Amtrak Auto Train Discussion

Agreed, I'm a bourbon/rye guy, but try getting the flagship Scottish train to sell you Kentucky whisky.

My sister, who is on the Auto Train going north from Sanford today, just called me to say that the train has apparently derailed. The conductor told her that one or more of the auto carriers were off the track. She said that the train came to a jerking halt, but both she and her companion were okay.

heard the same through the grape vine. I heard no injuries and All passenger cars are ok. Looks like just south of deland station.

As of this moment, Train Status "hasn't been clued in".

Now whst will prove interesting is how Amtrak "works through this". Will 52(26) proceed North as a passenger train and incur auto rental costs for all parties on board, or will they simply get the passenger cars and the auto carriers ahead of those that derailed to the nearest siding?

As soon as the "Hulcher Vultures" can be called to salvage the derailed racks and clear the tracks, detrain the parties with damaged autos and "make necessary arrangements" for them. Couple up the rest of the carriers and "be on their way".

Problem of course. is that decisions are being made at CNOC in Wilmington - and that is on the strength of what they're "being fed" by "by probably in CYA mode" Amtrak Mechanical, CSX (who could also be CYA if there were a track defect), and Hulcher.

https://www.wesh.com/amp/article/train- ... d/31946583

ADMIN: UPDATED LINK: https://www.wesh.com/article/amtrak-tra ... d/31946583

Media posting which shows a drone photo of the accident. Several auto racks overturned. Last time they had such an issue they had the passenger cars continue north and CSX brought the auto racks up later but obviously as you can see here this appears like a bigger incident.)

ADMIN: Brief, fair-use quote as required by railroad.net policy:

There were 317 passengers on board when the derailment happened. Amtrak officials said no passengers or crew were hurt.

Video from Chopper 2 showed at least eight cars derailed.

The derailed cars were toward the back of the train and did not appear to include any passenger cars.

The auto train leaves daily from Sanford and travels to Langford, Virginia carrying passengers and their cars.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local ... in-deland/

8 of 10 carriers are on their side. The remaining 2 are derailed. 294 on board, no injuries.

Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 4:26 pm As of this moment, Train Status "hasn't been clued in".

Now whst will prove interesting is how Amtrak "works through this". Will 52(26) proceed North as a passenger train and incur auto rental costs for all parties on board, or will they simply get the passenger cars and the auto carriers ahead of those that derailed to the nearest siding?

As soon as the "Hulcher Vultures" can be called to salvage the derailed racks and clear the tracks, detrain the parties with damaged autos and "make necessary arrangements" for them. Couple up the rest of the carriers and "be on their way".

Problem of course. is that decisions are being made at CNOC in Wilmington - and that is on the strength of what they're "being fed" by "by probably in CYA mode" Amtrak Mechanical, CSX (who could also be CYA if there were a track defect), and Hulcher.

Unfortunately, based on the latest reports, I think it's gonna be a bit more than "incur auto rental costs"

Greg Moore wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:32 pm Unfortunately, based on the latest reports, I think it's gonna be a bit more than "incur auto rental costs"

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news ... ne-injured

Apparently 179 settlements are in-bound as soon as the courts open...

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Nine Amtrak Auto train cars hauling 179 vehicles derailed in area of West Beresford Road and Alexander Drive.

An Amtrak Auto train derailed Thursday sending nine of its train cars hauling vehicles off the tracks in the area of West Beresford Road and Alexander Drive near DeLand, according to Volusia County Fire.
...
A problem with the track apparently caused the derailment about 4:15 p.m. after the train had left Sanford.
...
A crane is expected to arrive about 8:30 p.m. to lift that vehicle car up and then crews will detach it from the train. Once that is done, the passenger portion of the train will continue north to its ultimate destination in Virgina, Medlin said.
...

https://www.news-journalonline.com/news ... ne-injured

This article seems to hint that most off the overturned cars are empties and that one car with vehicles aboard actually overturned. Obviously take this report with a grain of salt. Apparently a crane has been dispatched to get this one car back on the train and then the train will continue on its way. The article also is hinting that early investigations show the track was most likely at fault as opposed to the equipment or crew.

In order to facilitate cleanup and repairs to the A line, Auto Train is canceled for tomorrow and Silver service heading south currently will turn in Jacksonville tomorrow...Silver star heading north today headed back to Miami and returned all passengers to their origination points.

The Southbound Auto Train #53 is moving near Fredricksburg, Virginia with a Service Disruption. Its arrow on the map is still pointing South, but something has gone wrong, it should have left Lorton, Virginia, a few miles North of there, almost 5 hours ago. The Southbound Silver Meteor #97 is right behind it, traveling at the lower Auto Train speed of 70 m.p.h. It's due in Miami, Florida 53 minutes early! The Northbound Silver Star #92 can't be found due to a Service Disruption, it was due to leave Winter Park, Florida, South of Sanford, at 7:49 p.m. and Deland, near the derailment, at 8:41 p.m. Tomorrow's Northbound trains from Miami are Sold Out, tickets are still available the next day.

JimBoylan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 8:08 pm The Southbound Auto Train #53 is moving near Fredricksburg, Virginia with a Service Disruption. Its arrow on the map is still pointing South, but something has gone wrong, it should have left Lorton, Virginia, a few miles North of there, almost 5 hours ago. The Southbound Silver Meteor #97 is right behind it, traveling at the lower Auto Train speed of 70 m.p.h. It's due in Miami, Florida 53 minutes early! The Northbound Silver Star #92 can't be found due to a Service Disruption, it was due to leave Winter Park, Florida, South of Sanford, at 7:49 p.m. and Deland, near the derailment, at 8:41 p.m. Tomorrow's Northbound trains from Miami are Sold Out, tickets are still available the next day.

Jim it appears they were holding the southbound train until they got word from the south and then decided to let it depart. They probably didnt want to send it until they got word that the train was going to proceed north. The northbound train will proceed once they apparently attach one of the stricken auto carriers. Silver star northbound turned back to Miami, and all silver service currently en route will turn in Jacksonville tomorrow. Auto train is also canceled both ways tomorrow. They are providing no bussing so any affected passengers will have to get to Jacksonville tomorrow.

They may be planning to turn trains in Jacksonville, Florida, since Northbound tickets from there are available tomorrow evening, but not from Palatka, the station South of there.

The stricken train is now on the move heading north of Deland.

Although reading that article again I'm not sure I was correct - the article is somewhat confusing. It may be that several cars had vehicles but only one was in suitable shape to rerail and continue on. I guess we'll find out.....

Those auto carriers are newer version,not that old,CSX doesn't take track conditions seriously under PSR,here's the result.