More updates on what to expect during the Semaphore Safari.
1. Presently there are 19 private cars scheduled to be on the eastbound AAPRCO passenger train special on Friday, September 17th. I will try to get their names. I know that at least one MKT TEXAS SPECIAL chair car and one ATSF big dome will be on the train.
We will be chasing this train that morning from ABQ to at least Springer and will target it as it passes several several semaphore locations.
These cars will also be on display at ABQ and we will visit them at the Amtrak depot at some point prior to Friday morning, probably when we ride Railrunner to Santa Fe.
1. Presently there are 19 private cars scheduled to be on the eastbound AAPRCO passenger train special on Friday, September 17th. I will try to get their names. I know that at least one MKT TEXAS SPECIAL chair car and one ATSF big dome will be on the train.
We will be chasing this train that morning from ABQ to at least Springer and will target it as it passes several several semaphore locations.
These cars will also be on display at ABQ and we will visit them at the Amtrak depot at some point prior to Friday morning, probably when we ride Railrunner to Santa Fe.
2. On Thursday, Sept. 16, the AAPRCO group will be having a BBQ meal at the Santa Fe steam locomotive 2926. We have been invited for a tour of the locomotive.
3. Amtrak and BNSF has recently dropped speeds on the Southwest Chief from 79 mph to 60 mph across over 150 miles of trackage east of LaJunta. This was done beginning last week and is yet another hint of a possible reroute of the Southwest Chief via Amarillo in the near future. Reason given was that the BNSF has failed to maintain it to 79 MPH standards and that it is rough riding. This means that Tr. 3 could possibly be about 30-45 minutes late through these areas. Amtrak timetables are somewhat padded in spots so I'm not sure what to expect from Raton west, but it is entirely possible that the daily meet between 3 and 4 could be moved east from the Lamy-Rowe areas, to somewhere further east to possibly take place in the semaphore district.
4. There have also been an increase of Amtrak motive power failures on the SW Chief beginning this month and BNSF power has been observed on the point on many days. From a photograph standpoint, this greatly adds value to any trains we might catch.
As stated earlier will will spend two full days in the field chasing the SW Chief, two days aboard the train between Albuquerque and LaJunta, a trip aboard Railrunner, and another day chasing the AAPRCO special. And as always we will also take you to any nearby rail sites, such as depots, steam locos, roundhouses, water towers etc.
Skip provides all of the driving and transportation and I make out all of the day's schedules. We take you right to all of the best spots and basically all you have to do is get out and start taking pix.
In short, everything seems to be coming together to make the upcoming Semaphore Safari one of the best, if not rarest ones to date. More and more indications all point to a possible reroute of the Southwest Chief in the near future which will take it off this historic line.
Plus it will be our last!
Can you really afford not to go?
We still have a couple slots open for the trip. Contact us off off list if interested in going along.
TZ
No comments:
Post a Comment