Jump to content


Photo

Gustav New Orleans Evacuation Trains


  • Please log in to reply
16 replies to this topic

#1 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 31 August 2008 - 06:59 AM

Compliments of Shawn Levy in Amite, LA, Chris and other e-mail reports:

Amtrak is shuttling 2 "evacuation" trainsets from New Orleans to Memphis. The trains are operating "pull-pull" with a pair of P42 locomotives at each end. The trainsets are:

FEMA 1 (City of New Orleans and Sunset Limited equipment)

AMTK 87 P42DC
AMTK 63 P42DC
AMTK 1203 Baggage Car
AMTK 39024 Superliner II Transition Sleeper
AMTK 32077 Superliner II Sleeping Car
AMTK 38065 Superliner II Dining Car
AMTK 33035 Superliner II Sightseer Lounge
AMTK 34030 Superliner I Coach
AMTK 34008 Superliner I Coach
AMTK 34052 Superliner I Coach
AMTK 34116 Superliner II Coach
AMTK 31035 Superliner I Coach Baggage
AMTK 37006 Superliner I Cross Country Cafe
AMTK 39013 Superliner II Transition Sleeper
CDOT 1673 Commuter Car
CDOT 1625 Commuter Car
CDOT 1633 Commuter Car
CDOT 1671 Commuter Car
AMTK 68 P42DC
AMTK 139 P42DC


FEMA 2 (Crescent equipment)

AMTK 13 P42DC
AMTK 12 P42DC
CDOT 1001 Commuter Car
CDOT 1621 Commuter Car
CDOT 1623 Commuter Car
CDOT 1629 Commuter Car
CDOT 1675 Commuter Car
AMTK 25107 Amfleet II Coach
AMTK 25058 Amfleet II Coach
AMTK 25074 Amfleet II Coach
AMTK 25027 Amfleet II Coach
AMTK 25016 Amfleet II Coach
AMTK 28022 Amfleet II Cafe/Lounge
AMTK 62025 Viewliner Sleeper NORTHERN VIEW
AMTK 62022 Viewliner Sleeper MOUNTAIN VIEW
AMTK 1762 Baggage Car
AMTK 169 P42DC
AMTK 22 P42DC

The CDOT cars are the retired Budd SPVs.

The trains are operating on a "load and go" basis - no set schedule. Each trainset is expected to have 1000 to 1500 evacuees per load, and make 4 evacuation trips (8 total).

FEMA 1 left New Orleans Saturday at 11:30 as Amtrak 87 North. The train suffered an air problem (reports vary; air hose or air line) and was delayed enroute. The train passed Hammond, LA at 13:52.

FEMA 2 left New Orleans Saturday at approximately 3:00 as Amtrak 13 North. The train passed Hammond, LA at 16:54.

Photos by Shawn Levy:
FEMA 1 north end
FEMA 1 south end
FEMA 1 CDOT 1625
FEMA 1 CDOT 1671

Ross

#2 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 31 August 2008 - 10:15 AM

When were the Connecticut SPV's sent to the area? Perhaps they went down there when the Amfleet I's came back to Delaware?


Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#3 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 31 August 2008 - 01:29 PM

FEMA 1 (Amtrak 139 south) returned to New Orleans at approximately 12:30 and will reportedly be loaded for another trip to Memphis. Ross

#4 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 31 August 2008 - 02:07 PM

FEMA 1 (Amtrak 139 south) returned to New Orleans at approximately 12:30 and will reportedly be loaded for another trip to Memphis.

Ross

Amtrak's PR guy Marc Magliari is on the ground in NOL. He was interviewed outside of NOUPT. He said that one more train will be going out between 3 PM and 5:30 PM CDT. That will be the last train that Amtrak can run, because the floodgates need to be closed.

How are they serving Memphis? The station has been closed since April due to the sinkhole, with bustitution to/from an alternate location east of the city on a bypass track. It doesn't seem like a good situation to be using Memphis as a location to bring evacuees.

Edited by KevinKorell, 31 August 2008 - 02:42 PM.


Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#5 Ocala Mike

Ocala Mike

    Member

  • Members
  • PipPip
  • 49 posts

Posted 31 August 2008 - 02:36 PM

Where exactly are these floodgates in relation to CN (ex-IC) trackage, and how exactly is the rail line affected? Ocala Mike

#6 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 31 August 2008 - 02:47 PM

I'm not sure exactly where the floodgates are located on each line, but IIRC from previous rail trips I recall passing them. Once the floodgates close, the rail line is severed. That is why Amtrak did most of its evacuations yesterday, well in advance of the storm.

Here is a current article on the closing of the floodgates from the New Orleans, LA Times-Picayune: http://www.nola.com/...close_agai.html

Edited by KevinKorell, 31 August 2008 - 02:53 PM.


Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#7 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 31 August 2008 - 03:00 PM

When were the Connecticut SPV's sent to the area? Perhaps they went down there when the Amfleet I's came back to Delaware?

I just found a reference on Train Orders that indicates the CDOT SPVs went south on the Crescent in 2 groups of 5 - one on August 1, the other either 7/31 or 8/2.

Ross

#8 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 31 August 2008 - 03:07 PM

How are they serving Memphis? The station has been closed since April due to the sinkhole, with bustitution to/from an alternate location east of the city on a bypass track. It doesn't seem like a good situation to be using Memphis as a location to bring evacuees.

Kevin,

Where is the sink hole - can the trains reach the station from the south and then reverse to New Orleans?

As far as the situation - any location with enough suitable shelter is a good evacuation destination. With the number of people we are talking about, leaving by train, bus and car, Memphis may be the most suitable location for the train evacuees, leaving other locations for the bus and automobile evacuees.

Planning for the automobile evacuees is the most difficult, as they can set and modify their destination. The authorities have control over the bus and train evacuee distribution. On factor is making sure the "air conditioned trailers" loaded with pets end up at the same destination as the evacuees - a promise made by the authorities.

Ross

#9 KevinKorell

KevinKorell

    Board Leader

  • Sr. Admin
  • PipPip
  • 82315 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Lakewood, NJ
  • Interests:Making America TRAIN again!

Posted 31 August 2008 - 03:12 PM

According to NARP's September newsletter, the sinkhole is located 100 yards south of Memphis Central Station's platform. Track has been taken out of service by CN and removed through the area of the hole.


Kevin Korell


OTOL Board Leader


Lakewood, NJ


#10 CNJRoss

CNJRoss

    Administrator

  • Admin
  • PipPip
  • 43390 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Fairfax, VA

Posted 31 August 2008 - 03:14 PM

Compliments of Shawn Levy in Amite, LA, Chris and other e-mail reports:

FEMA 2 Photos:

FEMA 2 north end
FEMA 2 south end




0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users