite beverage some snacks, sit back, relax and enjoy. The Southwest Chief starting out in Chicago, IL. You might want to click on You Tube and watch it from there. Enjoy!
Here it is Monday Morning, June 3, 2019. I get up thinking all the train fun... as in watching Amtrak come into station on the live rail cams will be over and done with for the day. Not so quick. On my smarter then me phone, I checked in with LaPlata, MO. Courtesy of Virtual Railfans Live Rail Cam. The chatter box is talking about #4 due in around 11:00 a.m. their time. Really? 7 hours 20 mins late. Maybe I can catch it and breakfast at the same time? I'm a little hungrier then that and don't want to wait that long. On my computer screen I go to Amtrak's Track Your Train and find out #3 is due into Barstow (get this) at 11:00 a.m. their time. The train is running 7 hrs 20 mins late. Are you asking the same question I am? What? What? How could that be. I must have read it wrong. Okay, so a second look and no that's exactly what I read. Here's the kicker. They may end up arriving even later. So If you be interested check it out. Now it's not my job to run the trains, it's not my job to schedule them but let everything go wrong then I'm the one who catches hell. I'll bet you know where that came from. How many construction workers does it take to fix the LaPlata, Amtrak Station Platform? Second question, how long does it take to get'r done?? Sounds like we are back on the dairy...milking it. #4 is arriving in LaPlata, MO., as I write and earlier then 11:00 a.m.. 10:45 a.m. How about that?
It has been a few years now, but my last Amtrak went both ways for time. Heading out to my destination, we were delayed several times. First the train was late due to springtime flooding many miles away from home. Then we were stuck in the hole for a late freight. Then again a few hours further, the same thing. Then a few hours further we had to hold while a work train finally got out of our way. They were almost an hour late doing that move. By the time I arrived, we were over five hours late. None of which was Amtrak's fault. But my return trip, we left as scheduled, no delays and an engineer who wanted to run. So we were almost twenty minutes early getting home!
Freight railroads the hosting railroads although sympathetic to Amtrak will always put the priority, money making trains ahead of the guest passenger trains. No mistake that's how it works. It also depends on the dispatcher as to how he or she is going to handle this annoying interuption to fluid freight traffic. Overheard on my scanner. A sort of California Road Trip. I'll explain as I go along. I was running Hwy 99, headed through Bakersfield up to Fresno. I had a graveside service, a funeral to direct, at the district cemetery. I was flying low. Yes, driving a hearse fully loaded. I overheard the Santa Fe Dispatcher talking to Bakersfield Amtrak, asking if they were ready to go? Mentioning, if you don't leave now I will have to make you wait as I have two locals ready to go. Amtrak responded, we don't have a crew for the train and will be delayed. Santa Fe dispatcher with a frustrated voice said, "Okay, let me know". To the two locals, get rolling I will hold Amtrak up if we have a conflict. He had provided a hole for Amtrak to run in but when they didn't get going on time... I don't really have to say it, do I? Ken, you are right and most of the time Amtrak, isn't to blame. When the $#!+ hits the fan you just have to roll with it. Hopefully, not in it. I curse the day they gave up their first class train status. I think they all are to blame, for that one. Do I need to mention this. As per my obvious occupation. Despite everything that could go wrong on the highway. Construction, accidents, infrastructure failures and hunger pains. I had to be at my destination on time... if not early. That's what I got paid to do. Late was not allowed, period.
True. I do know it, having been active in rail advocacy, etc, etc. When the NRPC was created and Amtrak was then begun, the reverse was to be the situation. And it was specified in the agreements with the host companies. But... Oh well.
Here's yet, one more video to watch. No chatter, pictures are a bit small even for my screen. You won't miss a thing, I promise. From a rail-fans perspective: Late, delayed and even later wouldn't bother me. Just more time to ride the trains. Frustrating for anyone that may be waiting at station to pick me up. That's the hard part.
Amtrak, SWC#3 arriving in Barstow, Ca. at 12:20 p.m. Just caught it on my smarter then me phone screen. Lot's of people de-boarding to either leave, take a smoke break and/or photograph the old Harvey House, Casa Del Deserito. That does not stand for best deserts. Although they had them...once upon a time. If I know Barstow, like I know Barstow, summer has hit and the temperature is up and almost uncomfortably W.A.R.M. You can also check out the museum there with the same initials. Like many a Barstowite before me. After leaving, I can say I miss it. I just heard the conductor yell, "All Aboard," (he probably has a new title) but at least somethings haven't changed. Two shorts on the horn to indicate forward hoe. Amtrak departing at 12:30 p.m. Headed for San Bernardino, Riverside and destination L.A.U.P.T. Stack train pulling out headed EB. Dispatcher saying, "Have a good day guys."
Noted on Virtual Railfans Live Rail Cam the Loram Rail Grinder, a new version sitting on the second track in front of Barstow's Train Station. Nice looking unit. It would be a good day to be in Barstow, Ca. Later.
When the Amtrak creation act was formed, there was, and still is, a fine to the host railroads that delayed an Amtrak schedule by more than 30 minutes. Of course that was a fixed fee in 1970 Dollars. Today, it's merely tiny annoying cost of doing business, like a fly buzzing in the bookkeeper's office.
