posted
Yes, the maximum speed on this section of the Sunset Route is 79 mph, which the train runs most of the way. There's nothing quite like roaring through a tiny town in the desert at 79 mph. I rode this route last month and found the track VERY smooth for much of the route, much better than some of the track in Texas from Dallas to San Antonio. There were times when the ride was so smooth that I could hardly tell we were moving, except when passing over switches or an occasional grade crossing.
Posts: 19 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I agree with Coronado. There are many spots where the rail is so smooth that the train doesn't really feel like a regular train. It feels like quick motion without the bumpiness.
I especially remember gliding into Del Rio, Texas, so smoothly that the only way I knew we were moving was to look out the window.
I also remember going about 2 to 9 mph for a long time just east of El Paso.
------------------ Elias Valley Railroad (N-scale) www.geocities.com/evrr
posted
Or, perhaps, it seems smooth BECAUSE it's only doing about 2 to 9 MPH. Although the speed limit for this line is 79 mph, the SLugset (Very)Limited is almost always under a slow order (30-40mph or slower). 79? I don't think so. Your lucky if it's averaging 55 by the time it gets to Tucson!
Posts: 387 | From: Bakersfield, CA | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
All I know is that, last year on my trip, the Sunset was 7 hrs late into L.A. (it was actually 9 hours late, but there is about 2 hours of padding in the schedule between Ontario and L.A.), and that was mainly due to UP freight delays. When the train is NOT under a slow order or a freight delay, yes, it does travel 79 mph over fairly smooth track. When I rode it in 1999 eastbound, we were on time from L.A. all the way into El Paso.
It seems that, no matter what the situation may be on any given day, the Sunset ALWAYS leaves El Paso several hours late, usually due to some mechanical delay.
Posts: 2428 | From: Grayling, MI | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I remember that the last time I took the Sunset we were 5 hours late into LA. THat was due to a 4 1/2 hour delay in Tucson because of the Comp in the lead unit. we were hauling a$$ for the majority of the trip. when I talked w/ the conductor he said we were runing at 80-90 mi/hr.
posted
Last year I rode from LA to San Antonio and can confirm that large portions were at 70+, this being from the defect detector readouts. El Paso was slow, but we arrived pretty much on time. We got stopped after El Paso for a while and the next morning we arrived about 45 mins late in San Antonio.
Geoff M.
Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I rode this route just last month and we arrived into LA only about 1 hour and 45 minutes late. Overall, there was little delay from freight, I assume because for the majority of the journey, we were running reasonably close to schedule... perhaps a pleasant anamoly over the usual performance? Rather than slow running, the delays were the result of us actually having to stop and wait... the longest delays were just outside of El Paso, waiting for freight traffic to clear so we could roll into the station, and just outside of LA waiting for freight and Metrolink traffic... these totaled well over an hour. The track was exceptionally smooth and I saw very little ongoing track work. With only a few exceptions, we ran at track speed of 79mph, except in some especially curvy sections of track near Sanderson, Texas; Alpine, Texas; and Benson, Arizona.
Speed on the train is deceiving because you are so high up, and in many places in the West, there aren't many large trees or structures close to the track to really give you the impression of how fast you were going. At first, it didn't seem to me that we were going all that fast, but in West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, the track parallels Interstate 10 in many places and we passed up most of the cars on the highway. Speed limit signs on the highway were 75mph.
posted
My wife and I took it in September (LA>Orlando) and it was 15 hours late into New Orleans, at which point the train was cancelled and most were bussed to orlando. We took a plane to Orlando.
Posts: 12 | From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida USA | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
Honestly, out in the middle of the desert, you would think the engineers might be inclined to speed a little, especially if the train is running late? Would an engineer get in a lot of trouble if speeds a little over 79 were recorded at the detectors?
[This message has been edited by Charles802 (edited 04-23-2003).]
posted
The Sunset between El Paso and Phoenix was very slow, at least in my personal experience (rode it in 1998 between Tempe, AZ and St. Louis, MO). From reports I have heard elsewhere, nothing has improved, and thanks to Union Pacific's Dick Davidson "coming clean" about his feelings regarding Amtrak, I would look for things to deteriorate in the future...
Posts: 566 | Registered: Mar 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I dunno how fast we were going but after we left ElPaso(thought we would never get out!!!!) it was smooth but speed i dunno...lots of open land nice to see there.
Posts: 139 | Registered: Oct 2002
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
