Amtrak Vermonter / Montrealer

How many stops were there between Montreal and the border in Amtrak Montrealer days?

Only St Lambert - which was dropped sometime in the 1970s. The Adirondack, interestingly, had several local stops near Montreal at that time.

2/13/17 Monday,
According to a post on the NECR Yahoo group, Amtrak 55 had to be rescued at
Braintree VT. Pulled into WRJ over 4 hours late with two NECR GP38s leading
the two Amtrak locos. No word if passengers were bused or will continue on
the train. Northbound #56 was on time out of Northhampton MA.

#55 JUST passed behind my condo at exactly 7:20pm, which is 7 minutes earlier than Amtrak's Mobile App predicted. Thought it was EDPL.
Peace,
Jonathan

Interestingly enough #55 had TWO engines when it stalled going up the hill (?traction motor problems). When it got to Springfield, the NECR power came off and an Amtrak Springfield shuttle pulled the train into New Haven.
Does anyone know the numbers of the NECR engines that rescued it?
Andy

Dick H wrote:2/13/17 Monday,
According to a post on the NECR Yahoo group, Amtrak 55 had to be rescued at
Braintree VT. Pulled into WRJ over 4 hours late with two NECR GP38s leading
the two Amtrak locos. No word if passengers were bused or will continue on
the train. Northbound #56 was on time out of Northhampton MA.

Here's the post from the NECR Group.


Amtrak 55 just arrived in WRJ at 3:35 p.m. with 3850 and 3857 pulling it -- four locos up front. The Vermonter has been stuck in Braintree for several hours.

Yesterday's #56 had two NECR units in the blue/gold paint scheme in addition to the two Amtrak locomotives. Why the extra power? Is it the snow up north? He was also running late at 4:20pm.
Peace,
Jonathan

Coastal Maine got a full-on blizzard but inland VT/NH were spared anything meteorologically unusual for this time of year. Maybe a track hazard requiring extra precaution? NECR is prone to rockslides in the Green Mts. the likes of which caused last year's spectacular derailment.

The P-42s leading the Vermonter might have had the non upgraded DC traction motors that are subject to flash over from fine snow. It does not take much.

whatelyrailfan wrote:Yesterday's #56 had two NECR units in the blue/gold paint scheme in addition to the two Amtrak locomotives. Why the extra power? Is it the snow up north? He was also running late at 4:20pm.
Peace,
Jonathan

They towed the previous days 55 to Springfield and are just being returned to the NECR.

I believe the two NECR units took #55 all the way to Springfield on 2/13.
Therefore, since NECR does not operate between East Northfield and
Springfield and would not have a qualified crew, the NECR power would
have had to be turned over to PAR (Do they have rights to pick up at
Springfield?), which would take them to ED and then north to Brattleboro.
2/14 By having Amtrak return the units, less cost and fewer headaches,
and probably one or more days sooner for the NECR units to be back home.

Photo by Gary Knapp of the two NECR 38s hauling Amtrak #56 on the return
trip after rescuing #57 the day before.
http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo ... ex=3&key2=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wow. What is the maximum speed those GP-38s be capable of?

gokeefe wrote:Wow. What is the maximum speed those GP-38s be capable of?

They can do normal track speed in non- high-speed territory, but the HEP output is so extra-wimpy they're limited to 4 cars and accelerate like they're having massive chest pains. Virtually useless in any revenue service except in situations where it's propulsion-only with another loco in the lash-up providing all hotel power.

EDIT: My bad...I thought these were AMTK's Geeps, not freights.

The Freight version of the GP-38's.the gearing sets the max speed,could range between 60-75 mph tops,depending on the gear ratio.
There's NO HEP on NECR'S GP-38's,the Amtrak GP38-3's have a limited capy HEP gen-set on board.