Traveling by train

[skirtingtheissue]

From the Out and About -- In the World at Large Thread in the Skirts and Kilts for Men section:

A trip through the Rockies aboard a domecar would be one of my dream holidays.

Far more spectacular than the Rockies is the trip through the Sierra Nevada range. That is an absolutely breathtaking run where for parts of it you look to one side of the train and it's a sheer vertical wall of rock and looking out the other way there's nothing but open space looking out over valleys. I've done that twice, and it largely still follows the route of the original Transcontinental Railroad. Headed eastbound on that route is also very nice on the long sweeping descent into Denver where one gets to look out across the plains from a couple thousand feet above.

Ah, Chicago by train. I love it. I've done it twice in my pre-skirt days. Once round trip (California Zephyr/Empire Builder/Coast Starlight) and once CS to Portland, Cascade to Seattle and EB to Chicago.

My trip was on the Zephyr and the Lake Shore Limited a.k.a. Late for Sure Limited. The Zephyr is Amtrak's most scenic train because you get TWO spectacular days, one in the Sierra Nevadas and one in the Rockies. They're both awesome, and one of the few times that the word "awesome" is actually the right word to use.

Other top scenic Amtrak runs are: along the Hudson River from New York City to Albany; along the Columbia River, through the Cascades east of Everett WA, and through the Rockies on the Empire Builder; along the Pacific shore from San Juan Capistrano to San Diego and Oxnard to San Luis Obispo, CA; and through the less spectacular but still impressive Rockies in New Mexico on the Southwest Chief. But there is ample beauty and scenic interest along every route, even on the Northeast Corridor. Riding crosscountry by rail lets you observe not only the changing landscape but various aspects of human endeavor such as architecture, cityscapes, bridges and other engineering, and the railroad system itself. I've loved it since I was 5.

Last year I had the special treat of taking the Coast Starlight over the freight-only route from Burbank CA to Stockton, including the Tehachapi mountains and famous Tehachapi Loop. It then followed the Altamonte Commuter Express line down into Oakland. I try to take trains on mileage I've not ridden before, so when I heard about the Amtrak detour I jumped at the chance.

Please pardon me for breaking this subject out into its own thread... it seemed that several of our group enjoy trains, but that the Out and About discussion was straying (getting off track?) from the skirting focus.

[skirted_in_SF]

From the Out and About -- In the World at Large Thread in the Skirts and Kilts for Men section:
Last year I had the special treat of taking the Coast Starlight over the freight-only route from Burbank CA to Stockton, including the Tehachapi mountains and famous Tehachapi Loop. It then followed the Altamonte Commuter Express line down into Oakland. I try to take trains on mileage I've not ridden before, so when I heard about the Amtrak detour I jumped at the chance.

There was an item on the Trains site saying that the Starlight is going to be detouring via the Tehachapi Loop several times this spring.

[crfriend]

Please pardon me for breaking this subject out into its own thread... it seemed that several of our group enjoy trains, but that the Out and About discussion was straying (getting off track?) from the skirting focus.

Not a problem! Threads wander from time to time, and if you hadn't suggested a split, I likely would have in the next day or two so the original would stay "on track".

The time I was on the Empire Builder across the northern part of the country, we were running late and so didn't get to see Glacier in its glory, but the trip through Montana proved up why it's called "Big Sky Country" and if it wasn't for the curvature of the earth the rails could as well have been laid out by LASERs. One rolls along at 70 MPH for a few hours watching the rails converge on the horizon behind one, and every so often you go around a curve and then watch that recede as well. Then there's the passage through the Cascades and finally the jaunt right on the shoreline of Puget Sound where we could see starfish on the seabed.

The run between Seattle and Portland is nice, and when we did it Amtrak was using Spanish Talgo equipment which was very nice indeed. They may still be doing it.

Another joy from that trip was the trip through the southern deserts (there are more than one) where we saw storms and rain. It's also possible to pinpoint the borderline between deserts if one is attentive to what's growing outside.

