I wonder about the story behind needing BNSF 9436 added to this train. What is a "protection" engine? This MAC is a majestic looking leader here!
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The second engine, AMTK 509, died at Kingman, so the train needed a freight unit to pull it the rest of the way. Amtrak usually keeps a spare locomotive, known as the "protection unit", in Albuquerque just in case a locomotive breaks down enroute. The protections unit was used 2 days before on #4 due to a locomotive failure, therefore there was not one available to be placed on this train.
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| Posted by Carl on June 8, 2013 | |
From what I've seen in freight service, railroads pulling high dollar UPS, J.B.Hunt stacks and trailers over power their trains to avoid this problem,at the CSX Franklin Park,ILL yard I've seen 5 to 6 UP engines pulling maybe only 20 to 30 cars going west to LA. Also some years ago UP paid dearly for not having enough train crews after offering early retirement, I drove out west one time along on I-10 and all you saw(within a 500 miles of El Paso for example) were whole Intermodal trains on the sidings for the lack of crews, UP also had to pay UPS for trucking their trailers from Chicago to LA because of the crew shortage, I'm sure they (UP) will never go through that again.
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