From: sam@terapin.com (Sam Lewit)
Newsgroups: rec.railroad
Subject: Assorted general questions
Date: 25 Jul 92 22:53:46 PST
Organization: BBS

I've been a railfan for as long as I can remember. Over the years there are
certain things I've been wondering about. If anyone knows the answer, feel free
to reply here or E-Mail.

1) The route from SF-San Jose/Gilroy recently taken over by Amtrak.

   a) Will these trains be repainted in Amtrak colors?
   b) Does SP still own these tracks, or did the state/Amtrak/? purchase the   
     line?

2) There seems to be a lot of new railroad activity starting up and being
explored lately in California. The new Amtrak Capitol train, the extension of
the SF-San Jose to Gilroy, talk of trains through the Santa Cruz mountains
,etc. Where is the money coming from for all this? California is in such poor
financial shape that I can't imagine it is from state funds.

3) A couple of weeks ago I read a message here about the Pacific Limited
excursion from Cheyenne to San Jose over UP. I went down to shot some video of
it (Never did though as I was on the wrong line). My question is a two part.
I'm sure there are other excursions/specials going through my area (UP and SP
mainline access) all the time. How/where does everyone get their info on these
runs? Are there groups that issue these things? Or do I have to join several
newsletters to get a bigger picture? Which groups?

While waiting for the UP that day I ran into a guy who had a printed listing of
all activity in the area for what seemed like the month. This is what I'd love
to have. Unfortunately he wasn't the friendliest type, so I didn't get a chance
to ask where and how he got it.

4) Here's a simple question. What is to keep a vandal from loosening and/or
removing the bolts on rail joiners? I mean, it seems to me all someone would
need is a wrench! I realize breaking the circuit would trip some detector, but
it seems all the rail joints I've seen have those little welded jumpers over
the joints. I'm sure they would remain. If the answer is "There is nothing
stopping someone", then it seems odd to me that an accident hasn't occured
because of it yet.

5) Here's a weird one. I've noticed that when an American PASSENGER train needs
to move some cars around, it seems to take forever. A good example. The switch
they (used to?) make in Salt Lake City where the Zephyr splits up (or joins).
It seems they'll sit around for awhile, then pull up past a switch, long pause,
the switch is thrown, long pause again, the change is made. I've noticed on
European trains where these types of makeups apparently happen very often, it
is extremely fast. I've seen a train "uncoupled", and within seconds the front
half of the train is gone. No sitting around. Is this just my imagination?

6) I read an article in Trains about Amtraks so-called "best" route the
Southwest Chief. The article goes on to say how Santa Fe actually tries its
hardest to get Amtrak priority to help keep it on schedule. Why aren't other
railroads so eager? And also, can't these railroads get a simple timetable of
Amtrak trains, and try and work their trains around the few Amtrak trains
coming through? Is this too simplistic?

These are just some questions I have and have had. If there is a FAQ on this,
I'd appreciate someone mailing it to me as I don't have the ability to ftp.

Thanks!

 

Sam Lewit                 | sam@terapin.com
2550 Shattuck #73         | "We shouldn't be blindly opposed to all progress.
Berkeley, Ca. 94704       | But we should be opposed to blind progress"
Internet: sam@terapin.com | 510-486-1422 24HR BBS Newsfeeds Free
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