Amtrak High Speed Train track renovation Chicago - St Louis Union Pacific

Here's a series of shot of the amazing, one of a kind TRT machine, that is currently being used to upgrade the Chicago - St Louis Union Pacific - Amtrak line for high speed rail. These videos were shot on June 2, 2011 in Towanda, Illinois, just north of Bloomington.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Amtrak+train+high
• speed
• rail+union
• pacific+track
• equipment+trains+railroad

[trolleycarwreck]

Thanks Sabrehockey for your kind comment!

[trolleycarwreck]

I won't argue with that, though the bus can be a great feeder from smaller communities to rail lines.

[trolleycarwreck]

I think in the next 5-10 years those states that embraced rail upgrades will see a positive economic impact and a great return on their dollars.

[trolleycarwreck]

The "sleeper" term would come from European and English usage; what are called "railroad ties" in America and have long been called "sleepers" on European railroads. Since they took up this concrete technology quite a few years ago, before the US did, the terminology might have gotten carried over that way.

[trolleycarwreck]

Thank you for your positive comments -- this is quite a fascinating operation.

Mike M

Bloomington IL

[RockIslandLine513]

I don't like high speed trains. I think it is a waste of money

[jslasher1]

The term "sleeper" is also used in Australia and New Zealand. Only in North America is the term "ties" used.

[amtrakharry]

Awsome! Thank you for taking the time to film this and shoe us!!!:)

[Sabrehockeylw29]

That shit is so cool.

[Phalinex]

@trolleycarwreck You don't have to wait five or ten years. This is already creating jobs and a positive economic impact and it will certainly open up new markets between Chicago and St.Louis. Investing in America always pays off.

[Ikey3125]

@fulltimemonti In the US they are still ties.

As for this being high speed Amtrak, I doubt it, UP isn't going to spend their money to upgrade rail for someone else.

Probably for UP, being the economy is slowly turning around, and concrete ties last alot longer than wood ones.

[sideslide23]

High speed rail should replace all these Greyhound bus, because people who rides greyhound gets killed every years from Crashes, hijackers, and brakedown, Trains are roomy, comfortable and faster than Motorcoach.