Hudson Line Passenger Special 10/01/2016

On Saturday, October 1st, Metro North and Amtrak will operate a (passenger) special train on the Hudson Line.

Privately owned passenger cars in the consist will be (800241) PRR 120 PENNSYLVANIA, (800699) WARRIOR RIDGE, (800745) ALEXANDER HAMILTON, (800411) NYC 43, (800708) MOUNT VERNON, (800971) PACIFIC HOME and (800007) BABBLING BROOK. Metro North and Amtrak locomotives to be assigned to the special are not known at this time.

Train will deadhead from New York to Poughkeepsie departing GCT approximately 10 AM on Saturday. After picking up invited guests at Poughkeepsie, train will return to GCT where guests will detrain to participate in an off-train event. That evening, after the event concludes, the train will depart GCT and head north to return the guests to Poughkeepsie.

At Poughkeepsie on Saturday evening the Metro North special train will become an Amtrak special train, and the 7 private cars, with a smaller number of guests onboard, will continue to Chicago via the Water Level Route, arriving Chicago Union Station on Sunday October 2nd.

Positioning move of equipment, before the special train: Amtrak special move from New York (Sunnyside Yard) will deliver the above passenger cars to SHELL for interchange to Metro North after evening rush hour on Thursday September 29th. Cars will be stored at GCT until Saturday morning.

Observers are reminded to be safe and not to trespass on railroad property.

Let the foaming begin!

Funny Amtrak is involved since until that last leg it's all MNRR territory, but I'm sure it has to do with compatibility and certification with and by Amtrak. I assume the usual MNRR Gennie will pick it up at Highbridge since Amtrak gennies don't have the front escape hatch?

This is an Amtrak special move from Sunnyside Yard to SHELL, with Amtrak power and crew.

This is a Metro North special move SHELL - GCT - Poughkeepsie - GCT - Poughkeespie, with MN power and crew.

This is an Amtrak special move from Poughkeepsie to Chicago, with Amtrak power and crew.

So is this special going to be coupled to the end of 49 to get to Chicago or is it going there on its own schedule as an extra?

Is the original post not sufficiently clear on that matter?

The 7 cars will travel from POU to CHI as an Amtrak special train (extra) on their own schedule.

Jack,

Will 120 or Babbling Brook hold the marker lights?

My bad; I should have read the post in more detail. Sorry to make you repeat yourself!

John_Perkowski wrote:Jack,

Will 120 or Babbling Brook hold the marker lights?

The consist is setup so that there is an observation car on each end; BABBLING BROOK is on one end and PRR 120 PENNSYLVANIA is on the other end. There is also an observation car (ALEXANDER HAMILTON) with a diaphragm for mid-train use positioned in the middle of the consist.

On Saturday morning's northbound positioning move, GCT to Poughkeepsie, PRR 120 will face the locomotives and BABBLING BROOK will be rearmost.

At Poughkeepsie, locomotive power will be run-around from the north end of the train to the south end of the train. I think the locomotives have to go north to the crossovers at CP-75 to do this, while the cars are parked in the station.

On Saturday afternoon's southbound move with guests, Poughkeepsie to GCT, BABBLING BROOK will face the locomotives and PRR 120 will be rearmost. After the guests detrain, the power will be moved from the south end of the train to the north end of the train.

On Saturday night's northbound move with guests, GCT to Poughkeepsie, PRR 120 will face the locomotives and BABBLING BROOK will be rearmost.

Amtrak power will replace MN power at Poughkeeepsie, and haul the train, with BABBLING BROOK rearmost, from Poughkeepsie to Chicago.

Like all plans, this plan is subject to change.

jhdeasy wrote: Like all plans, this plan is subject to change.

Looks like Metro North 207 and 209 are the assigned power.

Looks like PRR 120 will be rearmost northbound on Saturday morning, and BABBLING BROOK will be rearmost on Saturday afternoon. BABBLING BROOK is supposed to be rearmost northbound on Saturday night.

Inbound trip photographed at Harlem-125th Street
P32AC-DM 209 and 207
Pennsylvania 120 and Warrior Ridge
NYC 43 and Alexander Hamilton
Pacific Home and Mount Vernon
Babbling Brook