by theozno
GP40MC 1116 wrote:I was looking for a thread on the Vermonter and this seems to be it (Correct me if I am wrong)I can say commuting to Okemo in Ludlow From Stamford CT BLF-STM weekly for my Days off usually Mon-Thursday, Conductors Harry & mike are on the Vermonter almost every day in either direction. The cafe Attendant is the same what seems to be once a week to every other since they go Washington DC to St. Albans and then joining Mike & harry is an extra board or another assigned conductor. The Vermonter conductors SPG-SAB are really cool polite and have a great attitude. I saved a total of about 20,000 miles on my car this winter taking the train. When you factor in Gas & wear and tear on my car thats about $5,000! I am looking forward to the CT River portion being done. and having a faster commuter. I always hated the drive and am glad I actually got to take the train weekly this past ski season
I've recently been working up in the St. Albans/Swanton area on a project that's associated with the NECR. I wanted to verify some information as to it pertains to the Vermonter. On Wednesday May 1st, I had the opportunity to observe the S/B Vermonter prepare for its departure and depart from St. Albans. Power was P42 # 77 with Cab Car # 9651 on the other end. Later that day while driving home (with a rest break in White River Jct.) I was able to catch the N/B Vermonter with P42 # 21 (North) with the 9647 on the rear end. Now that to me would be interesting the next day (May 2nd) as the 9647 would have been leading S/B 55 out of St. Albans... I wonder how often that happens? Does Amtrak have any redundancy plans when/if the cab car or locomotive should fail in Vermont? At least with the Downeaster service 99 percent of the time you have a spare set of a engine, and a coach, cafe and cabbage sitting in Portland.
I was speaking to the conductor on Wednesday in regards to how there crew schedules were, seems Conductors start and end in Springfield, then change again in New York? I want to say I recall also the engineer's switched out in Brattleboro, Vermont? I find it interesting that the crews do a round trip, bracketed in between by a night in the crew hotel and go back South the next day. I wonder how many days a week/per month a crew works. Seems similar to the airline's schedules?
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