For what it's worth, the GE era of dominating passenger trains on Amtrak is drawing to a close. On the Empire Builder route, the first Charger is set to lead today from Chicago. Get your shots now! Here's a Minot, ND rerun from the fall of 2020:
Atleast they're putting some colors on these, the old GE's are so bland. At night, the whole engine room can be seen though, very cool. Gonna' take a few years for these to grow on me, maybe....
Yup, they're decidedly European-looking, and a bit homely to my eyes as well. YMMV... The grand debut for the Chargers to lead the 'Builder fell thru when a PTC issue caused a mud missile to lead from Chicago. So much for the great consist...
From January 1981, a Trenton-bound Metroliner sweeps through Princeton Jct., NJ on Track 3. That's Nassau Tower on the right.
Being from Trenton, I remember them well. Now the Amfleets are looking to be nearing their end-of-life.
The Superliners aren't far behind, either. Road failures of that fleet is a big problem on the long distance routes like the Empire Builder. This winter has been rough! Speaking of the 'Builder, this is the Valentine's Day arrival of #7 into Minot past the old GN yard:
An early, Charger-led (!!?!?) Empire Builder arrives at Minot this morning: A baggage-dorm car was in the consist behind the power, with Siemens engineers on board to address problems.
Interesting wheels on these guys, with a ventilated disc brake rotor look. I wonder if pads clasp these instead of shoes on the wheel surface or if it's merely a styling element? With ice, snow, rainwater, rocks and grit battering trucks every mile, I'd almost think that robust traditional braking systems would be required.
I would lean toward the brake possibility. For them to spend any money on appearance would seem a bit excess, with their decades of budget concerns. But then....
No, it'd take me 2 hours to get up there in traffic up 405 to US2!! VRF Skykomish railcam, usually watch it every morning.
Full house in the lounge while everyone watches the locomotives winding their way up Raton Pass on the #3 bound for Los Angeles.
