Wisconsin Talgos Disposition - MI and now Pacific Surfliner

[Alcochaser]

Hmmm, I know where there are several brand new never used talgo sets needing a home.

[Woody]

Hmmm, I know where there are several brand new never used Talgo sets needing a home.

"And all of the other railcars,
used to laugh and call them names,
they never let these poor Talgos
play in their Wisconsin games.
But then one foggy Xmas Eve..."

[Tom6921]

Any idea if the Pacific Surfliner proposal has gone ahead or will the sets continue to stay at Beach Grove. If they were rejected, perhaps Amtrak could use one set to replace what was lost in the recent derailment.

[Backshophoss]

That move was scuttled by a lack of a shop to maintain the sets,both could wind up in the PNW after 1 car in each set is modded for business class service.
A Talgo tech rides on each train to tend to minor onboard fixes enroute.

[OrangeGrove]

It is my understanding, which may well have changed multiple times since, is the deal to use the Wisconsin Talgo sets in California is not dead yet, and remains a possibility. Whether the Washington wreck could change these plans is certainly open to speculation.

What is even more certain is that it is much too soon to write off the complete Mt. Adams set as "destroyed", which it almost certainly is not, at least in whole. It really comes down to how much time and money someone cares to spend repairing the cars. I would expect those which remained on the bridge - not hanging off or down the embankment - to be in the best shape, but there may not be any determination or repair estimates yet; Certainly I know of nothing which has been made public. It is pure speculation, but with the handful of spare cars for the Northwest (and possibly a couple spares which also exist for the Wisconsin sets) and the salvagable wrecked cars you could conceivably cobble together a repaired Mt. Adams.

But the whole point may be moot as the wrecked set will be held for litigation purposes for likely several years, and the Cascades corridor will need replacement equipment in the near term.

[BandA]

perhaps with the higher operating costs of the Talgos, and that they are already down a set, that they aren't going to buy the WI talgos

[Woody]

perhaps with the higher operating costs of the Talgos, and that they are already down a set, that they aren't going to buy the WI talgos

Between Seattle and Portland, with "hundreds of curves" on the route, the Talgos save 25 minutes (vs Superliner equipment on the Coast Starlight).

Washington spent $850 million+ of Stimulus money to upgrade that line for better speed and reliability and more capacity. Nobody is going to change to cheaper equipment to go 25 minutes slower. Maybe on the Oregon segment, but not on the trunk line service.

[mtuandrew]

I’d be surprised to see any of Mt. Adams’ cars in passenger service again. Nothing against their build quality, but between the two Wisconsin sets still ready to use (assuming California hasn’t committed, which it doesn’t appear to have), the severity of the wreck having likely caused unseen damage even to cars that stayed off the highway, and the Talgo’s monocoque construction making a repair more involved than just a coat of Bondo, it’s probably cheaper for the states to get something else. Mr. O’Keefe’s suggestion of a favorable-rate lease is a great one, and I hope the relevant organizations take that route.

[Backshophoss]

Figure on the Charger remains and the Mt Adams talgo set remains to be in legal limbo untill the Lawsuits are settled between the victums
and Amtrak/WSDOT/Sounder Transit/and BNSF as contract operator.
For all practical purposes,the CalTrans pickup of the WIDOT sets should have been done and in service already.
The talks stalled and been "back burnered" after the swap out of the 3rd gen Cali Bi-levels to the Seimens "Brightline" single level cars.
The Quickest "fix" is for WSDOT/ORDOT to pick up and convert as needed the 2 sets at Beech Grove now.

[bostontrainguy]

Maybe? Just maybe they are getting a real job?

HINSDALE, Ill. — Amtrak special train No. 963 which originated in Chicago takes a Talgo train west on BNSF Railway's Chicago Subdivision on the afternoon of Jan. 31. The Talgo, along with SC-44 No. 4617 are headed to the Transportation Technology Center, near Pueblo, Colo., for testing. The SC-44 was added in Chicago while the Talgo was stored at Amtrak's Beech Grove, Ind., facility and was moved to Chicago earlier this week. When testing is complete, the Talgo train is scheduled to return to Beech Grove.
Trains News Wire

[bostontrainguy]

After a little investigation:

Amtrak plans to lease two articulated
Series 8 trainsets from Tren Articulado
Ligero Goicoechea Oriol (Talgo) to
support its Cascade intercity service.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-0 ... -01959.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Backshophoss]

A test to insure a charger can handle a Talgo set solo,then headed up the Joint line to Denver,then west to Emeryville or Seattle.

[gokeefe]

Very nice work ... Good news in a bad situation.

[mtuandrew]

After a little investigation:

Amtrak plans to lease two articulated
Series 8 trainsets from Tren Articulado
Ligero Goicoechea Oriol (Talgo) to
support its Cascade intercity service.

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-0 ... -01959.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Any word on whether Amtrak is leasing them on its own dime, or getting funding from WA and OR?

(Or is BC funding them and planning to plaster the red & white paint job with maple leaves?)

[Backshophoss]

From the wording in the wavier request,Amtrak is leasing(to buy perhaps?)the 2 Wi Taglo sets for service on the Cascades.
The Talgo set and the Charger involved in the wreck will be in Legal Limbo for a while.