People ride backwards on commuter trains all the time. What’s the big deal?
MACTRAXX wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 9:26 pmThis is a fairly normal thing in Europe and even South America. The Highland Caledonian Sleeper pulls into Edinburgh, the electric motor comes off, a 66/73 diesel combo attaches to the rear, and it leaves (in three sections) for the north of Scotland.
On an historical standpoint I believe that the first Amtrak trains to operate "backwards" were #40 and #41
"Broadway Limited" between New York Penn Station and Philadelphia 30th Street beginning in April 1980
when the engine change and Washington section combination was ended in Harrisburg - moved to PHL...
The Patagonian Express is the same way. It pulls into San Antonio Oueste, the engines run around, re-attach to the other end, and leaves for San Carlos.
I can probably think of 5+ other examples of this. It's normal. Even the Milwaukee Road did it with the Olympian Hiawatha between Tacoma and Seattle.
Also on the Patagonian Train, you have good chance of being pulled behind an Alco until last month when it was "temporarily suspended" due to track issues. There is grass up to the rail head everywhere...