All Things Cascades incl Vancouver

[scratchy]

Probably means 5-8 years from now WDOT will have to do a quick order of a few more of those weird-looking Talgo cabs to displace the NPCU's on the first-gen trainsets, but that won't be a big deal if cost gets rolled up in some scheduled light rehab contract for the trainsets.[/quote]

I think they look like the Heads of some kinda Japanese Mecha, or a Transformer.

[wigwagfan]

Another mudslide this time around Pt Defiance...Too bad bypass is not finished.

Another slide today near Felida. Bypass wouldn't have helped today...no trains until Thurday.

[wigwagfan]

They're using the exact same colors on the new locomotives as the old locomotives and Talgo cars. Have their cream turned grey over the past 20 years? I don't think so.

It would help immensely if someone washed the trains. Horrible looking out over Puget Sound through a filthy dirty window. I guess the Lakewood Bypass will help with that aspect of the "Amtrak Cascades Experience" - instead of looking at beautiful water and islands through dirty windows, look at strip joints, bars and fast food restaurants - and Interstate 5 - through dirty windows.

[wigwagfan]

I had no idea that Amtrak had a dedicated Cascades web-site: http://amtrakcascades.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WSDOT maintains that website.

[wigwagfan]

I seem to remember something about passenger surveys showed on the Seattle-Portland runs, there wasns't interest in early morning runs but people wanted later in the evening returns.

The early morning train out of Portland (500 weekdays/502 weekends) seems to fill up the fastest; I would think if Amtrak offered a Portland-Seattle "express" that left around 7:00 AM and made no stops en route, it might attract some ridership. That would free up space on the regular train to accommodate more intermediate ridership that is currently being turned away.

[AgentSkelly]

Yeah, that 0820 departure seems to be the sweet spot for morning trains; from what I remember about Portlander preferences, 0500-0700 departures aren't popular.

[east point]

Another mudslide between Kelso and Vancouver, Wa shutting down Cascades again. What's going on ?
https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentS ... 1649269357" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[electricron]

Science behind mudslides....
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-causes-mudslides" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The most important ingredient is water, lots of it!
It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest, there's your water....

[east point]

But the Kelso and Pt. Defiance mudslides are new areas. Has the PNW gotten that much more rain and snow ?

[NorthWest]

Yes.

[wigwagfan]

But the Kelso and Pt. Defiance mudslides are new areas. Has the PNW gotten that much more rain and snow ?

We are setting all-time records for rainfall since recorded history, and have some very good snowpacks up in the mountains that will be fun for the springtime.

On the plus side, electricity should be really cheap.

[wigwagfan]

Looks like AORTA (the Association of Oregon Rail & Transit Advocates) is ramping up, the latest Oregon state budget zeros out support for Amtrak Cascades south of Portland.

[east point]

[
We are setting all-time records for rainfall since recorded history, and have some very good snowpacks up in the mountains that will be fun for the springtime.

On the plus side, electricity should be really cheap.

So how is the snow pack at the Meadows and Timberline ? Has the DOT needed the rotary to Timberline ?

[wigwagfan]

So how is the snow pack at the Meadows and Timberline ? Has the DOT needed the rotary to Timberline ?

At Meadows 197" at the 6,250 foot level. Timberline has 165" at the lodge; season snowfall 468".

ODOT doesn't really talk about their snow dozers too much (since they are always used in the passes), but it has gotten bad enough that they have decided to test the use of salt for the first time even down to Portland.

[AgentSkelly]

And Timberline is pretty good at keeping their road open; they run their snow plow continuously so it doesn't layer up....they did close once this year I know back in January due to the wind making things awful with the snow.