Milepost 110 wrote:How many keystone sets are required for daily service?
Interesting question which I will admit I don't have the answer to. But we can speculate what the minimum will be logically. How? First by looking at how long it takes the first train to leave both New York City and Harrisburg to arrive in the opposite city, and count how many trains leave both cities before the first train arrives that can be turned, also we have to account for the three trains that overnight in Philadelphia which head westward towards Harrisburg.
So, here's what I read using Amtrak's scheduling....and using Monday-Friday trains......
First train leaves NYC at 0717 and arrives in Harrisburg at 1046
First train leaves Harrisburg 0500 and arrives in New York City at 0830
Only one train departs New York City before another Keystone train arrives at 0830 and is available for turning. (1 set)
Six trains depart Harrisburg before a train from New York City arrives at 1046 and is available for turning.(6 sets) Let's assume three originated from Philadelphia and three originated from Harrisburg. Easy to assume because all three train sets from Philadelphia arrive and could depart Harrisburg before the first train from New York City arrives.
That sums up to a minimum of 7 train sets.
Additionally, there are two more train sets required for the Pennsylvanian train to and from Pittsburg. A singe set can't arrive at Harrisburg at 1426 and depart Harrisburg over an hour and 21 minutes earlier at 1305. A single train set can not be at two different locations at the same moment of time.
So the sum is now a minimum of 9 train sets if you considering the Pennsylvanian Keystone trains. I state minimum because I don't know how many trains are held in reserve for maintenance purposes.