Finally the Lakeshore Limited; it's almost like an old friend to us as we've been on it many several times as it's the primary starting leg for points west. I recall one time, when I was headed to meet Sapphire who was already out in LA for a conference, getting stuck behind a rather large freight derailment; this delayed us by many hours, and caused me to miss my connection with the Southwest Chief, but they rerouted the train quite literally through backyards on tracks that possibly had never seen a passenger train in 50 years -- perhaps if ever. I wound up flying to LA from Chicago, and managed to catch a glimpse from 35,000 feet of the train I was supposed to be on as we flew overhead at 500-odd knots.

[skirted_in_SF]

The run between Seattle and Portland is nice, and when we did it Amtrak was using Spanish Talgo equipment which was very nice indeed. They may still be doing it.

Talgos are the equipment on the Cascades. Multiple trains per day between Portland and Seattle with some extending as far south as Eugene and as far north as Vancouver BC. According to Trains, service has been interrupted multiple times this winter due to mud slides.

[r.m.anderson]

skirted_in_SF

Is this the same Talgos trainset used in the east on the Amtrak Metroliner routes ?
These cars feature the cabin tilting on curves so a higher overall speed can be maintained.
The Boston-New Haven portion is full of sharp curves as the track follows the coast line.
The portion south of New York city is relatively flat and straight and speeds of 135 MPH are very common.
I have rode in the locomotive from Trenton NJ into New York city and the experience is remarkable
to say the least. The side (peripheral) vision is just a blurrrrr think light speed Amtrak style.

More info about the talgos trainsets:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talgo

"Planes-TRAINS-Automobiles"
"Skirt-Kilt-ON"
rma

[r.m.anderson]

From the Out and About -- In the World at Large Thread in the Skirts and Kilts for Men section:
Last year I had the special treat of taking the Coast Starlight over the freight-only route from Burbank CA to Stockton, including the Tehachapi mountains and famous Tehachapi Loop. It then followed the Altamonte Commuter Express line down into Oakland. I try to take trains on mileage I've not ridden before, so when I heard about the Amtrak detour I jumped at the chance.

There was an item on the Trains site saying that the Starlight is going to be detouring via the Tehachapi Loop several times this spring.

That had to be interesting - - - a passenger service nightmare - - - rerouting all the inconvenienced PAX.
All the scheduled stops north of Burbank - Oxnard/Ventura; Santa Barbara; Santa Maria; San Luis Obispo; King City and Salinas/Montery etc.

So skirted_in_SF did your train operate non-stop from Burbank to Stockton ?
How long did it take compared to the scheduled service ?
Were there alternate bus connections to the scheduled stops ?
I have relatives in California and this could be an interesting side diversion to plan a visit noting that this is going to occur "Several" times !

"Planes-TRAINS-Automobiles"
"Skirt-Kilt-ON"
rma

[crfriend]

Is this the same Talgos trainset used in the east on the Amtrak Metroliner routes ?

No, the Talgo equipment is of Spanish manufacture and uses a passive tilt mechanism; the ones in use in the Northeast is the Acela* Express equiment made in Canada which use an active tilting system once they're up to speed. Other trainsets in the Northeast are "conventional" non-tilting kit.

These cars feature the cabin tilting on curves so a higher overall speed can be maintained.

The tilting is for passenger comfort, not for any other operational reason. Normally trains are kept on track through curves by super-elevating the outer rail (aka "banking") so the overall thrust is more or less perpendicular to the train's linear center of mass; done correctly, the wheel flanges won't even touch the rails in the curves. With the tilt, the carbodies make up the difference for the passengers even if the outside flanges are hard against the outside rail.

Unfortunately, the Northeast Corridor also hosts freight trains and if the super-elevation of curves was optimised for high-speed passenger service the freights would have problems with it. There's also the problem that most of the roadbed hasn't seen any meaningful work since the Roosevelt administration -- the first one. The only place the Acela Express is allowed anything near full speed is between Providence and Westerly Rhode Island, and on that stretch whe's a joy to ride. Sadly, she saunters through Connecticut at a leisurely 60 MPH for the most part making that part of the trip to NYC or DC seemingly interminable. There's also the issues of several still-extant grade-crossings in Connecticut. The NIMBYs in that state did a wonderful job.

I have rode in the locomotive from Trenton NJ into New York city and the experience is remarkable
to say the least. The side (peripheral) vision is just a blurrrrr think light speed Amtrak style.

