ATLANTA, Ill. — Severe weather and equipment shortages sometimes lead to atypical events on the nation’s rail passenger operator. A case in point was Monday’s northbound Amtrak Texas Eagle, train No. 22, shown in Atlanta, Ill., about 20 miles southwest of Bloomington, with P32-7BWH No. 518 leading heritage-painted P42DC No. 161. The 518 was part of Amtrak’s first new power order since its acquisition of F40PHs, which began in 1975. The 20-unit order in 1990-91 for the four-axle, 3,200-hp General Electrics was later followed by orders for GE’s P40 and P42 locomotives. Once mainline power, the P32-8BWH (also known as a Dash 8-32BWH) today mostly see action as yard switchers or work-train power. The same two locomotives had taken the Eagle south on Christmas Eve.
#21/22 have only 4 cars total since post-Covid. From what I’ve seen the sleepers are always on the rear.
2 GE’s: means there’s a good chance they’ll both still be running when they get to Chicago.
This is a good example of what Amtrak should be doing when there is either equipment shortages or locomotives in the shop needing repair. Whatever is available to be used no matter what type of locomotive or age or what it looks like doesn’t matter. If it runs get it out on the rails pulling those trains and serving the lines and towns needing service. Even if an old E or F unit is around and can run and pull trains .. get it out on the line into service..some of those old horses were more durable and dependble and then some of the new equipment being used today
Joseph C. Markfelder
The heritage paint scheme on #161 is the best scheme Amtrak has ever used. It could be improved by adding a logo on the nose.
The delivery scheme used on #518 was much better than its present scheme.
Is the train missing it’s sleeper car? Because I see the Diner in the photo but no sleeper, usually a single sleeper is before the dining car and behind the locomotive.
Guess the sleeper was someone else.