My Amtrak Adventures

[Coffeemug]

I can say now that have plenty of fun on Amtrak's Silver Star, especially when I took HT along. I was able to why the train had to take the siding. Most of time, CSX or NS had priority, since Amtrak only pay to use the tracks. I really don't which routes Amtrak maintains a has priority on, but in most part of 48 continental United States, freight trains have priority over passenger.

Only one time I took Amtrak from Philadelphia's 30th. Street Station to Tampa Union Station and back. I remember on my home; we did make stop for HOT BOX Detection. I assume everything was fine, because we did not have to deboard the train. That was somewhere around mid-night, and I was already laying in my rack. Most of the time, I couldn't sleep, but I was able to listen to the crew and dispatcher.

The one that I wish Amtrak could do for Railfans like myself, put a webcam on the locomotive, this you can get the engineer's view. Man, that would be impressive and help shape careers for future engineers.

 

[buddrousa]

That is video you will never want to see as a retired Firefighter Amtrak 80MPH vrs Car not something you would ever want to see.

 

[rf_patriot200]

That is video you will never want to see as a retired Firefighter Amtrak 80MPH vrs Car not something you would ever want to see.

... Or a Deer frozen in the headlights !

 

[BinaryMode]

That is video you will never want to see as a retired Firefighter Amtrak 80MPH vrs Car not something you would ever want to see.

I can't even imagine.

Where I live there's been a number of foolish people who decided to go suicide via train.

 

[FrensicPic]

I recall when American Airlines had a camera in the cockpit for takeoff and landings. I think it was discontinued after that terrible DC-10 crash in Chicago.

 

[lenk911]

Or a Deer frozen in the headlights

I volunteer on the Empire Builder for the National Parks Service. Last summer in Wisconsin the train hit a flock of wild turkeys and a black bear. Even the turkeys, which you would think would be like a pillow explosion, caused an hour delay to fully inspect the under carriage of the entire train for any damage. The bear just got launched to the edge of the right-of-way by the tunnel entrance. The next few weeks he was the buzzards buffet!

 

[Coffeemug]

That is video you will never want to see as a retired Firefighter Amtrak 80MPH vrs Car not something you would ever want to see.

You're probably right about that. There too many motorists out there that don't yield when they merge onto a Major highway or a General Highway and cause accidents that are avoidable. I wouldn't want to see an accident involving a car or truck with a train, especially if I'm riding on that very train. I just wonder about the view from an engineer's point sometimes. Oh, I've rode up inside of the cab/vestibule on SEPTA's Silverline 3s & 4s on the R7 Trenton East. which you don't about grade crossing accidents, because from NYP to Washington DC, there aren't Grade Crossings on the Northeast Corridor. The worries about individuals whether Railfanning or just acting like a moron and even individuals who attempt suicide. Of course, some of those incidences are suicide victims, scare the engineer and other train crew members for life. Yep, you're I wouldn't want to take that risk

 

[Coffeemug]

As you probably can see, I add little humor with General Highway and Major Highway. But serious, I would like to see what the Engineer sees as far wayside signal and the landscape, but I don't think I could handle what I don't want to see.

 

[Kitn1mcc]

Amtrak has priority on all lines it owns in line New Haven to Boston and New Haven to Springfield
Amtrak get good moves on Metro North
also up north amtrak get good moves vermonter and down east

 

[tvengr]

I can say now that have plenty of fun on Amtrak's Silver Star, especially when I took HT along.

You can hear interesting things on the radio. One time, the crew announced there would be a delay at the Wilmington station. On the radio, I heard that Amtrak Police were coming on board to take an escaped mental patient off of the train. Another time, it was announced that there would be a delay leaving Washington Terminal. On the radio, I heard that Amtrak forgot to schedule an engineer for the train.