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

Here is some of the scenery that one sees in Northern Missouri as Amtrak tackles the 85 mph zone with ease. Also, enjoy the meet with the BNSF stack train - I'm not certain my camera was made to catch stuff moving that fast.

Apologies for the shaky camera movement as the car really began to sway, even before reaching 85 mph.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Amtrak
• Southwest
• Chief
• Passenger
• Burlington
• Northern
• Santa
• Fe
• Freight
• Train
• Missouri
• Railroad

[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]

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.

[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.

[WhatTheHeck5205]

@mfastx Thank you. I try to dream big.

[mfastx]

@WhatTheHeck5205 well said

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

[WhatTheHeck5205]

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

[likestallwomen]

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