Time for Reflection
I was on my way to get my glasses fixed when I noticed something else that needed fixing. Amtrak 57 was down with a bad brake at the Port Huron, Michigan station. The only time you'll see Amtrak in Port Huron during daylight hours is if somethings gone wrong or late summer when its bright outside. Regardless of that issue, the Blue Water carried on without its rear engine, making for a rare instance of the train not operating in a push pull configuration. 57 was looking quite beaten and battered, rusty holes and patches scattered across the 27 year old locomotive. Nonetheless it still rumbled and occasionally roared into life as the engine revved. People say diesels don't feel as "alive" as steam locomotives, but even when idling, diesels still make plenty of noises to let you know they're ready to go whenever. So far the P42s have lasted about as long as the F40PHs in revenue service, so its no wonder they're showing their age. Definitely a surreal sight given these were the engines I grew up with in the 2000s and 2010s and it seemed like they'd never age. Time waits for no one and ultimately things must carry on.
Time for Reflection
I was on my way to get my glasses fixed when I noticed something else that needed fixing. Amtrak 57 was down with a bad brake at the Port Huron, Michigan station. The only time you'll see Amtrak in Port Huron during daylight hours is if somethings gone wrong or late summer when its bright outside. Regardless of that issue, the Blue Water carried on without its rear engine, making for a rare instance of the train not operating in a push pull configuration. 57 was looking quite beaten and battered, rusty holes and patches scattered across the 27 year old locomotive. Nonetheless it still rumbled and occasionally roared into life as the engine revved. People say diesels don't feel as "alive" as steam locomotives, but even when idling, diesels still make plenty of noises to let you know they're ready to go whenever. So far the P42s have lasted about as long as the F40PHs in revenue service, so its no wonder they're showing their age. Definitely a surreal sight given these were the engines I grew up with in the 2000s and 2010s and it seemed like they'd never age. Time waits for no one and ultimately things must carry on.