Oh, cool! How'd you manage that?

* It turns out that Acela is an acronym: Amtrak Customers Expect Late Arrivals

[Kirbstone]

We live on a small island where investment of billions in European-style high speed trains is a no-no. However, in recent years practically all routes have had their railbeds updated and the tracks relaid using laser technology so the new rolling stock achieves three-figure speeds with ease silence and comfort.

I recently availed of the old-peoples' freebee to travel to Galway by train. It was much more akin to flying by plane than one's concept of rain travel. It succeeded in serving many towns en-route, yet arrived in Galway centre in little over two hours, a time impossible by motorway, given the speed limits &c.

T.

[crfriend]

I recently availed of the old-peoples' freebee to travel to Galway by train. It was much more akin to flying by plane than one's concept of rain travel. It succeeded in serving many towns en-route, yet arrived in Galway centre in little over two hours, a time impossible by motorway, given the speed limits &c.

It is, then, as it should be. I take much joy in the renaissance of rail.

[r.m.anderson]

cr - reply to quote

I have rode in the locomotive from Trenton NJ into New York city and the experience is remarkable
to say the least. The side (peripheral) vision is just a blurrrrr think light speed Amtrak style.

Oh, cool! How'd you manage that?[/quote]

The Paul Havey "The Rest of the Story" - - -

In the early 80s my brother-in-law was stationed at the navy sub base a Groton.
In the autumn of year I would take a scenic foliage changing trip to visit my sisters family there.
I would fly out of MSP (Minneapolis/StPaul) to DCA (Washington National Airport) and with a few
minutes to spare jump on the metro subway to Union Station and then take the Amtrak Colonial
train making all of the stops from Washington to New London.
The scenery changing is just awesome from ground level.
I made reservations in the 'Club Car' (Parlor Car).
My baggage had all the usual airline (employee ID) tags on and I had it at/near my seat.
The conductor comes along to take and punch my ticket and comments in friendly matter -
"What's matter sonny afraid to fly" ! LOL big time.
So we engaged into a conversation about travel I explained how my grandfather was a Station
Manager for the DMI (Duluth Messabi & Iron Range RR) at Meadowlands MN.
The best is yet to come the Conductor was formerly with the DMI and later the Great Northern
and he had been thru Meadowlands many times with the few passenger train trips that
operated from Hibbing to Duluth.
So we chatted more and I mentioned that I had flown many times in the cockpit jump seat for
Western Airlines and the view from 35000 feet plus looking forward was spectacular.
A short story getting longer - - -
The conductor invited me to see the front of the train from inside the locomotive.
How could anyone resist that offer - - - now bear in mind this happened all pre 9-11.
You can't do that sort of thing in this day and age.
So I got acquainted with the Engineer and Fireman and in the 40 minute trip from Trenton NJ
to NYC got an eye opening tutorial of the operation of the electric locomotive and its features.
The speed the train reached was 135 MPH on the flat out stretch between the two cities.
The passing scenery out the side windows was just a blurrrrr.
Incredible experience !!!!!!!!!!
At New Haven the train crew changed as the electrified locomotive service was changed to the
diesel locomotive for the remainder of the trip finishing at Boston.
Nothing but fond memories of this fantastic trip - - -
That same trip my Brother-In-Law arranged a tour of the USS Birmingham (Attack Sub) while
it was in port (Groton) for servicing AND
BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE !
My sister worked at the Coast Guard Academy and arranged a tour of the CCA Flag ship the
"Barque Eagle" (Hitlers private yacht pre WWII) which the USA acquired as a spoils of war from
the Germans.
Now talk about memories - "WOW" - definiltely something to more than write home about.

Should change my sign off to:

"Planes-Trains-Ships-&-Subs-Automobiles"
"Skirt-Kilt-ON"
rma

[skirted_in_SF]

I see Carl has answered your questions about the Talgo trainsets.

According to Trains, the state of Oregon is in the process of taking delivery of two new Talgo trainsets (assembled in Milwaukee) for use on the Cascades. Two more sets were built at the same time for the state of Wisconsin which has cancelled the service they were going to be used on and didn't take delivery. Needless to say, litigation us underway. I think I've read somewhere that Oregon or Washington may buy them for the Cascades but can't find the reference to confirm that.

