AMTRAK ENGINE ISSUES | Saluki Superliner Coach Trip Report

[@anthonyangelici2963]

Great video and breakdown of the problem. I absolutely love the P40'/P42's. The regular Intercity Chargers first appeared 2018-2019 and have been running fine. The ALC-42's are a completely different story.

[@willstrainsplanes]

I am so glad that my clips went very well with the video you put together! Not too long ago I was on 390 which was lead by P42DC #59. I regret not filming that time but it was definitely an experience I won’t forget. Very informative!!

[@ASAviation]

Thanks so much for letting me use the clips man! That was cool that 59 led your 390. Hope we get some more P42's on these trains soon.

[@willstrainsplanes]

Not a problem! I hope so too especially the ones with the 90s Narrow Font K5LA horns!!!

[@ck4426]

Really enjoyed this video!!! I’ve ridden this route for years and have been often dismayed by a number of Amtrak escapades lol. There’s still a stop in Rantoul because there was once a huge Air Force base there-Chanute-and Rantoul at that time was a busy station. Not so much any more but the stop still exists.

[@ASAviation]

Thank you so much! I can imagine RTL was a much busier station in the Chanute days! Really wish that base was still operating.

[@edmann2970]

P42s and Superliners are a good combo, I guess they’re best friends.

[@Jaquxan]

GE Genesis P42DC #58 | 26 years old / Built in February 1997

[@TheAustinSubRailfan]

Gotta love how the new chargers chargers that aren't even 10 years old yet are already having problems. While the Genesis locomotives that've been running for 30 years are perfectly fine. I bet a lot of the P42s can run for at least 5 years more. I love the Genesis loco series as my profile is one haha

[@trvlngalex8754]

I took Amtrak 392 Carbondale to Chicago on Saturday, February 4th! We also had Engine 58 for our train! I agree was a nice nostalgic journey to be pulled by the GE Engine.

[@theresarichardson410]

Sunday February 5 2023 was a really freezing day

[@theresarichardson410]

Saluki to Carbondale in the morning to Chicago in the evening Illini to Chicago in the morning to Carbondale in the evening

[@k5elevencinc0]

Guess the P42DCs will be here for a couple more decades like the F40s still are.

[@ASAviation]

Really hard to tell at this point, but that's to be expected with Amtrak.

[@anthonyangelici2963]

I love the P40's/P42's.

[@tedgermaine7050]

Reason for the stop in Rantoul is Rantoul years ago had a USAF Base which has been decommissioned. They would pick and drop off many a young airman from Chicago who would take a weekend pass in Chicago.

[@johnsons74thsquadron74]

The reliability issues with the SC-44 charger are a nationwide issue for Amtrak. But the real issue with the Illini and Saluki trains is the fact that all trains have to operate with at least 7 Superliner cars due to the lighter Horizon and Amfleet cars not being heavy enough to reliably trigger the signals. While it allows Amtrak to maintain full service , this move is resulting is severely constrained capacity for the long haul lines due to scarce Superliner availability.

[@ASAviation]

It’s something that continues to confuse me, especially why the new Venture cars haven’t already been put on these trains despite being ready to go

[@johnsons74thsquadron74]

@@ASAviation Issues with the water pipes in the cold temps and an issue with the tray tables I believe is what has delayed their deployment though I believe those issues have been fixed.

[@rjohnson1690]

Seven Superliner cars is more than what the Coast Starlight currently has. One of my friends works out of Carbondale, and he said they would always run a bag car on their train to have enough axels for the crossings.

[@jasonmoors1191]

I would think by the time you stepped off at Champaign, you would be in some sort of zombie state--having flown Frontier RT ORD-ATL: for their ultra-cheap fare the previous evening, hurrying to catch the Blue Line to downtown, rushing to catch the Saluki for home only to find out it was delayed--did you ever find time for a nap? No doubt your bed upon arrival became your best friend! :) All the coaches I spotted were filthy with road dust, no time for a run through the wash rack I guess. I'm hearing that the lift bridge over the Chicago River isn't working as of late--wondering how runs to Carbondale and beyond are being routed?

[@ASAviation]

Oh yes, I was tired but was able to sleep some of the ride and the flight up from ATL. Interesting, didn't hear about the bridge not working. I haven't heard of any re-routes yet regarding that.

