My wife and I are currently on the Amtrak's 171 out of Boston heading south to North Carolina. The northbound Acela 2601 tangled their pantograph in the overhead catenary and shut down this section of the northeast corridor. The conductor has made frequent announcements about how the repairs are going. He usually says 30-45 more minutes. We are now at the four hour mark and we just got another 30 more minute notice, UGH!!!
We have power in the coach, the WiFi works and the coffee is good...
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"tangled their pantograph in the overhead catenary"
how does that happen?
enjoy your wife,
enjoy the view,
enjoy the coffee,
enjoy the other passengers,
keep us posted. 
According to Amtrak's 'Track a Train' app, several trains are affected in the area. Two SB appear to be held at Providence, RI with one NB held at Old Saybrook with a regional also approaching that station.
"tangled their pantograph in the overhead catenary"
how does that happen?
The contact wire breaks for some reason and the rest is a result of the magic of inertia.
Rusty
My wife and I are currently on the Amtrak's 171 out of Boston heading south to North Carolina. The northbound Acela 2601 tangled their pantograph in the overhead catenary and shut down this section of the northeast corridor. The conductor has made frequent announcements about how the repairs are going. He usually says 30-45 more minutes. We are now at the four hour mark and we just got another 30 more minute notice, UGH!!!
We have power in the coach, the WiFi works and the coffee is good...
hope the bathrooms aren't full yet.
Any donuts on board? I like donuts with my coffee. I hope it isn't that dark roast?
Rick
The conductor has made frequent announcements about how the repairs are going. He usually says 30-45 more minutes. We are now at the four hour mark and we just got another 30 more minute notice,
Wouldn't it have been faster just to bring in a diesel of some sort and pull it to the next station?
Jerry
The conductor has made frequent announcements about how the repairs are going. He usually says 30-45 more minutes. We are now at the four hour mark and we just got another 30 more minute notice,
Wouldn't it have been faster just to bring in a diesel of some sort and pull it to the next station?
Jerry
Does Amtrak even HAVE any diesels on the Northeast Corridor, besides passenger yard switchers?
Now the rest of the story....
We are in our own home. Trip postponed for one day. They cleared the track and the northbound Acela rolled passed us. They gave us another 30 minute announcement to clean up the tracks. That turned into 45 before we started. But, I used the time well.
I had the chance to talk to the conductor. Nice guy ~ 55+ yrs old. Looked like Saint Nick with his flowing white beard. I repeat Nice guy. I knew, from the announcements, we were the first train stopped in front of the incident and so I asked the conductor if we would be able to makeup time because nothing was in front of us. His response was yes, up to a point. Amtrak owns the tracks up to New Haven and then the tracks are owned by the Metro North through to New York City. The Metro North would be responsible for maintaining its own schedule and we would be required to hold position and allow their equipment to proceed. So I asked how long to New York. He shrugged his shoulders and asked where I was going and I told him Alexandria, VA. Then he gave me his sagest advice - "When things like this happen, it only gets worse....." He told me the train was going to make a stop at Westerly, 1 mile down the rail, to let people off who had missed their meetings so they could get rides back north. He gave me the look like I was never going to get into Alexandria tonight and said Amtrak would honor the ticket tomorrow on the same train.
I took his advice and my wife and I arranged rides to get home. We'll do it all over again tomorrow.....
The consist was made up of 8 cars 1 business class, 1 cafe and 6 coaches. I am guessing that it was 60% occupied. This was not a commuter due to the late departure. But it was made up of multiple, young, business people. The majority of whom were heading for NYC. Mostly under the age of 40 and over the age 25. For me it held a surprisingly large number of young business women. I was really impressed.
The conductor has made frequent announcements about how the repairs are going. He usually says 30-45 more minutes. We are now at the four hour mark and we just got another 30 more minute notice,
Wouldn't it have been faster just to bring in a diesel of some sort and pull it to the next station?
The engine was not damaged the catenary was disrupted....... Thus there was no power on the line.
Jerry
Does Amtrak even HAVE any diesels on the Northeast Corridor, besides passenger yard switchers?
You are quite correct Hot Water, there are no diesels in transit operations on the northeast corridor.
enjoy your wife,
enjoy the view,
enjoy the coffee,
enjoy the other passengers,
keep us posted.
The second best sage advice I received today. Thanks, Popi
Amtrak delayed for hours? What a suprise!
Just have some freight carrier like NS come and move it themselves.
The conductor has made frequent announcements about how the repairs are going. He usually says 30-45 more minutes. We are now at the four hour mark and we just got another 30 more minute notice,
Wouldn't it have been faster just to bring in a diesel of some sort and pull it to the next station?
The engine was not damaged the catenary was disrupted....... Thus there was no power on the line.
Jerry
Does Amtrak even HAVE any diesels on the Northeast Corridor, besides passenger yard switchers?
You are quite correct Hot Water, there are no diesels in transit operations on the northeast corridor.
enjoy your wife,
enjoy the view,
enjoy the coffee,
enjoy the other passengers,
keep us posted.
The second best sage advice I received today. Thanks, Popi
They don't have any diesels of any type that would have the muscle to tow a "dead" train to the next stop? No MOW diesels? Couldn't beg or bum a lift from a local freight operation? Everything they have is electric powered? You can tell this is a government run operation.
Jerry
They don't have any diesels of any type that would have the muscle to tow a "dead" train to the next stop? No MOW diesels? Couldn't beg or bum a lift from a local freight operation? Everything they have is electric powered? You can tell this is a government run operation.
Jerry
You apparently have no experience in, nor knowledge of, railroad operations on the Northeast Corridor.
The journey continued today and we're off to a good start. No problem using yesterday's ticket. The conductor was very accommodating and helpful.
The consist today has 12 coaches and sold out. My wife and I were fortunate to be able to sit together. This is a beautiful ride down the coast. I'll post a couple of pictures and then just enjoy ourselves for the rest of the trip.
I really did not want to post this, but we arrived on time at Penn Central and when we we're supposed to leave we were told the engine is caputs and they need to bring in a new unit. "Sorry for the delay folks, this shouldn't be long, but we don't know exactly how long it will be."..... It is now 12:40pm.
1:45 pm, leaving Penn Central, 1 hour and ten minutes behind schedule. Keep you fingers crossed we still have 5 hours of running time ahead of us....
Wood
ya better save all these posts for the book your gonna write.
"My Penn Central Adventure"
Malcolm(Popi)
Wood, I believe you are referring to: NY Penn Station.
Enjoy your trip.
You are right Chris, it is NY Penn Station. Popi, no way am I going to relive this by writing a book.
I had the chance to talk to the conductor. Nice guy ~ 55+ yrs old. . . . Then he gave me his sagest advice - "When things like this happen, it only gets worse....."
There was a a time when every effort was exerted in order to allow a delayed train to recover lost time. However, in our current era, with many operating rules, electronic surveillance, railroading by process instead of by skill, and reduced staffing, late trains become increasingly later as they proceed toward their final terminals.
Mostly under the age of 40 and over the age 25. For me it held a surprisingly large number of young business women. I was really impressed.
****! Missed another opportunity!
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