RAILforum: Am I insane, or what?

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Posted by Boyce (Member # 2719) on :

After not getting but a few hours of strained sleep, it appeared that the train was actually traveling in reverse! Has this happened to anyone else or am I just dillusional?

[This message has been edited by Boyce (edited 12-04-2003).]

Posted by stlboomer (Member # 2028) on :

Do you mean that as you look out the window just after the train has come to a stop, it seems for a second as if the train's rolling backwards? That, I have experienced.

Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :

Nope.

Let's say a siding can hold a train of 120 cars. Say the dispatcher desires to give priority to a train (possibly with a crew getting short on time) heading, say, Eastward to both run around an Eastward train (with, say, a fresh crew) and "meet' a Westward train. Say the Eastward train to be run around is a freight 100 cars long; say the Westward train to be "met' is an Amtrak passenger 10 cars long.

What will happen is the Eastward freight being run around will enter the siding stopping so that only the Western switch point is cleared. There is still 20 cars of "room" (120-100=20). The Westward Amtrak 10 cars long will now pull into the siding and after clearing the Eastern switch point it is now time for the nursery rhyme of "What was it the engines said, touching pilots head to head".

The Eastward freight with priority comes and goes.

Now, the Amtrak passenger will back up and reenter the Main Line through the Eastern switch point and get on its way Westward until it is time for some other delay to occur The secondary Eastward freight now gets on its way entering the Main Line through that same Eastern switch point.

OK, school's out. Homework; anybody care to describe a "sawbuck' switch move?

[This message has been edited by Gilbert B Norman (edited 12-04-2003).]

Posted by Mr. Toy (Member # 311) on :

One time I was on the Starlight, northbound. The train stopped in Sacramento, then instead of going forward as normal, it backed out of the station over the Sacramento River. Then it went forward again and turned north on the west side of the river.

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Trust God, love your neighbor, and never mistake opinion for truth.
-Mr. Toy

The Del Monte Club Car

Posted by JONATHON (Member # 2899) on :

I've had the same thing happen to me before, some times at night if your half asleep and lights are going by fast or if there not, on a long trip you may suddenly think your going in reverse and then see that you going the right way. On long trips some times your eyes can play tricks on you.

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JONATHON D. ORTIZ

Posted by dilly (Member # 1427) on :

I experienced an "unanticipated reversal" on the eastbound Empire Builder a while back.

We'd just pulled into the station at Malta, Montana. The attendants were getting ready to open the doors -- until the conductor announced a slight change of plan.

The westbound Empire Builder, way behind schedule, was evidently approaching Malta. From the sound of it, a snap decision had been made to give it the right of way.

So our train shifted into reverse, backed out, and moved onto a siding.

The westbound Empire Builder entered the station, quickly took care of business, and departed. Once it had completely rolled past us, we pulled into Malta a second time.

Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :

Boyce - AMTRAK trains do sometimes travel in reverse, for a variety of reasons.........

Posted by JonA (Member # 2690) on :

Entering the station at Montreal arriving from the toronto direction the train stops on a bridge over the river then backs up for what must be 2 miles or so into the station.

Posted by MPALMER (Member # 125) on :

Have had a similar situation where a train enters a siding for a meet, then backs out after the other train has passed.

It was not as complicated as what Mr. Norman described. It was a matter of not using the west end siding switch back to the main, but using the east end switch both times (don't know why)

Posted by espeefoamer (Member # 2815) on :

One time when I was on a train in Mexico,I woke up in the middle of the night,raised the shade in my room,and we were going backwards.I don't know how far we did this,or why.

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Trust Jesus,Ride Amtrak.