[@michaelbruchas6663]

I went to Champaign in Spring of 2024 for the eclipse - SuperLiner coaches. Seats in the wrong direction. Riding coach, lower level. Came back after the eclipse in Business - because less seats had been sold. All of the Business seats were facing backwards. I moved up to the coach class portion because seats were facing forward. The tiny cafe car guy said that Amtrak stopped flipping seats around, not enough labor. Your business ticket bought you a can of soda. The cafe is a joke on what refrigerated drinks that it can hold, ditto microwave meals. It had about 8 flip up seats in it which were blocked by boxes. AMTRAK DOESN’T CARE - the old Amfleet cars had a real cafe car - when I used to ride to Mattoon. Why offer a cafe “car” stuffed into a SuperLiner closet? The Rantoul station used to have more ridership when Canute Air Force Base was open. Long ago.

[@spoiler539]

There will always be a few issues with introducing a new locomotive design, but having to pairing your new locomotives with the ones they are built to replace is crazy. They also placed another order for more of the chargers even though the reliability issues were still going on, which I sort of get because they are looking at lots of opportunities to expand their services. Stuff like more stations, upgrading track maybe even, etc. Once they do start expanding, which probably won’t be for a while, they will need more locomotives. Maybe then they will take some of their p42’s in storage and possibly rebuild them and convert them to AC current, like they did with the AEM7’S before they were retired. I only see this happening though if the charger locomotive production is finished at the time they start expanding and no more of the charger locomotives are being built. If charger locomotives are still in production, they will likely just by more.

[@Jaquxan]

AS February 5 was a very cold day

[@rjohnson1690]

I swear I run as many frieght engines now as I did working freight due to Chargers having issues. It’s not just the cold weather either, they fail year round. Amtrak should have the GEs rebuilt like UP has been doing with its older fleet. Either that or buy new GEs. The latest GEs are an excellent locomotive.

[@Blank00]

Do you think this will affect confidence in Venture Coaches & the non-powered portion of Airo trainsets?

[@ASAviation]

Definitely not the coaches and non powered rolling stock. They have had their own issues 😅

[@MarkBustos2]

2:48 Metro North Railroad is NY(My home state). Metra is Chicago.

[@ASAviation]

That’s not what said. I said Metra “North Central Service” which is the name of the line. I am aware Metro North is New York, I have a video coming out on them soon!

[@randyj6245]

Nice

[@joshuafajardo5697]

The reason Illini/Saluki & 🌆🌁🌃🌉🌇🏢🏙️ of 🆕 Orleans 🔙⏮️⏪ in & out of Chicago is that they used to be owned by the Illinois Central & operate out of Central 🚉 with the IC ⚡️ commuter rail & Chicago , ⬇️ Shore, & ⬇️ Bend interurban rail but when when Metra took over the ⚡️ commuter rail & NICTD took over the interurban rail, they both went to Millennium 🚉 but when Amtrak took over Illini/Saluki & CONO, they took the Saint Charles Airline to go between Union 🚉 because they wanted all intercity 🚆 to go out of Union but unfortunately, there was no 🛤️ that would take them directly ⬆️ to Union so they have to turn ⬇️ to the Union 🛤️ & ⏮️🔙⏪ into Union but Amtrak is planning on building that 🛤️ to take the Illini/Saluki & CONO directly to the Airline but people also want the Pere Marquette, Blue 💧, Wolverine, Capitol Limited, & Lake Shore Limited to take the airline & then take the ⬇️ Shore Line to go to Michigan, DC, & 🗽/Boston Massachusetts because the line they currently run on is always delayed by a Norfolk Southern Freight 🚆

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Its says much when a 30 year old Genesis performs better than a brand new Charger.

[@theresarichardson410]

and also When P42 were built?

[@abdiel_3]

Any future report on the SSL?

[@ASAviation]

None for the near future I’m afraid.

[@nobloreal]

hey as aviation this is unrelated but will make a flyjinnah custom model for your KHI updates?

[@ASAviation]

Not sure, I’d like to but time will tell.

[@nobloreal]

@@ASAviation ok

[@mikelowery5741]

P42s all day n before that the F40s

[@joshuafajardo5697]

Inbound Saluki 390 is actually the roundtrip 🚆 for Outbound Saluki 391 & Inbound Illini 392 is actually the roundtrip 🚆 for Outbound Illini 393

[@andykillsu]

AS Railroading!

[@SomeRamdomAhole]

so i guess yall will keep the same energy when genesis breaks down

[@ASAviation]

Genesis has always been breaking down 😅