of diesel locomotives at Erie, Pennsylvania, during the period 1993-2001. Amtrak purchased 44 P40's, 207 P42's, and 18 dualmodes (the latter with New York State support for Empire Services).
Our featured unit is #151, the "youngest" P42 in the fleet.
"What the American public doesn't know is what makes them the American public."
Ray Zalinsky - March 31, 1995
CANADA
Canadian/US border restrictions have been extended at least another month, now to December 21. We're not looking at any change there into 2021, given irresponsible behavior by the US government and many of its citizens.
OUR NORMAL MISSION STATEMENT
For our new viewers, perhaps who just found this page, here is our mission: To track as well as possible the movements of Amtrak's ancient P42 Genesis locomotive fleet, along with those few even older P40's that are still active at Amtrak.
Many locomotives are now being isolated in terminals where they may not move much, if ever again.
Please see our comments below. When was the last time you saw any marketing for Amtrak services? Does the public even know it exists?
UNREPORTED IN ABNORMAL TIMES
Engine 42 has gone back to Beech Grove. We will see how long she will be there this time.
We could use some updates on Connecticut's P40's at Beech Grove, if anybody knows. Connecticut probably does not really need them right now, but one or two of the overhauled former Amtrak P40's expected to move soon, so any reports would be welcome.
We also have a few other "wonder units" which have not been reported moving in over a month (in addition to the New Orleans stored units):
54 Last report Oakland September 10
57 Los Angeles, October 1/November 24...now reported dead in tow on Train 4-24 out of LAX.
63 Believed in Chicago, no report since October 19
92 and 125 - Believe in Boston, no reports in over a month.
100 No report since Rensselaer October 9
110 Last report Rensselaer September 30. Popped out on Lakeshore west to Chicago 11-27.
144 Last report October 4 at LAX
167 Last report October 5 at OAK
In the recent malfunction junction report, 46 had traction motor problems on train 58 as did 837 at South Bend on Train 30 (fire). 191 encountered an 18-wheeler vehicle near MCB. Both 46 and 191 had to be towed north by CN. 837 was set out and an engine was robbed off the Lakeshore. Out east, 165 also involved in a vehicle strike at Elm City, North Carolina, which destroyed the HEP cables and separated it from the train. Train cancelled at Wilson, as well as the next day's northbound.
A TIME TO EXPAND MARKET SHARE?
People are traveling. Recently, TSA boarded over 1 million people at airports in the USA and despite the virus, numbers of travelers continue to rise. So why is Amtrak going out OF business instead of going out FOR business and increased market share? Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest carrier, and others such as Alaska, are expanding operations into new markets. How about some smart management decisions by the "nation's railroad"?
Over the years, we have often met people in their local Amtrak-served communities, who had no idea that passenger train servce even existed there. Amtrak does not market intermediate stops at all, and seldom even advertises its corridor end points. Unless you live in California, Oregon, Washington, or somewhere between Boston and Richmond, you likely would have no clue.
THE UNFORTUNATE NEW SCHEDULES - ORIGINATING DATES
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 14
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday: 1,5, 11
Monday, Thursday, Saturday: 3, 7/27, 30, 48/448, 59, 89**
Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday: 97***
Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 4, 6, 8/28, 50
Tuesday, Friday, Sunday: 19, 21/421, 22
Wednesday, Friday, Sunday: 2/422*, 29, 49/449, 51, 58, 89**, 90**
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 91, 92
Sunday-Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday 98***
*Train 2 LAX departure schedule is pacific time, actually next day for the rest of us. ** 89 Departs Boston Wed, Fri, Su. Departs Washington Monday Thursday Saturday. Train 90 arrives Boston Monday Thursday Saturday. *** 97/98 are the only 4 day a week schedules, the rest are 3x a week.
The Autotrain (52/53) remains daily, at least for now.
1, 2/422, 3, 4, 421, 5, 6, 7/27, 8/28 are 48 hour operations, arriving at terminals second day out.
BROWSER WARS
We've been caught in the browser wars lately, with things not working as intended, and sometimes not working at all. If it seems like the web page gets stuck and not updated for a while, that is probably the reason.