Onboard Amtrak's Southwest Chief - 85mph Zone & Meet w/BNSF Freight, 4/1/10

[sneebly]

Actually this track is FRA Class V meaninh it is good for a psgr limit of 90mph, as long as ATS (Automatic Train Stop) is in wffect. Another advantage to having class V track is being able to run freight trains at up to 80 mph. If the track is class IV then the limits are 60 frt and 80 psgr. In this area between about LaPlata to Revere MO is mostly 85 on the curves with 90 on srtaights.

[likestallwomen]

You weren't doin' 85,. passin' a freight that quick? That's 90 tops!

[amtraksouthwestchief]

i thought tops was 79?

[kanjo007]

@amtraksouthwestchief Usually on Class 2 Railroads, yes. The BNSF line through this section of Missouri is maintained at a Class 1 status, allowing for speeds of at least or about 90 mph.

[mjet401bnsf]

hey what day was this recorded

[kanjo007]

@mjet401bnsf It's in the title

[mjet401bnsf]

watch the whole thing

[mjet401bnsf]

is that the crossing right after la plata

[kanjo007]

@mjet401bnsf No, this was a little ways down the line. I got comfortable for a little and then got up to film.

[blc48183]

I like the view from back there. I think I`ll take coach on my next trip to California.

[mj1234321]

Nice...I've always wanted to take the Southwest Chief!

[mfastx]

great vid and train montage. hopefully the US can get on the ball with high speed rail.

[WhatTheHeck5205]

@mfastx I'll take Superliners and Genesis locomotives over those crappy Euro trains any day.

[mfastx]

@WhatTheHeck5205 um.. okay. crappy euro trains? well those 'crappy' trains seem to be working out for them don't they? 

[WhatTheHeck5205]

@mfastx By crappy I meant ugly. The Genesis units are streamined, somewhat like the E and F units of the 1940s, and the design of the Superliners recalls that of streamilners such as Santa Fe's "El Capitan". They're a distinctly American way to travel that I would hate to see lost. A TGV does not have the luster of the California Zephyr.

[mfastx]

@WhatTheHeck5205 while I agree with you as I am an Amtrak fan myself, I would however like to see modern HSR be implemented in America. I think it would benefit the country and would get much more people riding the rails.

[WhatTheHeck5205]

@mfastx HSR is a good idea, I just think the trains used for it are ugly and wish the Superliners could be rebuilt for 150mph. Actually I plan on working on HSR with Amtrak at some point. My family is kind of entrepeneurial and my goal is to one day make enough to acquire a portion of Amtrak from the Feds and run it the way a railroad should be run.

[mfastx]

@WhatTheHeck5205 well said

[WhatTheHeck5205]

@mfastx Thank you. I try to dream big.