Amtrak Autumn Express Thread

[Return to Reading Company Olney Sta]

Here's my son's reaction from Saturday after he read what train was on the board. Excited???

Cute pictures, he looks very excited and imagine he surely had a good time. Brings memories of when my boy was that age!

Believe we saw you and him in the boarding line. Did not know it was you / your son at the time but on seeing him I did tell my wife the story, having seen your earlier post, that a father was going to surprise his young son with a ride.

[east point]

HEP question. Leaving NY{ on the ACS-64 HEP but P-42 controls traction. Once switching to diesel after starting same does a rider in the ACS-64 have to cut off HEP and then diesel HEP engaged by Amtrak engineer. AS well who starts the trailing P-42 ?

Returning to NYP how is the reverse engaged ?

[Backshophoss]

Most of the Amfleet have the MU trainline,so both P-42's were running,the trailing P-42 might have been isolated as was the lead unit while in NYP
untill Newark,then 642 was isolated,pan dropped,HEP switched over to Diesel power,a matter of turning off the HEP inverter on 642 and turning on
1 of the P-42's HEP inverter. From the youtube vids there was a rider or engine crew on the trailing P-42 from the horn use.

[MARKON]

This had to be the Best Rail Fan experience in a long time (I am OLD)
- Amtrak "volunteers" manning coaches - Happy Amtrak Employees!!. Unique..
- Commentary during the trip - Great - Amtrak Matt - CUDOS
- I just can't fathom that this train could sideline CSX freights.. Guess this was organized before EHH.
- Loved the fact that they did a reverse move at Selkirk to allow peeps on one side to get the river view going down the other.
- Cafe car attendants (working 10+ hours) - congenial and informative.
- Got to eavesdrop on many conversations during the day - Rail Education at it's best
** If this could be organized again buy a private industry.. Could you not imagine the profit of 500+ peeps on a train going to nowhere?

[GirlOnTheTrain]

From the youtube vids there was a rider or engine crew on the trailing P-42 from the horn use.

Saw 2 people hanging out on the trailing 145 when it came through Haverstraw on Saturday.

[Zuccaraillo]

Veterans ACS-64 642 is currently in normal service; currently leading Keystone 645 as of the time of this posting.

[ExCon90]

- I just can't fathom that this train could sideline CSX freights.. Guess this was organized before EHH.

Some dispatchers "get it" that if a special movement is in the way, MOVE IT and get it off your territory so you can get back to business. Put a train in the hole and it will stay there; you'll still have to move it sometime. At the NRHS convention in 2000 (Stamford) we had a nonstop return from Groton to Stamford--and this on a day when the Tall Ships were in New London and SLE was running extras. I called a friend of mine at Amtrak the next day to compliment him on the run that they (and Metro North) gave us, and he said, "Of course they did! They wanted to get you off the !@#$%^&*() railroad!"

[StLouSteve]

I rode Sunday and had a great time. (Wore my NY Central railfan cap)

If third rail is still in Hudson tubes, they could have used a dual mode instead of dragging an electric along for the day, but duals appear to be in short supply.

My only gripe is I couldn't get a veggie box lunch, but I came prepared and there were two cafe cars stocked with regular items for sale so all was good.

Fun to meet some fellow fans from the boards.

[Zuccaraillo]

The third rail in the Hudson tubes ends right at the west portal so it would probably be difficult for the P32 to finish the mode change right as it exits the tunnel.

[Backshophoss]

Not sure if the 3rd rail is still active and energized now,a good streach of 3rd rail was submerged in that brackish water from Sandy's "visit"!

[hazmatmess]

From the youtube vids there was a rider or engine crew on the trailing P-42 from the horn use.

Saw 2 people hanging out on the trailing 145 when it came through Haverstraw on Saturday.

They were in there on Sunday too. Very horn happy which was cool. Those air reserves must have been working overtime all weekend.

[hazmatmess]

Cute pictures, he looks very excited and imagine he surely had a good time. Brings memories of when my boy was that age!

Believe we saw you and him in the boarding line. Did not know it was you / your son at the time but on seeing him I did tell my wife the story, having seen your earlier post, that a father was going to surprise his young son with a ride.

Thanks. You probably did see us. We, well more me, stand out like a sore thumb.

[kitn1mcc]

The ACS64 provided all the HEP in and out of the tunnels and under the wire.
When they went to Diesel the ACS just acted like pass thru.

I would imagine they had both diesels HEP that was a lot of train

[amtrakhogger]

No series HEP for P42's. Only one P42 providing HEP for that train at a time.

[njtmnrrbuff]

Here is a picture that I got accepted to railpictures.net of the train passing through Beacon on Sunday. http://www.railpictures.net/photo/634398/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;