Great Video! I have always lived in Oregon, but for the better part of the year I would commute to Woburn. I'd ride the Downeaster from N. Boston to Haverhill, where'd I'd have my car parked.
Nope, he was doing 60 here, accelerating to 70. Top speed between Portland and Boston is 79, which is only allowed in a few places where the line is really long and straight. The rest of it is 60-70.
Why is it that in The US, outside of the NEC, the top speed is always 79 mph even if the track is long and straight? In canada, the track linking the 2 largest cities is a constant 95-100 mph zone and it has very few slowdowns. We run p42s here as well.
Ultimately it all boils down to money (or lack of money). FRA regulations state that if you want to go faster than 79 MPH, you have to have cab signals... and in the near future that will also include other expensive technologies such as automatic train stop or positive train control or whatever it's called. That costs a lot of money, and the U.S. already underfunds its railroads... so, 79 is unfortunately the maximum speed in most of the U.S. Sad but true.
Hmmm. I'm glad Canada doesnt have to deal with the FRA. I do not believe be have cab signalling in Canada. I'm actually pretty sure of it. The FRA should at least increase the speed limit to 100mph even when there is no cab signalling. It works very well here in Canada.
Hmmm. I thought it was 103 because they are also called AMD-103s. AMtrackDiesel-with a top speed of 103 mph. Although that may have been the P40s. I'm not sure.
Interesting video! What is the top speed in the US for Passenger & Freight trains? Here in England top speed for freight is 90mph and top speed for passenger is currently 125mph.
It depends on the railroad and the location. There are hundreds of railroads in the U.S., and the vast majority of them are privately owned. The railroad sets their own speed limits, based largely on how much money they want to spend (or not spend) on maintenance. On the railroad that the Downeaster uses, which is owned by Pan Am Systems, the top speed for passenger trains is 79 MPH in a few select locations (it's 60 and 70 most everywhere else), and 40 MPH for freight.
On the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington, D.C.), certain passenger trains such as the Acela are allowed to go up to 135 MPH in a few locations, with speeds of 90 to 110 being the norm. Freights go 60, I think.
Awesome video!!! How fast was he goin'? 60? Very cool. The horn actually sounded nice too! Oh, the leaves...they were a very nice touch. Gotta love those GE's!
Yup, 60 MPH. After that curve, I think they're allowed to do 70 between there and just before the old station in Kennebunk. Nice straight section of track.
Great Video! I have always lived in Oregon, but for the better part of the year I would commute to Woburn. I'd ride the Downeaster from N. Boston to Haverhill, where'd I'd have my car parked.
Brings back great memories!
MrMiner49r 1 year ago
nice video
retroguy1976 1 year ago
Amazing video!
5*
edystvumdb 1 year ago
What a great video to go along with a great train!
bagladyssuck 2 years ago
Thanks!
maineboy1979 2 years ago
The train kicked up alot of leaves.
08trainlover 2 years ago
This is definitley one of my favorite downeaster videos. I like all the blowing leaves. 5 stars and favorited!
gp40mc 2 years ago
Thanks!
maineboy1979 2 years ago
thats one of the best amtrak videos ive seen :)
SkIttle2The0 2 years ago
Thank you!
maineboy1979 2 years ago
That K5LA is kind of messed up. Nice catch though! Classic train shot with the leaves flying
jackroyfan33 2 years ago
Thanks!
maineboy1979 2 years ago
wow, 90 mph?very nice.
excimero 3 years ago
Nope, he was doing 60 here, accelerating to 70. Top speed between Portland and Boston is 79, which is only allowed in a few places where the line is really long and straight. The rest of it is 60-70.
maineboy1979 3 years ago
Why is it that in The US, outside of the NEC, the top speed is always 79 mph even if the track is long and straight? In canada, the track linking the 2 largest cities is a constant 95-100 mph zone and it has very few slowdowns. We run p42s here as well.
