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Two test runs were performed. The first ran locomotive-south from Hialeah to the MIC. They then made a reverse move back to Hialeah. Then they ran the consist around the loop. The second run was a reverse move from Hialeah to the MIC. They then ran locomotive-north from the MIC to Hialeah.

Jim

Erie-Lackawanna wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 8:15 pm Two test runs were performed. The first ran locomotive-south from Hialeah to the MIC. They then made a reverse move back to Hialeah. Then they ran the consist around the loop. The second run was a reverse move from Hialeah to the MIC. They then ran locomotive-north from the MIC to Hialeah.

Jim

Thanks for that. I needed to verify my brain wasn't short circuiting thinking about this.

bostontrainguy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:20 am

RandallW wrote:Wouldn't Amtrak trains still need to use the Hialeah maintenance yard? If so, they can back out of the MIA station to Hialeah, run through the loop, and when ready, back into MIA.

Yes. They would need to make a four mile backup move. In Tampa they do a similar move into the station but it is about half that distance.

MattW wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 6:03 pm That wye would also limit Amtrak to two platforms. Even if they did their station work in one of the other two, they would still need one of the two close platforms for headroom to make the wye maneuver.

I don't understand what you are saying here. Amtrak could use the western platform and the two western tracks. They would not need more.

What's not to understand? The wye track (if restored) is only tied into a track that services the two tracks, nearest the headhouse. It means they would have to be very careful to prevent Tri-Rail interference with Amtrak.

MattW wrote: ↑Mon Feb 28, 2022 10:13 am

bostontrainguy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 27, 2022 9:20 am

RandallW wrote:Wouldn't Amtrak trains still need to use the Hialeah maintenance yard? If so, they can back out of the MIA station to Hialeah, run through the loop, and when ready, back into MIA.

Yes. They would need to make a four mile backup move. In Tampa they do a similar move into the station but it is about half that distance.

MattW wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 6:03 pm That wye would also limit Amtrak to two platforms. Even if they did their station work in one of the other two, they would still need one of the two close platforms for headroom to make the wye maneuver.

I don't understand what you are saying here. Amtrak could use the western platform and the two western tracks. They would not need more.

What's not to understand? The wye track (if restored) is only tied into a track that services the two tracks, nearest the headhouse. It means they would have to be very careful to prevent Tri-Rail interference with Amtrak.

Right now TriRail is "assigned" Track 1 & 2 and Amtrak is "assigned" Track 3 & 4. So they could easily switch platforms. No big deal and no additional interference.

Amtrak has begun active preparations to begin service to the Miami Intermodal Center, according to a presentation last week by the Florida Department of Transportation.

https://www.thenextmiami.com/amtrak-beg ... al-center/

Tom V wrote: ↑Tue Mar 08, 2022 10:19 am

Amtrak has begun active preparations to begin service to the Miami Intermodal Center, according to a presentation last week by the Florida Department of Transportation.

https://www.thenextmiami.com/amtrak-beg ... al-center/

To be honest, I would of closed that rail road crossing, opened a new road under the Miami Airport elevated line to connect 25th to 28th, and perma-detoured the whole thing.

But here’s the deal, I watched the video, the full train fits.


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bostontrainguy wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:36 pm

west point wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 2:52 pm A test train should have 2 locos with baggage car in front as I cannot see a baggage car at rear due to access! Now is it possible to reactivate the wye north of the station to turn the inbound train? That would mean blocking LaJune Rd to complete the wye move. Plus adding necessary signaling and switch machines.

As you probably know, Florida trains have the baggage car at the rear supposedly to offer a smoother ride for the sleepers which are at rear end of the trains. I'm guessing the baggage car would be off of the existing platforms.

In what seems like a really stupid move, when they built that new crossing at 28th Street purposely for Amtrak trains, they cut off the wye putting a crossing cantilever right in the way! So now you can't turn Amtrak Trains. Seems like a shortsighted move.

Reinstalling that switch and moving that signal look pretty straight forward and could be done relatively quickly, in the grand scheme of things in a world of infrastructure programs this is an easy win. They might be able to do it for a six figure sum, which is cheap compared to other projects out there in the planning stages.

Tom V wrote: ↑Thu Mar 10, 2022 2:03 pm Reinstalling that switch and moving that signal look pretty straight forward and could be done relatively quickly, in the grand scheme of things in a world of infrastructure programs this is an easy win. They might be able to do it for a six figure sum, which is cheap compared to other projects out there in the planning stages.

Yeah, that looks like a "Move the guard setup back 20 feet, (to where the light pole is), add more guard lights, rebuild the track wye." I doubt it'll be more than $200K.

No need to restore wye until Amtrak restoration time is set. A quick restoration project is a given. worse problem is new bases with conduit to old base. Wiring installed but not connected. A crane can come in and move the whole crossing system in a day. Meanwhile new crossing tracks in pavement can be installed not having to wait for cantilever to be moved. Once move a quick connection of 2 ends of track can be installed.

So why Y the train if it has be serviced four miles away? The train will have to be backed into the station from Hialeah anyway unless you are talking about wyeing the train twice to move four miles.

frequentflyer wrote: ↑Sat Mar 12, 2022 2:34 pm So why Y the train if it has be serviced four miles away? The train will have to be backed into the station from Hialeah anyway unless you are talking about wyeing the train twice to move four miles.

Backing the train up isn't hard... but it isn't easy ether. They back the train up in Tampa every time it goes into Tampa.

I would imagine they would go into Miami, then Y the train, service it at the 4 mile yard, then back it up into the station for the next run.

Assuming the wye is rebuilt (all trackage on the southwest side of the wye was removed), would using the wye mean having to deal with two dispatchers (SFRTA and CSX) to get a train serviced, while backing to Haileah and using the loop there to turn the train means dealing with only one dispatcher (SFRTA)?

SFRTA dispatchers are in charge of the Oleander Branch (Homestead Sub). No CSX involvement.

But all this is idle chatter. There are no plans to restore the wye. If/when Amtrak moves its station to the MIC, they will make a reverse move between Hialeah Yard and the MIC. It’s a non-revenue move, and it’s not a big deal.

Jim

The biggest problem backing is vehicles going around gates. Lot of grade crossings. A backup whistle cannot be heard except maybe someone on foot. Observed a near miss years ago. If I were Amtrak, I would want 4 quadrant gates especially 36th street.

EDIT: The conductor backing up will be calling at least 4 signals backing up unless there are more since I was there?

JIS?