The Calif. Zephyr in Ft. Morgan on 11JAN2024

[@jimueberroth3144]

Good morning Mike. An eventful stop this am in Fort Morgan. The least it could have been blowing some warm air for you. Have a good Saturday and I trust the problems are past for the day. Stay safe, be careful and go grab that cup of coffee!!

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good morning, Jim; I thank you for stopping by and the comments. Joe's knowledge of the systems paid off for the crew today. Made the last of their workday a bit easier. It should be a decent day for a while here. Turning colder and windier as the day rolls along. Oh well. Out here this type of weather is known as "Stock show weather" as the National Western Stock Show opens in Denver this morning. It has an eleven-day run and draws from across the US. The Zephyr rolls right by the grounds where the event is stagged. Anyway, have a great Saturday back there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@davidduffy308]

Good morning Mike. Always entertaining to see something different but sorry they had a problem. Quick fix though and they've on the way.😊 Have a great day and stay safe in FMG.

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good morning, David; Thanks for dialing in and the comments. Yep. They were able to chase the problem down and correct it. Knowledge of the systems paid off. Have a great Saturday over there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@PSB-900]

Looks like a crisp and clear morning Mike! Stay warm and have a great day.

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good morning, Paul; I thank you for dialing in and the comments. It started out to be a clearing off day, yet the clouds have rolled in, and the wind is starting to pick up again. Out here we call it "Stock show weather" as the National Stock Show in Denver starts in about 1 hour for its 11-day run. Have a great Saturday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@benedmonson3445]

Good morning Mike from 35 snowy mid Tenn(4 ") to be exact. With high only 35 today will take 2 days to melt after refreeze tonight. On our city of NO trip chicago-memphis section a Amtrak mechanic rode 1/2 way repairing the last truck on last coach. Train stopped up on meeting northbound #58, mechanic crossed track boarded it & returned to Chicago. Where's there a way to do it, they find it and go on. Repairs from Chicago to California are scarce.

[@marksmith4582]

Good Saturday morning Mike! Sunny and 28 degrees currently at 09:51 AM Iowa time. Should be 34 here today! I’m glad they got the air leak taken care of so they could proceed on to Denver! Have a great Saturday out your way Sir! I’m doing my part to enjoy the weather here today! Mark in Iowa.

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good morning, Mark; I thank you for tuning in along with the comments. I heard the leak when they stopped the train, and the A/C also was aware of it. Joe had the knowledge of the equipment to chase it down safely and correct the problem. I think they could have made Denver with the leak but why chance it. The National Western Stock Show started today in Denver and the Zephyr rolls right next to the grounds that 11-day event is staged. The weather shifts out here seem to happen during the stock show. LOL! Have a great Saturday back there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@PCBill0622]

Passenger trains have two air lines for safety-one had an issue. Unfortunately I saw something of great safety concern: the conductor didn’t verify “set & centered”(BNSF terminology) or “ 3 step” with the engineer before going between the cars. That procedure verifies that brakes (independent & train) are set AND the reverser control is in neutral so the train can’t move either way. Obviously any movement could injure the trainman.

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good morning, PCBill; I thank you for dialing in and the comments as well as sharing the knowledge. I appreciate that. I think the conductor (Joe) did call for 3-point protection which includes the isolation of HEP. I wasn't able to confirm but I think a drain cock came open in the system of the #8 car. The quickness of the corrective activity is what leads me to that idea. Once they had secured the problem, the 3-point was removed and HEP restored prior to departure of the train. I'm just a bystander in this. Wasn't much to show on video other than the radio chatter in the audio section. But, having operated rail equipment and other mobile equipment for Western Sugar Cooperative here in Ft Morgan and training many Navy personnel in safety and firefighting, I did have a rudimentary idea of what was involved. I do appreciate your knowledge of the situation. Have a great Saturday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@PCBill0622]

@@MikeinmorganThanks Mike-I missed the 3-step as well. Nice to know about your background. I drove BNSF and CPKC crews in ND. We received the same safety training as much of our work was around the yards. Thanks for your faithful reporting!

[@robo113603]

Good morning Mike, hope ur keeping warm, safe, this is 🇦🇺 calling in

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good day, Robo; Thank you for dialing in from Australia today. We are doing fine here. Hope that you are staying cool and safe there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@roberthansen2008]

Yeah Mike I'm sure when I get to Denver by the time now they got to Denver they probably would take a better look at that leak situation so they can fix it accurately and precisely. But I'm sure it's probably okay. It's good they catch those things so that no trouble happens on the rest of the trip.

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good morning, Robert; Thank you for dialing in as well as the comments. Yep. They are in Denver. I am sure that problem made the gripe sheet for the mechanical crew to check before sending the train into the mountains. Have a great Saturday back there. Please take care and stay safe!

[@greatnorthern930]

It was a normal morning except for mechanical issues. On a funnier note, who picks the wardrobe for some of these people? I had a good chuckle this morning.

[@richblacklock]

What did they do to isolate the train from HEP? Air? Electrical? Was it a flick of a switch or something mechanical (like a valve)?

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good morning, Rich; Thank you for looking in and the questions. HEP refers to the 480-volt A/C 3-phase electrical power the energizes the train. Yes. It is a simple as throwing a switch in the locomotives and the cars go on battery power. That is for the protection of ground crew, in this case the conductors as they chased down the leak. Once they were in the clear and ready to move the train the HEP was turned on again and the train taken out of 3-point protection (Train won't move). I think the leak was from a drain cock that had come open on an accumulator tank by how fast it was corrected. If you listen to the engines after they word came back to energize the HEP, you can hear the prime mover (diesel) coming back up to speed as the engines operate at a constant speed to provide that electrical power to the train. That is also true for the DC power going to the traction motors. Hope that cleared some of your questions a bit. Or muddied them up some. LOL! Have a great Saturday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@geraldjones8032]

Good morning Mike: Interesting morning. You get some first class video. Nice that they were able to correct the problem quickly. I just watched a video about train heist in the Arizona desert. Like the old west. Big value merchandise. You have a good day and warm up with that coffee.22 degrees this morning in Albuquerque this morning. Take care and be safe.😊😊😊😊😊

[@Mikeinmorgan]

Good morning, Gerald; Thank you for dropping by and the comments today. Joe's knowledge of the systems paid off this morning even though he didn't want to put eyeballs on the problems while the train was in station. Beats having to plod around in the real dark in the middle of nowhere out here. I think I have seen that movie as it starred the #4449 with Burt Lancaster, Michael Douglas, and all. Or I am thinking of a different movie. You are kinda BRRR down there this morning. This wind should blow some warmer air your way. LOL! Have a great Saturday. Please take care and stay safe!

[@DamienLonestartrainfannandmore]

Good afternoon Mike jensen My Name is Damien I heard the train came this morning and if you see mandy Tell Mandy Damien Says Hi