As No Lucas lectrics’ Jokes Here!
Yeah, bare with me Y’all, or indulge Mwah.
Since after all it’s my Blog and I can Jolly well scribble’ whatever I want.
Although I’m probably Preaching to The Choir. Or more likely Talking to The
Hand! As what’s that ‘Ol Pressdog saying about Don’t Engage the Crazies George?
Having regaled Yuhs about my latest train adventure
home, I’ve learned more than I’ve ever known about the Amtrak Cascades Express
trains.
Whilst I can no longer recall when the first
time I ever rode an Amtrak train was? Although I do recall riding home from
Portland circa 1996. And then believe I started riding them Up North eh! To
Vancouver, BC in the early Ought’s’. And then definitely took it once-a-year to
Portland for the final three years of Champ Car at Portland International
Raceway, (PIR) but I digress…
Was surprised that I found an immediate answer
to what type locomotive the Cascades Express No. 503 train route uses. Being a
Siemens SC-44 Charger. With these Diesel-electric locomotives beginning production
in 2016 in Florin, California. And the first SC-44 Charger going into service
on the East Coast in 2017.
Also learned that the SC Charger model
generates it’s own Head-End Power (HEP) in it’s locomotive car. Generating the
60Hz used to create the necessary electrical demands for the passenger cars
Heating/Cooling, (HVAC) lighting, WiFi’, etc. Including electrical power to
individual business class seats and the Bistro/Dining car.
Thanks to Ray, I also learned that one week
after my trip home, where the power failed on our train, albeit guessing it was
the passenger cars connections. That Amtrak had to suddenly pull all of the
Cascade Express railway “Sets” out of service after finding severe corrosion on
the passenger cars, Say What?
As these Horizon passenger rail cars were built
in-between 1988-90, or 1992? By a now defunct division of Bombardier, and had
aluminum bodies on steel chassis, which is a recipe for corrosion.
Although there was one train set that wasn’t
comprised of Horizon rail cars that remained in service. As this lone Cascades
Express train apparently used the old Talgo rail cars? And ironically I believe
it was the very same 503 route from Seattle to Eugene…
Full Cascades Express service was restored
eleven days later, albeit with reduced rail cars comprising each train set. As
rail cars were diverted from the east coast and other Amtrak routes. While the Washington
State Department Of Transportation (DOT) has reportedly, already ordered eight
replacement train sets from Siemens. Along with a further two SC-44 Charger
locomotives.
These Venture rail cars are slated to be
acquired this year, but not go into service until 2026. Whilst I still don’t
comprehend the difference between Talgo and Horizon passenger rail cars? Other
than I tend to recall that the initial Cascades Express routes began with the
Talgo rail cars.
Now having learned that indeed the initial
Amtrak Cascades Express service that began in 1998 utilized Talgo Series VI
train sets, with two Series 8 sets joining in 2013. With the older Series VI
sets being retired in 2020 and replaced with those corroding Horizon sets,
which will inturn be replaced by the Siemens Venture “Rolling Stock” coming
online shortly.
Whilst I just learned that Talgo is a Spanish
company, and not French as I’ve always Arse-sumed, especially after riding a
high-speed Talgo TGV train from Colone, Germany to Paris, France Wee-Wee! With
the late-Canadian lass Clare nearly two decades ago, but I digress further…
Prior to my latest train excursion, I “read”,
Err listened to an article on the Boseman Daily Chronicle titled Are Passenger
Trains entering the Golden age, or End of the line?
As the article points out how the “Double
Decker” passenger rail cars utilized on on the Empire Builder and Coast
Starlight are Amtrak’s most used passenger cars. Racking up enough miles to
circumnavigate the world seven times a year!
Yet these same rail cars were built during the
1970’s and 1980’s and are just one major collision away from wiping out the
fleet! Although a tender was put out for new passenger rail car construction
last year, as part of the Infrastructure Investments and Job Act of 2021. These
cars won’t be put into circulation until the 2030’s, provided you-know-who
doesn’t torpedo those plans…
As Amtrak was created in 1971 and has basically
suffered fifty years of neglect regarding it’s rolling stock, primarily it’s
passenger rail cars, due to a constant lack of investment, penny-pinching and
outright slashing of funds over the decades.
Last year, Amtrak recorded an increase to
nearly three million riders, while the Cascades Express services from
Vancouver, BC to Oregon carried a stout one million riders. Which I don’t know
about Y’all, but that’s a lot of cars off of the roads, freeing up the
Interstate for other travelers!
Not to mention that everyone cannot drive a
motor vehicle, like your Blind No Fenders scribe Tomaso. As have I reminded
Y’all lately I’m blind?
Reportedly, in fiscal 2017, the Cascades
Express routes, which travel 467 miles from Eugene, Oregon to Vancouver, BC,
was Amtrak’s eighth busiest route.
Amtrak, like many Government agencies is
working quite good right now, as I’d say a large portion of it’s daily delays
are caused by sharing the BNSF railways and that Freight trains get priority. And
privatization would only benefit whomever got the contract. Not to mention the
scores of employees who’d lose their current jobs!
As here’s a novel idea. Instead of some Emperor
wearing new clothes, whose easily distracted by shiny things. And publicly
lambasting our nation’s current rail system. How about stepping up and
increasing spending on this vital network of transportation that millions
depend upon?
Hey, I know, how ‘bout we go back to steam
powered locomotives, as I hear that coal’s making a comeback. As who cares
about that mercury or arsenic in the air, All Aboard!
Yeah-Yeah, I know. The future’s so bright, Uhm where’s my Gory sun glasses, OH Never Mind!