On your other question - I haven't taken Starlight on one of their detours. I think they are scheduled for later in the month.

Update after I got to my copy of Firefox with the Trains site ID & password memorized:
Starlight trips via Tehachapi are currently scheduled for March 13 - 15, 24 - 30 and April 8 - 10.

Maybe the Amtrak site will have more details?

[skirtingtheissue]

That had to be interesting - - - a passenger service nightmare - - - rerouting all the inconvenienced PAX.
All the scheduled stops north of Burbank - Oxnard/Ventura; Santa Barbara; Santa Maria; San Luis Obispo; King City and Salinas/Montery etc.

So skirted_in_SF did your train operate non-stop from Burbank to Stockton ?
How long did it take compared to the scheduled service ?
Were there alternate bus connections to the scheduled stops ?

actually it was me... When Amtrak detours onto the inland route, it technically travels nonstop from Los Angeles to Oakland. There was no ticketing for intermediate stops. I think the Surfliner service was unaffected (Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo. I can't remember if there was a substitute bus service for those who needed it. The timing was remarkably similar to the normal route; both have slow, curvy stretches. We had a delay maneuvering around a wye in Stockton so we could get onto the Altamont line going in the right direction.

I'd recommend to anyone to ride that line this Spring! And in a skirt!

[skirtingtheissue]

I have rode in the locomotive from Trenton NJ into New York city and the experience is remarkable
to say the least. The side (peripheral) vision is just a blurrrrr think light speed Amtrak style.

YESSSS! Score!
I had a similar experience in the 1970s. I was taking a standard old Amtrak train like the "Colonial", back when they had names instead of all being called "Regional", from New York to Boston. There was a long hold time in New York, and I had a trick to find out the track before it was announced to the public. So I found a good coach seat, put my luggage above, and wandered along the platform up to the electric locomotive. The new crew was there (they changed in NY), and just as a joke I asked, "Giving out any cab rides today?", and to my great surprise was answered, "Sure, come on up!" I lost no time climbing that ladder. The crew were nice guys and I couldn't believe my luck as we went through the tunnel, across the majestic Hell Gate Bridge, and rolled along through Connecticut. The signals, other train traffic, operational routines, and views were fascinating, and it was all over too quickly. It got a little touchy in New Haven where the change from electric to Diesel was made; the crew directed me to climb down on the side away from the platform, so no one would see me, so I had to scurry around the engine, climb onto the platform, and head back to my coach. Thankfully my luggage was where I left it. One of my truly memorable train trips!

[Sarongman]

In my late teens (that's the mid 60s) there were some steam locos still operating, though mostly local goods runs. I had the pleasure and honour to get a short ride (though hidden and furtive) in a shunter which was probably of early 1880s vintage! My biggest honour, however, was to be allowed on the footplate of the Southern Highlands Express, which was still hauled by a steam engine. The locally designed and built 38 class was a legend in it's day, and the power, on that shuddering, vibrating footplate was, to actually use that overused (and bastardised) word --Awesome.

800px-NSW_GR_C_38_CAB_.jpg

C38_class_locomotive.jpg

[r.m.anderson]

skirtingtheissue - - -

Glad that you too had the opportunity to enjoy the ride UpFront - It makes the day !

An interesting noteworthy item the engineer passed to me - - -
One of the unique safety features of the electric locomotive is the "Dead Man's Throttle".
The engineer or fireman or whoever is in the cab of the locomotive when it is moving "MUST"
keep their hand on the throttle !
Now if perchance they remove their hand - two minutes later all hell breaks loose and the
train comes to a complete forced stop and there is a WHOA LOT OF SPLAINING TO DO to
the conductor and a bunch of dispatchers and other train authorities.
So no "Cruise Control here" !
If the train passes thru a "RED" block signal it shuts down immediately if hands are off the throttle !
No demonstration just an explanation of the What If Factor !

Whether in the front of a train cab or the cockpit of an airplane the teamwork of the crew is always
something to note - safety is not something that is business as usual !

"Planes-Trains-Ships-Subs-Automobiles"
"Skirt-Kilt-ON"
rma