3RD LOCOMOTIVE AND TWO VIEWLINER DINERS ON AMTRAK'S LAKE SHORE LIMITED

Maybe -- as you suggest -- they were deadheading a locomotive dead-in-consist.  

Another possibility would be the trailing unit of a 2-unit consist failing just before departure.  Sometimes it's less time-consuming to find another locomotive to use and couple it into the consist as the leader.  Taking the consist with the dead unit to the roundhouse area and removing the ailing unit and adding the replacement unit there, then getting back to the train, can tie up the whole world for at least an hour at a place like Chicago Union Station.

The second diner?  It would be interesting to know the reason for it.  certainly, it was already part of the train when they shoved it from the coach yard to the station.  It appears to be a deadhead movement for some purpose, as it is the rear car, behind the baggage car, and thus not in service.

I have seen Three locomotives on the LSL before. It isn't common, but it certainly happens enough that I can recall it.

My wife traveled the LSL from Croton on the Hudson to Erie, Pa. last night. It pulled into Erie's Amtrak station at an ungodly 3:28 am and I'm still sleepwalking around the house today. As I went up onto the arrival platform,  I noticed the LSL was pulling into the station with  2 Genesis locomotives and quite a few coaches . It's a "trip" being 3 feet away when the powerful engines glide by. My o scale layout has the Amtrak Genesis locomotive and 4 coaches, a reminder, and gift for my wife when she travels to visit her sister.  Amtrak is less expensive and who wants to pay today's prices at the gas pumps !

@Taconite Hauler posted:

My wife traveled the LSL from Croton on the Hudson to Erie, Pa. last night. It pulled into Erie's Amtrak station at an ungodly 3:28 am and I'm still sleepwalking around the house today. As I went up onto the arrival platform,  I noticed the LSL was pulling into the station with  2 Genesis locomotives and quite a few coaches . It's a "trip" being 3 feet away when the powerful engines glide by. My o scale layout has the Amtrak Genesis locomotive and 4 coaches, a reminder, and gift for my wife when she travels to visit her sister.  Amtrak is less expensive and who wants to pay today's prices at the gas pumps !

Yeah, there were a few issues last night.

I noticed it was on time into Utica, and figured I'd go wait for it.  When on the NYS 365 bridge passing over the tracks, I noticed MOW on track 2 near the Rome, NY station.  When I got to my usual spot, an WB on track 1 was fading off into the distance and more MOW crew were just loading their rig and following it.

The signal at mp248 stayed red as they faded off into the distance around the bend toward MP 251, and soon another WB pulled up behind me to the stop signal.  This was just before 9pm and WB LSL was in Utica.  I followed 49 on the map, and saw that they stopped right behind the train in my rearview mirror.

We sat there for an hour, and then an EB autorack came crawling through the crossovers from 1 to 2; whilst the WB garbage train behind me was getting very impatient.  Verbally expressing his dissatisfaction of the situation on the radio.

As soon as the autorack cleared, the WB was crawling towards the signal which quickly dropped to clear.  There was a slow order through mp250, and the garbage train was barely clear of the signal at mp248 when 49 poked it's head around the curve.  It slowly pulled up next to me and passed me at maybe 8mph.

It was indeed a "trip" to have them slide by at such a slow speed.  It was going to follow the garbage train though the slow order and then over to track 2 at mp257 crossovers.

mp248 signals, crossovers & switch to Rome.

Through-truss over the Mohawk river.

All of this straight away is in sight...

Thanks!

- Mario

@BenLMaggi posted:

I have seen Three locomotives on the LSL before. It isn't common, but it certainly happens enough that I can recall it.

Haven't seen anything come through with 3, but have seen some with a single Genesis, having dropping off a failed unit somewhere out west.

Caught more than a few 49s come through with some extra cars, though.  Last night was a full consist, but no extra cars.

- Mario