Amtrak Downeaster Discussion Thread

[STrRedWolf]

Read: We're putting newer equipment up there and swapping out stuff that's near end-of-life so we can get ready to scrap it.

Or sell them to Mexico for another 20 years of service?

Only the Budd equipment, because Budd don't break.

[charlesriverbranch]

I saw a Horizon car sitting at the Brunswick Amtrak facility just now. So, how did it get there? If it came off 448, did CSX haul it to Brunswick from Worcester?

[STrRedWolf]

I saw a Horizon car sitting at the Brunswick Amtrak facility just now. So, how did it get there? If it came off 448, did CSX haul it to Brunswick from Worcester?

CSX wouldn't because it would of required running on a short line between Worcester and Ayer. Most likely they ran it by MIT on the Grand Junction branch.

Quick, someone run a geiger counter over it, see if the mad lads had some nuclear experiments going on.

[charlesriverbranch]

There are two more Horizon cars sitting at Portland as part of a short train consisting of the two Horizons, an Amfleet coach, a locomotive, and a cabbage.

[dowlingm]

I thought Horizons didn’t like snow much? Doesn’t the Downeaster route get some?

[theMainer]

I thought Horizons didn’t like snow much? Doesn’t the Downeaster route get some?

They are kept in a heated facility when not in use so freezing shouldn't be an issue.

[CSRR573]

I saw a Horizon car sitting at the Brunswick Amtrak facility just now. So, how did it get there? If it came off 448, did CSX haul it to Brunswick from Worcester?

48/448 to Southampton st, from Southampton to the MBTA northside/Maine via (usually) late night Amtrak extra over the grand junction. The crew from Maine usually gets to Southampton around 930pm

[theMainer]

I saw a Horizon car sitting at the Brunswick Amtrak facility just now. So, how did it get there? If it came off 448, did CSX haul it to Brunswick from Worcester?

48/448 to Southampton st, from Southampton to the MBTA northside/Maine via (usually) late night Amtrak extra over the grand junction. The crew from Maine usually gets to Southampton around 930pm

Would this normally happen on nights when the Event Night train is running (1689 instead of 689/699) which would allow for the non-revenue cars to be attached to the last train going north?

[NH2060]

I thought Horizons didn’t like snow much? Doesn’t the Downeaster route get some?

After enduring so many brutally harsh Midwest winters for 30 years I think they’ll be able to handle the winters of coastal Maine without a problem even if they weren’t kept in the train shed overnight.

Only time will tell if the Venture/AIRO cars hold up as well.

[CSRR573]

I saw a Horizon car sitting at the Brunswick Amtrak facility just now. So, how did it get there? If it came off 448, did CSX haul it to Brunswick from Worcester?

48/448 to Southampton st, from Southampton to the MBTA northside/Maine via (usually) late night Amtrak extra over the grand junction. The crew from Maine usually gets to Southampton around 930pm

Would this normally happen on nights when the Event Night train is running (1689 instead of 689/699) which would allow for the non-revenue cars to be attached to the last train going north?

That I cant answer for you. When i go on duty at 4pm, I'm told there's a Maine move tonight and what is being brought down for repair/pm and what's getting sent up there.

[MBTAVideoClips]

They generally run the "Portland Extra" (as some call it) as it's own train I believe, though I have seen it run attached to the back of a Downeaster.

[MEC407]

May 31, 2024 marked the end of an era:

Amtrak locomotive engineer Erik Young, who has been running Downeaster trains since the service began, is retiring. His last two runs were yesterday on 688 and 689.

Anyone who knows Erik knows what a fine person he is... and if you're a frequent Downeaster rider, you've probably experienced his smooth-as-butter train handling. There's both a science and an art to running passenger trains, and Erik is a master of both.

Here's a photo by Michael Rodgers of Erik passing through Scarborough on his final 688 yesterday, with a special locomotive befitting the occasion:

IMG_6612.JPG