BNSF 6702 on Amtrak Train No. 506(16)

From: CMP
To: Photo Distribution List
Subject: BNSF 6702 on Amtrak Train No. 506(16)
Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2008 00:03:15 -0600




A chain reaction from the failure of a P42DC locomotive slated to take "Baby Builder" train No. 28(15) out of Portland resulted in a series of power moves that caused a BNSF freight locomotive to be on two of the trains I was scheduled to ride on this last trip.  What did Amtrak do when their locomotive for No. 28(15) crapped out at the last minute?
 
Well, they stole Amtrak F59PHI 457 from Amtrak Cascade Service train No. 508(15) and sent it to Spokane on No. 28(15).  Then Amtrak called the on-duty BNSF Manager of Passenger Train Operations and said, "Can we please, please, please have a BNSF freight engine at Portland for No. 508(15)?"  BNSF responded by supplying SD40-2 6702.  This unit operated to Seattle on No. 508(15) and then made a round trip between Seattle and Portland the next day on trains No. 500(16) and No. 506(16), both of which were on my itinerary.
 
Amtrak's plan to make things right in Cascade Land....At Spokane, the AMTK 457 was taken off No. 28(15)/8(15) and added to No. 7(14) and sent to Seattle.  At Seattle the AMTK 457 replaced the BNSF 6702 upon arrival of No. 506(16) and departed on No. 509(16).  BNSF 6702 was then made available for pickup by BNSF at King Street Station.
 
Here are some images taken from the BNSF 6702 on the rear of train No. 506(16) as we pull out of Portland Union Station.  The Cascades operate in push-pull service, normally with a locomotive at one end and a cab control car (rebuilt from an F40PH locomotive) at the other end.  With four cab control cars being bad-ordered and out of service at Seattle, Amtrak was forced to operate a number of these trains with two locomotives, one at each end, per FRA Talgo Waiver requirement for crash protection. 
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071499
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071498
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071496
 
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071502
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071501
 
A couple of shots at the Willamette River Draw Bridge:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071508
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071511
 
Being restricted to 40 MPH per FRA Talgo Waiver requiring that a freight engine used on a Talgo train must be on the head end in order for the train to operate over 40 MPH, we turned out train at the CTC Wye to Terminal 6 (T-6) at North Portland.  This 5-minute move would raise our maximum speed from 40 MPH to 70 MPH, the maximum speed engine BNSF 6702 is geared for.  This shot was taken in the yard at T-6 while the conductor and engineer were "swapping ends":
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071513
 
Having gone around the T-6 wye, we are operating with the BNSF 6702 in the lead as we meet Amtrak "Baby Builder" train No. 27(14) on the Oregon Slough Draw Bridge.  The next bridge in the distance is the Columbia River Draw Bridge:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071514
 
A little blur action as I play with the shutter speeds in a curve between Centralia and Plumb, WA:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071555
 
Meeting a southbound train led by B40-8W 579 just south of the Centennial Depot at Olympia-Lacey, WA:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071573
 
Passengers waiting for us at Olympia-Lacey:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071581
 
Meeting BNSF GEVO 7679 at Tacoma:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071585
 
More happy travelers wondering why a freight engine is pulling their train into the depot at Tacoma:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071586
 
All of the passenger work at Tacoma provided a chance to shoot this unusual consist in the depot:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071587
 
What a Talgo should look like - we meet AMTK 467 leading a southbound train just north of the Tacoma Depot:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071588
 
And having arrived at Seattle King Street Station, the BNSF 6702 poses next to the AMTK 457 that was just sent on a whirlwind tour of the Pacific Northwest form Portland to Spokane to Seattle.  Once the passengers were detrained, an Amtrak crew would uncouple the Amtrak equipment from the BNSF 6702, pull out onto the lead (Main Track 1), and then back the equipment on top of the AMTK 457 on the adjacent track.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1071589
 
Chris
 
 

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