Seems that one of the Amtrak heritage paint locos was involved in an accident yesterday

It was leading train 303 Chicago to St Louis, when a semi in Joliet for some reason was only halfway across as 66 arrived.

Apparently there were no injuries. The train was towed back to Chicago.

Picture from Joliet FD Facebook page.

Second time in under a year 66 has hit a truck on this line. The last time, it hit a truck loaded with bacon not too far south of this location, in Wilmington, IL. On that occasion, it arrived back at the Chicago shop with a package of bacon still on the roof, earning it the name "The Baconator."* (66 is used on the CHI-STL run a lot because it has the necessary equipment installed to allow it to go 110 mph.) Chicago was able to repair it without sending it to Beech Grove, mainly just replacing the fiberglas nose and painting it. There is more damage this time.

In this case, the road it was crossing is one of the main entrances to Union Pacific's Global 4 intermodal yard, and in fact the switch off the mainline into G4 is also just north of the road. The moronic truck driver probably assumed it would be a stack train crawling off the main; reports are that he went around lowered gates. This segment has not yet been improved for 110 mph operation, so Amtrak only goes 79 and crossings don't have four-quadrant gates. (I think the upgrade is scheduled for this year.)

I heard that AMTK 66 was moved from the scene to UP's Global 3 in Rochelle, which seems like a rather odd move for it to make. I need to read the follow-up on that report.


* For those not aware, Baconator is the name of a burger at Wendy's. If you think it has too many calories, they also offer Son of Baconator.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

I heard that AMTK 66 was moved from the scene to UP's Global 3 in Rochelle, which seems like a rather odd move for it to make. I need to read the follow-up on that report.

Yes I now help spot Amtrak for a group that posts a daily "Amtrak whereabouts list". So I now get a twice daily update which is how I heard about the accident.

This was on the list yesterday AM and PM

"66 – turns out after the wreck this was left down at Joliet to be repaired before movement;UP transfer IG4G3B-21 took it right by Proviso and out to Global 3 in Rochelle!"

"66 : departed Global 3 on ZLAG1-19 at 1759/22 CT,tucked in behind the road power."

(A possible reason for the greater damage, instead of bacon the truck had a container full of the small John Deere tractors)

The daily list also interesting info such as why 6(20) arrived at CHI with just #58.

Turns out 5(21) had #202 go bad and was set out at Wyanet IL, so #191 was taken off 6(20) at Denver, 5(21) ran with just #138 to Denver where #191 was added!! Did you follow that ;-)

For those of you who wonder about the numbers in brackets, for long distance trains it denotes the departure date, as on trains like the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Empire Builder etc, there is more than one train with the same number running at any given time.

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Here or transportation safety?

Dutch train derails at Dalfsen after hitting crane

A passenger train has derailed near the Dutch town of Dalfsen, leaving one person dead, officials say.

The train hit a hydraulic crane on a crossing, tilted over and went into a field, leaving several carriages lying on their sides.

Residents said the crane had been crossing the line, east of the city of Zwolle, when the train ran into it.

The local mayor said one person was dead but it not yet known how many others are hurt.

I heard that AMTK 66 was moved from the scene to UP's Global 3 in Rochelle, which seems like a rather odd move for it to make. I need to read the follow-up on that report.

It was confirmed by a reliable observer.

Yes I now help spot Amtrak for a group that posts a daily "Amtrak whereabouts list". So I now get a twice daily update which is how I heard about the accident.

This was on the list yesterday AM and PM

"66 – turns out after the wreck this was left down at Joliet to be repaired before movement;UP transfer IG4G3B-21 took it right by Proviso and out to Global 3 in Rochelle!"

"66 : departed Global 3 on ZLAG1-19 at 1759/22 CT,tucked in behind the road power."

That sort of makes sense: G1 is Global 1, UP's intermodal terminal in downtown Chicago, very close to the Amtrak yard. No doubt a yard crew will deliver it from there.

The daily list also interesting info such as why 6(20) arrived at CHI with just #58.

Turns out 5(21) had #202 go bad and was set out at Wyanet IL, so #191 was taken off 6(20) at Denver, 5(21) ran with just #138 to Denver where #191 was added!! Did you follow that ;-)

I did hear something, but not that much detail.

For those of you who wonder about the numbers in brackets, for long distance trains it denotes the departure date, as on trains like the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Empire Builder etc, there is more than one train with the same number running at any given time.

Even in the case of short distance trains, they use the date for the purpose of reports. If someone wants to see how 382 performed on the 4th, they would simply look up 383(4). The report of the 66 crash would be 303(19) (do I remember the train number correctly?).

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

If anyone is interested, Amtrak's private car tariff rates, as currently addendum-ed.


(I'm sure that's not a real word.)

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

The Flying Scotsman has just left Kings X on time at 7.40am en route to York, on its inaugural run. I was supposed to have been up there but didn't make it at the last minute. :-(((

Probably and arguably the most important railway event worldwide of 2016.

BBC

Intresting that it was one of the services that should have been run by West Coast Railways.

It is now listed as being run by DB Schenker. Hopefully a proper rail company can get it right :-)

Currently 6 late approaching Hatfield ;-)

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..."too near the track" is a bit of a euphemism for "walking all over the up-main and up-local". There were a few "bobble hats" walking all over track - the Police were involved and a few collars have been felt, they can expect expensive court appearances in the near future.

