Priorities

CPKC's Final Spike Tour was to be one of the hottest trains on the railroad over its weeks-long run to Mexico City (and CEO Keith Creel was on board). But it seems a UP dispatcher had other plans on this sweltering afternoon in southeast Texas.

 

With every other siding between Houston and Beaumont plugged with trains (not unusual), and knowledge that CP 2816 would need to stop for an extended period of time outside Houston for servicing, the dispatcher elected to run the westbound Sunset Limited around the steam special at Ames, almost halfway to Houston.

 

It should be noted that the original schedule for the day put 2816's trip across the Sunset Route nearly 3 hours ahead of Amtrak's. But due to PTC and small mechanical issues in Louisiana, the Final Spike train left Beaumont only 30 minutes ahead of Amtrak Train #1.

 

AMT1 25 (Westbound Sunset Limited)

AMTK P42DC #168

AMTK P40DC #824

AMTK P42DC #194

 

B40B (Final Spike Steam Tour; Calgary, AB to Mexico City, CDMX)

CP H1b 4-6-4 #2816

CP SD70ACU #7013

CP FP9A #1401

CP FP9A #4107

 

Liberty, TX

May 25th, 2024

Done