BNSF Light Power Crew Changes and Boards Amtrak

On March 5, 2013, BNSF changed crews of a light power move in Agency, Iowa, then had the outgoing crew get picked up by Amtrak's "California Zephyr."
First the light power "backs up" to change crews at the 80th Avenue crossing on the west side of Agency. This would have been done in Ottumwa, Iowa at Iowa Avenue, but, as mentioned at 8:03, there is already a train there.
Now the crew getting off the light power needs to go to Galesburg, Illinois. A snow storm with high winds means there are no vans going to Galesburg. Plan A is to drive to Ottumwa and get on the eastbound Amtrak #6. Turns out there isn't enough time for this. Plan B is to meet the "Zephyr" at its next stop in Mount Pleasant. Eventually they go with Plan C, which is just have Amtrak stop here at 80th Avenue to pick them up.
Light power engines (left to right):
BNSF 5383 GE C44-9W
BNSF 7238 GE ES44DC
BNSF 5708 GE AC4400CW
"California Zephyr" engines:
Amtrak 94 GE P42DC
Amtrak 173 GE P42DC

[@hoghogwild]

Comes to a stop picks up six and is moving again within 30 seconds. Excellent show Amtrak.

[@woodywaddell9844]

Cudos to the dispatcher that set up this crew change! Right on the money!

[@CDLClassA]

That Amtrak horn is EPIC!!!!!

[@WR5RR]

Nice to see the crew change. Thanks for braving the cold weather to film this. Ron

[@ccaammiinniiito2]

This video is so excellent I feel as if I'm right there!

[@tommytruth7595]

Another good reason to get a private room when riding Amtrak.

[@404marc]

Nine million miles of track and they make this exchange at the only RR crossing in town!

[@tommytruth7595]

I know.

[@cicihusainah999]

Can being BNSF train not for freight train only, but do ucan BNSF train to be commercial train likes Amtrak train? And BNSF train is for freight train only likes Santa Fe, Nortfolk Southern, Rio Grande, and others? 🤔😂🙂

[@cats0182]

And the crossing gates are down for almost 15 minutes? I know this is Iowa, but keeping a street closed for 15 minutes is crazy. Why couldn't they have pulled up far enough to let the gates up and traffic go through?

[@Crusader1815]

According to Google Earth, that's a dead end road behind the camera, with only 6 homes on it.

[@daviddowling9830]

Because it's Iowa,that's why.

[@df446]

Yep. Total dick move.

[@tommytruth7595]

The police could arrest all of them.

[@ATrainVideo]

Thanks. I was wondering if the bell had snow in it.

[@BurkeDevlin66]

thanks for the great coverage

[@gaylenemorley916]

Oh yes tomorrow nite i am riding amtrak from slc utah to truckee calif for a stay in donner lake cabin with my brother i am looking forward to it

[@MultiPurposeReviewer]

See, the only problem with this is this is not how I would do crew change procedures. I would have the relief crew get on and, once they're on, THEN have the "dead" crew disembark. This way, the train is always manned and you never have a running locomotive that is unattended. Great video, though.

[@ATrainVideo]

Thanks.

[@therookie9276]

MultiPurposeReviewer But then you get CSX 8888 and then your comment is not relevant anymore and it ends there

[@ZachPumphery]

Obviously you've never been part of a crew change before. If the inbound crew doesn't get out of the way, the outbound crew has nowhere to turn around, much less set their grips down.

[@misssouripacific]

yes for sure operating loco with no crew sounds like a disaster movie

[@MychaelHall24]

Is that Amtrak California Zephyr?

[@ATrainVideo]

Mychael Hall Yes.

[@ATrainVideo]

Thank you.

[@trainmanj]

Quite an unusual move, but I guess as long as it didn't delay Amtrak very much.

[@seankolker]

Deadheading on Amtrak isnt all that uncommon...or getting stuck on a bus if crew vans are yanked off the roads.

[@davidbouwman4528]

Great video! haha that bell sure is cold!

[@MiddleTennesseeRailProductions]

Both bells were sure cold! lol

[@jimholder6656]

Inexplicable!

[@adamghimenti6988]

Neat catch

[@ATrainVideo]

You're welcome.

[@jaredklock8754]

I wonder since BNSF crews hopped on the Zephyr if they get to sleep in the crew sleeper

[@ATrainVideo]

Jared Klock They're only going three stops to Illinois. Probably don't need a bed.

[@jaredklock8754]

A. Train oh, well what if they aren't going just 3 stops though. What if they go a long time?

[@ZachPumphery]

You usually just sit in the dorm or the lounge. Usually a deadhead crew isn't on a train over 4 or 5 hours.

[@geraldcovey9437]

I see that this article s a couple of years old now, perhaps the camera operator has learned to resist the many urges to unnecessarily zoom and pan?

[@daviddowling9830]

GERALD COVEY lets see your videos Gerald,yeah lets see em.

[@ATrainVideo]

Thanks.

[@russellsimons8930]

im a kid but i know a lot about amtrak more then you think

[@Spontainousteve]

Russell Simons K

[@therookie9276]

Russell Simons Same.

[@davidrowe7304]

Person with the camera needs a lot more practice!

[@carolynsteed3649]

This makes no sense.

[@michaelglass4701]

Cool

[@ATrainVideo]

Thank you.

[@ATrainVideo]

You're welcome.

[@ATrainVideo]

Thank you.

[@ATrainVideo]

Thank you.