These p*******s effectively shut the East Coast Main line for just under an hour and the train operators affected may well want to get their penalty fines re-reimbursed, and these delay penalties are in the order of £10,000 per train-minute, with no cap when they are the result of criminal activity..... I would guess that over a dozen trains in addition to the Flying Scotsman were affected thus some very expensive photos were taken.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

But America will never ever be able put on anything like that, and that is a fact!

Quite an odd thing to say, and of course just your opinion, it can't be a fact as it is of course just your perception.

I suspect to most Americans NW 611 returning to steam last year after 20 years on display, would come close, 611 stopped the traffic on a nearby roads as it passed.

Also UPP 4014 "Big Boy" will in my mind eclipse any steam engine, when it is hopefully restored.

The Flying Scotsman is indeed a British icon and we should be proud, but please don't use it to knock other countries, there is simply no need.

I enjoy trains, steam, diesel, electric, and hopefully that is what this thread is about, not saying "mine is bigger and better than yours"

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But America will never ever be able put on anything like that, and that is a fact!

Quite an odd thing to say, and of course just your opinion, it can't be a fact as it is of course just your perception.

I suspect to most Americans NW 611 returning to steam last year after 20 years on display, would come close, 611 stopped the traffic on a nearby roads as it passed.

Also UP 4014 "Big Boy" will in my mind eclipse any steam engine, when it is hopefully restored.

The Flying Scotsman is indeed a British icon and we should be proud, but please don't use it to knock other countries, there is simply no need.

I enjoy trains, steam, diesel, electric, and hopefully that is what this thread is about, not saying "mine is bigger and better than yours"

Yep, I was there watching UP 4014 being moved, hopefully She will run once again, as the 2nd most powerful steam locomotive, right behind the C&O H8 2-6-6-6 Allegheny, 1604 needs a lotto winner to restore 1604 to running shape, someone with some fairly deep pockets I read..

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M-GxH29CCc
Big Boy

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz14zIBWspA
C&O H8 2-6-6-6 Allegheny
The biggest and baddest Steam Loco ever built.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

But I still maintain that the no.1 spot would be retained by Scotsman.

Debatable.

You ever heard of Nigel Gresley?

Some "ducks" to give the Scotsman a run for the money

Cheers Sirius!

:):)



edit:
I hope you are feeling well....

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Never had a trading card in North America, so that Flubbing Scotchman can't be THAT famous....

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Time to let in some real Daylight, SP style...

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Before we get all dreamy eyed about the past, here is some down and slightly dirty working trains.

Network Rail have been busy round my way replacing track, this was last Sunday between East and South Croydon stations



As you can see the track on the left is being replaced. If you look carefully you can see the conductor or "third rail" has been lifted up out of the way.

On the far end of the train in front was this



66561, now even a bit grubby, I still think that of all the different paint jobs I have seen on the 66 loco, the Freightliner one suits them best.

I then went over the foot bridge and got a nice shot



66561 being passed by a 442 Gatwick Express unit heading south.

Oh and unfortunately the works overran to Monday morning and cause commuter hell, well done Network Rail!!


And just to change the scene, these two were on the California Zephyr earlier this week.



822 and 145 in Phase 3 paint, now with the VL baggage car having the same "stripe" I think that is a very effective livery, and the one that suited the Genesis diesels the best.

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Whilst I see a lot of different trains on the web cams, it is quite unusual for this to happen:

Today whilst waiting for the 29 at Chesterton this freight went past.



With NS 1071 in "Jersey Central Lines" livery.

Then several hours later.


The same train passes the Chicago camera, whereas Chesterton has many freights per day, the Chicago cam is mostly passenger, with just perhaps 3 or 4 so it is nice to see the same train as it progresses.

The work on the tracks near my local station continued this Sunday. I was a little earlier on my walk so was able to get this shot.



DB 66023 waitning on platform 4 with a a few track panels.

While it is still in the old EWS colours you can just make out the DB on the rear cab.

It's position just below the footbridge allowed me to get this shot.



Where the DB is clearly seen, as well as the driver with his feet up. He knew he would be there a while and in fact was still there an hour later when I returned!

The eagle eyed amongst you might just notice that on the platform nearest the camera it says "Mind the gap/step". whilst on the other side it says "MIND THE STEP/GAP". Obviously couldn't make up their mind. :-)

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Some toad with a pellet gun shattered 4 windows on Amtrak 702 shortly after it left Merced this morning. Nobody hurt, windows spidered but didn't break out.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

The eagle eyed amongst you might just notice that on the platform nearest the camera it says "Mind the gap/step". whilst on the other side it says "MIND THE STEP/GAP". Obviously couldn't make up their mind. :-)

Given the relative orientations, I guess it's a question of whether you're coming or going?
:)

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Apparently, these guys are really serious about the Great Lakes Basin Railway. When you get to the last page, if you click the link to the company, their map is very interesting. It still shows rail lines that are long abandoned. This simultaneously annoys and pleases me. Annoys because it's bad info, pleases because I can see in good detail where these lines used to be.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.