The best way to travel in a pandemic that doesn't involve driving or flying yourself is easily the private sleeping car accommodation. Sealed off from every other human, one can travel to their destination in style with food and whatnot delivered to them. In June 2020 I needed to visit a friend in Georgia and since I normally took the train I just made a few adjustments, switching to the direct Train 19/20 combination and taking a sleeper both ways. While I wasn't able to get any out the back content, there was still ample opportunity for videos so since I can't fit them all into one post I'll start out with the videos and then move on to the stills.
First up we have Amtrak ACS-86 #605 pulling into Baltimore Penn Station with a COVID shortened Crescent Train 19. Due to reduced ridership, this train was serving double duty as an NEC Regional.
Once in DC, Amtrak ACS-86 #605 uncouples from the Crescent and pulls forward, taking A interlocking's 18RA signal displaying a Restricting indication before turning back to wait for its next northbound assignment on one of the higher numbered tracks.
Federal support was allowing some commuter trains to operate despite the complete lack of riders. Here, Virginia Railway Express MP36PH-3C #V50 departs the lower level of Washington Union Station with a Fredericksburg, Virginia train past another Restricting signal at A interlocking. Gallery cab car #V713 brings up the rear while Amtrak P42DC's #12 and #148 run light on one of the higher number tracks to couple on to the waiting Crescent Train 19.
The two P42'sDC then re-appeared, backing on to Crescent Train 19 waiting on Track #24. After the couple the engineer is signaled to pull forward, testing that the coupler has fully engaged.
Fast forward to Gainesville, GA where the shortened Train 19 departs, taking the Approach Diverging signal on the southbound cantilever at MIDLAND interlocking on the former Southern RR main line. A crew dorm now rides the rear preventing any reverse view photography.
After my time in Georgia was done, I returned to the Gainesville Amtrak station to wait for my northbound Train 20. While waiting NS SD40-2's #6077 and #6082 drifted past with a short local freight. The local was being held at MIDLAND interlocking for the passage of Train 20.
The local was still there when Amtrak P42DCs #121 and #93 pulled into Gainesville with another COVID shortened trainset. This rare "daylight" video of Train 20's arrival into Gainesville was made possible by the summer solstice and an on time arrival enabled by the general pandemic related plunge in freight and passenger traffic.
The on time performance held up all the way to Washington, DC where the general lack of passenger traffic made the mid-morning Train 20 power change a breeze as P42DCs #121 and #93 were pulled off and replaced by ACS-86 #649 in less than 5 minutes which I was able to capture in a single take. Note ACS-86 #616 waiting at the read of a northbound Regional on the adjacent track.
Well thanks for watching my video content. Next week I'll be back with the stills!
No comments:
Post a Comment