110 mph Head End Run Dwight - Pontiac, Illinois

[@WThurston89]

It's ironic that several railroads used to commonly run at over 100 mph (some reportedly up to 120 mph) in the old days (30s and 40s) with steam and electric - and now we are only thinking of it again as if this is something brand new! Take for example the highly-competitive Chicago-Milwaukee run (which had elevated curves and signs that read: "Slow down to 90") and the New York-Chicago runs of the NYC and Pennsy (a 16-hour run at one time!).

[@schrap72]

The cab is so well insulated the horn and bell sounds like it's coming from somewhere else. But the faster the train goes it seems to bounce or rock, and that amazingly sound tight cab starts to get a little noisy.

[@Tedeboy999]

They are actually passing traffic on I-55 for a change.

[@b3j8]

I like how you can hear the wind whistling in the background. It's actually kinda scary how much lateral motion there was at that speed. Just imagine what kind of a ride it was in the cab of a Central J, or Q northern!

[@rrt08]

I was stationed in the UK, the tracks where 1000 feet from my house. The Class 91 Intercity would run rings around this. Hard to believe we let passenger rail travel get so bad in the US. I never had to drive you could take the train anywhere. Nice video.

[@rkanderson]

It's amazing to me that the government has spent millions of dollars to return to the place where passenger service was 60 years ago.

[@amtrak393]

What a lucky guy, Steve is to be the engineer of that train.

[@hawktb9]

Looks like Amtrak may have to invest in a more streamlined locomotive that would be capable of achieving higher than 110 MPH. Possibly lowering the ride height of the cab as well since it looked like the P42 was about to rock itself off the tracks...

[@Narpets2112]

Looked like a fair amount of shimmy at 110.

[@lasalleman]

Sideways rocking is a little scary.

[@BNforever2009]

I rode the Texas Eagle on this line after this 110 mph testing. the Texas Eagle is allowed to run at 79 mph only, not 110 mph.

[@cta4453]

A friend of mine is the signal engineer for this project with PB.

[@BNforever2009]

Those locomotives can do 120 mph easy but its the trackwork that has to be at "Santa Fe' standards. Those Alcos could haul ass and the GM&O made sure their trains were on time and they took it to heart about the schedules on their passenger trains.

[@BNforever2009]

super video. I felt like i was operating the train! Something to think about, 60 years ago the GM&O was running their Midnite Special and Abraham Lincoln trains at 100 mph regularly on this same line.

[@Robbi496]

Love these head end rides!

[@bmichel5581]

It has NOT been fixed. Cab signals continue to drop at this location despite a 90mph temporary speed restriction.

[@john2011jb]

The genesis is shaking like it's gonna derail

[@damon9408]

Another cool train vid. You can see the speed on the upper left. I'd rather take this, than a plane, for regional travel. You?

[@CentralIllinoisRailfan]

Yeah, I caught Steve MANY of times running the detour on the Villa Grove Sub.

[@monica012077]

Nice perspective, I hope I get to ride in a cab someday!

[@ShelbyDude1]

Interesting....looks just like a training pod I was in a few months ago...

[@Robbi496]

it is the old Chicago & Alton, G, M & O, ICG, SPCSL (WHEWW!) Line extensively rebuilt!

[@OntarioTrafficMan]

The highest permitted speed in the UK on non high-speed lines is 125mph and none of their diesels could do more than that in service.

[@neilworms1]

The FRA is to blame who put ridiculous regulations on transets in the US in part probably as a ploy by the auto companies to keep trains handicapped as a viable travel mode. In sort unless amtrak goes through a lengthy and costly beaurcratic process they can't get euro style trains, due to "safety concerns" that has to stop!

[@irelandbloke]

Nice shot

[@hoosierhobbies]

I want to pace that train on old US66!

[@Narpets2112]

In these areas, the goal is not to go faster than 110.

[@MrMKH2010]

The that AWS is going off like that, the driver will spend more time clearing the AWS than he will looking out the winsdow.

[@CumulonimbusCalvus]

But amtrak lacks sufficient funding.

[@dwkcamman611]

Awesome!!!

[@boweandrew3]

they'd better get the Cab Signal box fixed it shouldn't be going between green to red and the engineer shouldn't have to keep resetting it, yikes

[@CameraManJohnny]

good 'ole steve!

[@Billblom]

Just think.. With the full PTC that the feds mandated enabled, chances are the computer would stop the train with that sort of indication since the computer overrides the engineer.. (THAT would be ugly...)

[@boweandrew3]

is it all Cab Signal system rules from Joliet to St Louis and why did the Cab Signal system keep malfunctioning? and where did the test train opertate to and from? I am jelious you had the best seat in the house

[@adam11111]

Dont care how long it is but you can still come to england and go on train that travels at 185. Not many countries have trains that go faster 185 mph. Plus high speed 2 or high speed 3 cant remember will add over 400 milles of track over the next 10 years or so. And that will go even faster over 200 mph all the way not just in parts. Some people slate the uk train infrastructure but i think its good compared to other countries.

[@AmJaxineer]

Not quite. CSX locos are limited to 70mph as per special instructions.

[@cjk247]

cool video!!

[@AquaCarb]

Pretty soon 100 mph will be too slow.

[@adam11111]

You say branch lines go even slower but thats the same in all countries as there is just no need to travel to a town 30 miles away at 100 mph or whatever. 60 mph is adequate

[@boweandrew3]

Why not have HST 125 trains like in England or australlian here in central Illinois or bring back rtg turbo trains those inks ran in ny state for years at110 mph

[@alexander1485]

weird video footage itself, did you use a youtube filter thing?

[@adam11111]

110 mph is not fast lol, but as people are saying infrastructure is expensive. Taking away every level crossing and replacing with bridges etc is massively expensive especially in todays economic climate. Come to england and have a ride on our 185 mph trains lol

[@QiuyuanChenRyan916]

Well, it will be faster with a Gen-set idea, which is two or three smaller generator works together.

[@UnionPacificBNSF]

Who owns this track is it a new line

[@signmasters24]

Sweet!

[@CentralIllinoisRailfan]

Oh, thanks. lol

[@PositionLight]

Is that line equipped with both ICTS and Cab Signals?

[@tbrown7171]

which loco was that 66 or the other