July 18th, better get your photos!

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David Collins
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July 18th, better get your photos!

Unread post by David Collins »

So for those who don’t know, Amtrak 352, aka the golden hour train is making its final run on July 18th, I know I’m making a big deal out of this but it’s the most photogenic train in terms of timing. I’m not going to be able to see the final run since I’m gonna be up at Michigan Tech. I’m going to see it this coming Wednesday. So if anyone wants to get their last evening shots of 352, this is your chance…
Last edited by David Collins on Fri Jul 02, 2021 4:44 pm, edited 4 times in total.
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Saturnalia
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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

Unread post by Saturnalia »

352 works decent for the east side of the state, but I for one am looking forward to the return of 350 and 354 for the west side of the state and NW Indiana!
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Buster Manning
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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

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pretty sure the "final" run of this train will be on July 18th....July 19th will be the first day the other trains return

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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

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Buster Manning wrote:
Thu Jul 01, 2021 6:55 pm
pretty sure the "final" run of this train will be on July 18th....July 19th will be the first day the other trains return
Better get your photos!

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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

Unread post by ns8401 »

LansingRailFan wrote:
Thu Jul 01, 2021 11:10 pm
Buster Manning wrote:
Thu Jul 01, 2021 6:55 pm
pretty sure the "final" run of this train will be on July 18th....July 19th will be the first day the other trains return
Better get your photos!
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SD80MAC
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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

Unread post by SD80MAC »

I’m confused, aren’t they adding another train in addition to 351/352?
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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

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SD80MAC wrote:
Fri Jul 02, 2021 8:07 am
I’m confused, aren’t they adding another train in addition to 351/352?
They’re switching to 350/351 and 354/355.

So dropping 352 in the process. That’s because the above pair works better than 351/352+ whatever other two trains you could add. 352 is useless for connections from other trains, for instance. And equipment rotation would be an issue, too.
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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

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while it doesn't make any connections with the long distance trains from the west, 352 historically has been the most patronized train in the Wolverine Service while 350 was the worst of the three eastbounds....this decision was a head-scratcher....as for the equipment rotation, 354 will flip as 351; after wyeing the engine, that will leave a couple of hours to get the necessary tests and cleaning done along with any repairs that can be made in Pontiac....I forsee some late departures of 351 account of a late arrival of 354's equipment.....the "better" choice would have been to run 351 and 353 westbound and 352 and 354 eastbound as these equipment pairs would be on their "normal" rotation and these trains made more money than the 350-355 turn

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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

Unread post by Jetlink »

Hey. Maybe I could actually start taking the train to Chicago again once in a while with that schedule.
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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

Unread post by ns8401 »

Buster Manning wrote:
Fri Jul 02, 2021 10:39 am
while it doesn't make any connections with the long distance trains from the west, 352 historically has been the most patronized train in the Wolverine Service while 350 was the worst of the three eastbounds....this decision was a head-scratcher....as for the equipment rotation, 354 will flip as 351; after wyeing the engine, that will leave a couple of hours to get the necessary tests and cleaning done along with any repairs that can be made in Pontiac....I forsee some late departures of 351 account of a late arrival of 354's equipment.....the "better" choice would have been to run 351 and 353 westbound and 352 and 354 eastbound as these equipment pairs would be on their "normal" rotation and these trains made more money than the 350-355 turn
Did management go with a connections or bust model over there?
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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

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that is the question....

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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

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Buster Manning wrote:
Fri Jul 02, 2021 12:20 pm
that is the question....
Understood… on the bus side of the world we have had to modify everything based on out of state connections so that MDOT is kept happy… some of those out of state routes have one per day. How is ridership doing? Are things reasonably full?

Also curious if they’ll bring thruway back at some point. Haven’t heard anything yet about changing times to match the trains again.
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Re: July 19th, better get your photos!

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haven't heard anything about thru-way.....trains have been mostly full to sold-out on weekdays to sold-out and oversold on weekends, depending on the consist

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Re: July 18th, better get your photos!

Unread post by ConrailDetr​oit »

On Saturday 6/19, 351 had 6 Cars. Including 1 Amfleet Coach, thought those were no longer used in Michigan / Midwest service?

How many coach cars need to be used regularly before there is justification to add another train?

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Re: July 18th, better get your photos!

Unread post by Steve B »

ConrailDetr​oit wrote:
Fri Jul 02, 2021 7:36 pm
On Saturday 6/19, 351 had 6 Cars. Including 1 Amfleet Coach, thought those were no longer used in Michigan / Midwest service?

How many coach cars need to be used regularly before there is justification to add another train?

ImageAmtrak 351 by Royal Oak Carnival by tcamp7837, on Flickr
Seems like there are always 2 or 3 Amfleet cars on the Blue Water. They haven't gone anywhere yet and won't until the bugs are worked out of the new Siemens cars.

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Re: July 18th, better get your photos!

Unread post by GP30M4216 »

If you believe this article, “full service” from SE Michigan to Chicago will return the day after Labor Day.

https://amp.detroitnews.com/amp/7891142 ... ssion=true

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Re: July 18th, better get your photos!

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David Collins wrote:
Thu Jul 01, 2021 4:55 pm
So for those who don’t know, Amtrak 352, aka the golden hour train is making its final run on July 18th, I know I’m making a big deal out of this but it’s the most photogenic train in terms of timing.
What, for the trailing unit?
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Re: July 18th, better get your photos!

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J T wrote:
Thu Jul 08, 2021 12:25 pm
David Collins wrote:
Thu Jul 01, 2021 4:55 pm
So for those who don’t know, Amtrak 352, aka the golden hour train is making its final run on July 18th, I know I’m making a big deal out of this but it’s the most photogenic train in terms of timing.
What, for the trailing unit?
I believe he is on the CN northwest of Detroit so the light is favorable for 352.
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Saturnalia
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Re: July 18th, better get your photos!

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https://content.govdelivery.com/account ... cJwotVaSTE

Full service restoration will be effective September 7th, that's the day after Labor Day.
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