Amtrak Builder Didn't Stop in Edmonds

[Jon Bentz]

I saw something strange today. The westbound Builder didn't stop in Edmonds - blew through at track speed. Also, the engineer didn't signal for the crossings. This is also a work area with red flags displayed. Any explanation?

 

[Damon Hill]

Passenger service along the Sound is suspended after a mudslide closed the tracks; there's a day or two after the track is opened to see if the hillside is stabilized.

 

[Ballard Beaver]

same thing happened Thursday with #8; it left seattle around 8:30pm with baggage only, passengers were bussed to everett and they boarded the train there.

i think i heard on the scanner that one slide is near 23rd (interbay) and another near everett, but i could be wrong.

im curious why they are so delicate with the passenger trains while the freights continue to run. maybe they are worried about the slide getting reactivated and knocking the Builder off the tracks?

 

[fulltritty]

The same thing happened to me with the Empire Builder March 2010 when I was trying to head home to the East Coast from a conference. They bussed us around the slide up to Everett in rush hour traffic. Hopefully, it won't happen again this March when I'm out there.

 

[Bob]

Yep, they're worried about the passengers. A container load of freight landing in the Sound will annoy somebody. A Superliner full of people landing in the Sound, and, heaven forbid, somebody drowning, would be a much larger problem.

Since the train creates significant vibration, there's a fairly good chance that the train itself could trigger the slide. So they play it safe, as they should.

I recall the same issue on a 4449 trip a while back. They bussed the passengers from Everett to Seattle. Only the support crew was allowed to stay on board.

 

[douglasm]

Don't FRA regulations prohibit the transporting of passengers for 48 hours after a mud or rock slide to insure slope stabalization?

 

[TCJim]

It just looks wierd when they deadhead equipment past the station. We might know why, but it still doesn't look right. Same thing for Sounder Thursday night.

 

[Jon Bentz]

Thanks for the clarification. The other thing that was odd was the fact that he didn't blow his horn for the south crossing and only one 'toot' at the ferry crossing. The red flags were up for work at the ST station. Over the past week they've been going pretty slow through town.

 

[Mukiltheo]

Edmonds observation

Has anyone else noticed the Hi-rail truck stationed at the Senior Center ?(across the tracks from the station construction) The BNSF employee always walks across the street to the fence when a train is approaching, I assume to alert the workers.
Also, the new platforms are taking shape...now we can see where the new right-of-way alignment will be. Anyone have an image?

 

[hobo]

Edmonds new platform

I posted a photo taken on a rainy day of # 7 W/B very late leaving Edmonds depot with the construction crew pouring concrete with a pump and two concrete truck at the new south platform, its on the gallery side under (Amtrak )titled Edmonds Wa. Depot.for those intersted. HOBO

 

[markgillings]

i think i heard on the scanner that one slide is near 23rd (interbay) and another near everett, but i could be wrong.

Correct. Only the one in Everett was a blocking event which starts the passenger shutdown clock. We dug out the slide just east of 23rd Ave on Friday. There are many, many more slides up and down the Sound. They just didn't get down to the tracks.

 

[markgillings]

Don't FRA regulations prohibit the transporting of passengers for 48 hours after a mud or rock slide to insure slope stabalization?

It's BNSF policy.

 

[Iron Bender]

It's BNSF policy.

Perhaps. But I am pretty certain that first and foremost it is a federal regulation.

 

[Iron Bender]

The other thing that was odd was the fact that he didn't blow his horn for the south crossing and only one 'toot' at the ferry crossing. The red flags were up for work at the ST station. Over the past week they've been going pretty slow through town.

When red flags are present, the operation of trains through those limits is governed by the verbal instructions of the foreman in responsible for the work being performed. Those instructions may include specific restrictions such as to stop, or proceed at a specific speed, or watch for men near the track, or use lots of bell and whistle, or even to proceed through the limits at maximum authorized track speed with no further restriction. The presence of red flags is not an automatic indicator that a train will need to slow down or lay on the whistle.

 

[TCJim]

So, does anyone know what the speed restrictions will be at the point of that concrete speed-hump they put right at the second track's centerline?

No cheating on speed restrictions anymore!

 

[BNSFEng]

So, does anyone know what the speed restrictions will be at the point of that concrete speed-hump they put right at the second track's centerline? No cheating on speed restrictions anymore!

15 MPH... Actually that will be removed whenever they put in the new Main. By the way, no year has been relayed to us as to when that will happen.

 

[Andrew Kim]

I saw something strange today. The westbound Builder didn't stop in Edmonds - blew through at track speed. Also, the engineer didn't signal for the crossings. This is also a work area with red flags displayed. Any explanation?

I happened to be at Edmonds on Friday Morning and I shot the video of that AMTK 7 blowing through the station on without stopping at the Edmonds Station. It was a deadhead move to Seattle due to the mudslide that terminated rail passenger service at Everett and the rest were transported by buses to their remaining destinations. No passengers were on board except the crew onboard. In fact, the bus actually stopped at Edmonds a minute before the train flied by the passengers. The engineer was cleared by Foreman Hall to go through the Form B Restriction at Edmonds without stopping at the depot.

Here's the video that I've shot that should explain it all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6ieTmzYDP4

 

[TCJim]

15 MPH...

Wow, still think that'd be in the 'Monster Truck' range. Great way to get to know your fellow commuter!

Actually that will be removed whenever they put in the new Main.

I soitenly hope so!

By the way, no year has been relayed to us as to when that will happen.

No year? Hmmm, why doesn't that sound encouraging?

 

[markgillings]

the new platforms are taking shape...now we can see where the new right-of-way alignment will be. Anyone have an image

There have been visible daily changes, of late.

1) Entrance off Dayton Street. New curbs inside the fence have been popping up here and there. Underneath the tarps are sitting/shelter structures.

2) The temporary raised platform. Is this for wheelchair access to the Sounder cars? I take it wheelchair access is not currently available and never has been?

3) The edge of the new platform (this section poured just today) is roughly in line with edge of tie. This gives a pretty good idea of the proximity of the future Main 2 to the depot.

 

[BNSFEng]

2) The temporary raised platform. Is this for wheelchair access to the Sounder cars? I take it wheelchair access is not currently available and never has been?.

There has been a temporary wood access ramp which we call a "Mini-High" from the start of service back in Dec. 2003 which now has been partially demolished but still allows wheelchairs access.