boo2277 2 years ago
Ultimately it all boils down to money (or lack of money). FRA regulations state that if you want to go faster than 79 MPH, you have to have cab signals... and in the near future that will also include other expensive technologies such as automatic train stop or positive train control or whatever it's called. That costs a lot of money, and the U.S. already underfunds its railroads... so, 79 is unfortunately the maximum speed in most of the U.S. Sad but true.
maineboy1979 2 years ago
Hmmm. I'm glad Canada doesnt have to deal with the FRA. I do not believe be have cab signalling in Canada. I'm actually pretty sure of it. The FRA should at least increase the speed limit to 100mph even when there is no cab signalling. It works very well here in Canada.
boo2277 2 years ago
Cool effect with the leaves.
LightMyFire92 4 years ago
Thanks, I liked it too.
maineboy1979 2 years ago
Pretty good speed for a diesel!
mjsax2390 4 years ago
Technically, those diesels are capable of at least 100 MPH, but unfortunately they aren't allowed to go that fast on most routes.
maineboy1979 4 years ago
F40PH's did 100+ on the NEC before it was electrified. P42's can probably do a little better than an F40PH too.
CBass1307 4 years ago
The P42DC has a top speed of 113 MPH, if I recall correctly.
jackroyfan33 2 years ago
Hmmm. I thought it was 103 because they are also called AMD-103s. AMtrackDiesel-with a top speed of 103 mph. Although that may have been the P40s. I'm not sure.
gp40mc 2 years ago
Very Nice
MEC252 4 years ago
Thanks!
maineboy1979 4 years ago
this is the best video of the amtrak ive seen yet
SkIttle2The0 4 years ago
Thanks!
maineboy1979 2 years ago
Somthing is weird aboat the horn on the P42
Canesfan7012 4 years ago
Yeah. A lot of the horns on the newer units have strange quirks. Quality control at Nathan Airchime isn't what it used to be.
maineboy1979 4 years ago
I love how it rustles the leaves as the train goes by.
butterflypromises 5 years ago
I thought that added a neat effect.
maineboy1979 4 years ago
Oooh...I love the leaves. Gorgeous.
Great clip!
PerryPlanet 5 years ago
Thanks!
maineboy1979 5 years ago
Leaves and open land! Never see that in LA, only people trying to cross tracks when trains come.
dekfungton 5 years ago
If there's anything we have in abundance in Maine, it's leaves and open land! :-)
maineboy1979 5 years ago
Interesting video! What is the top speed in the US for Passenger & Freight trains? Here in England top speed for freight is 90mph and top speed for passenger is currently 125mph.
37427 5 years ago
It depends on the railroad and the location. There are hundreds of railroads in the U.S., and the vast majority of them are privately owned. The railroad sets their own speed limits, based largely on how much money they want to spend (or not spend) on maintenance. On the railroad that the Downeaster uses, which is owned by Pan Am Systems, the top speed for passenger trains is 79 MPH in a few select locations (it's 60 and 70 most everywhere else), and 40 MPH for freight.
maineboy1979 5 years ago
On the Northeast Corridor (Boston to Washington, D.C.), certain passenger trains such as the Acela are allowed to go up to 135 MPH in a few locations, with speeds of 90 to 110 being the norm. Freights go 60, I think.
maineboy1979 5 years ago
Awesome video!!! How fast was he goin'? 60? Very cool. The horn actually sounded nice too! Oh, the leaves...they were a very nice touch. Gotta love those GE's!
ChanFram 5 years ago
Yup, 60 MPH. After that curve, I think they're allowed to do 70 between there and just before the old station in Kennebunk. Nice straight section of track.
maineboy1979 5 years ago
I like this video very much please don't remove it!!!!!!
1f5sda 5 years ago
I will keep it online. Thanks!
maineboy1979 5 years ago
Nice, do you always get a toot?
nm63uk 5 years ago
Only when I'm standing next to a crossing. ;-) (They are required by law to blow the horn when approaching any at-grade crossing.)
maineboy1979 5 years ago