VRE cancels train instead of stranding passengers

Yesterday, Manassas Train #337, the last evening trains had mechincal problems with it's engine (The daily download says the HEP) at Union Station. Instead of stranding passengers, while they went and got another engine, Amtrak offered to let passengers ride their train to the first Manasas Stop. It did not go to VRE's Broad Run station. After the rescue engine was installed, Train #337 ran empty to Manassas in case broke down.

This is a great plan that VRE has in place should a train break down

one can hope that once both VRE and MARC have all the MP36's that these break downs will just become a thing of the past..

superbad wrote:one can hope that once both VRE and MARC have all the MP36's that these break downs will just become a thing of the past..

We actually get a lot fewer of them on the VRE than we did once upon a time....
Early days and with Amtrak Ivy Yard maintenance it was very common...

subsequently VRE paid for extensive overhauls on all the GP/RPs including new/rebuilt HEP units and Top Deck rebuilds on all units with heavy repairs as necessary....
They also transferred maintence to their own yards at Crossroads and Broadrun... and begain switching to an outside contractor (now MPI ????)
And put in much more stringent oversight of routine maintenance. FWIW there were allegations Ivy was not doing it while charging for it....

Subsequently VRE's volume of dead locos on the road subsided to the point where we the passengers even noticed...

we still get them but no where near the volume MARC does....