Where have all the cabbages gone?

[Pilawt]

Usually the Amtrak Cascades trains between Portland and Seattle have had power on the south end and a non-powered cab or cab/baggage unit on the north end. But over the last several days I've noticed that most Cascades trains have had power on both ends, and several only power in the lead and nothing behind the rear Talgo transition car. Only a handful recently have had the usual non-powered 90000-series F40 cabs, most of which have been on the south end of the trains, contrary to normal practice.

Are there changes afoot?

 

[Trainfreak101]

The Cascades talgo has its own baggage compartment so a cabbage is not needed. They use ex-f40s as NCPUs ... no baggage compartment. Its weird though that you saw no F40/NCPU on the rear, because I thought these trainsets weren't crash tested by the FRA and it was a requirement to have something on both ends


(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAnTozFvIxg
This video is from a couple years ago showing the use of a non-"cabbage" F40 leading northbound ... )

Ill be traveling on the cascades on the 17th so i'll see what the consist is and let you know!

 

[Pilawt]

On Cascades runs in recent months we have seen both Cascades-painted NPCUs, and just about as many blue-and-silver F40-shell cabbages (with large roll-up baggage doors in the side).

Below is a photo of a southbound arriving at Portland last Thanksgiving weekend with no power or cab unit on the rear end.

Over the last few days we've been seeing NPCUs more consistently, but now on the south end of the trains, contrary to former practice.

 

[Amtk 1007]

There is one Blue and Silver NPCU in Cascades service, the 90278. that unit was equipped with a supplemental air compressor for use with the Talgos as a test.

The ruel was recently revised to allow the Talgos to run with out a unit on the rear.

 

[railsnw]

Cascades Power on Both Ends

I remember a few years ago when we had a lot of snow that power was placed on both ends and I thought it had to do with the weight of the locomotive being safer due to snow in switches and packed ice in crossings.

Richard Wilkens

 

[Trainfreak101]

Just got back from my seattle/vancouver trip ...

every consist I saw now has power on the north end (I mostly saw P42s!) and a NCPU on the south end

 

[weekendrailroader]

http://www.youtube.com/user/weekendrailroader#p/u/4/xXrDECE9h40

5:20 seconds into the video, the Cascades passes by: Blue and silver P40 on one end, blue and silver cabbage on the other end.

 

[bcp]

Tuesday 1-18-11, mid-afternoon in Vancouver WA, Cascade had Cascades-painted F59 on the north end and Cascades-painted NPCU on the south end.

Bruce

 

[Pilawt]

Tuesday 1-18-11, mid-afternoon in Vancouver WA, Cascade had Cascades-painted F59 on the north end and Cascades-painted NPCU on the south end.

That seems to be the "new normal." So why the switch from the old standard procedure of having the NPCU on the north end of the train and power on the south?