Here we go again with the Empire Builder. The new #7 is already four hours late, and it's not even on the map in Chicago yet. If they wait much longer, it'll be a scratch. The #8 is three hours late arriving. It's possible that they don't have a train set available, but I think they have six sets, and when things are running correctly there are only supposed to be four out on the line at any given time. Right now there are just three. Recently there have been five at a time on occasion. There should always be one in Chicago ready to go because they have 23 hours to get it ready for the next day (on schedule). The eastbound arrives an hour after the westbound departs.
The only problem with the map is, it only tells us what is happening, it doesn't tell us why.
The BNSF is my favorite railroad, but when it comes to Amtrak, I'm not so sure anymore. A few months ago there was a topic on the forum regarding the Southwest Chief, and how Amtrak wanted to cut service right out of the middle of the route, from Dodge City, KS to somewhere like Albuquerque, NM. What I'm getting at here is, I have never heard any rumblings from the UP or any of the other four host railroads (CSX, NS, CP, CN) about ditching Amtrak. BNSF only has the two routes. Is Amtrak's money not green enough for Warren Buffett?
I have had the opportunity to speak to a retired BNSF executive a few times in the last year. One conversation was about the Builder, where he said it was only running three times a week. I had to correct him and told him that it was still running daily, but his comment has stuck with me since then. Maybe that's why I keep watching so intently, to see if it comes to pass. I even had my laptop with me and tried to show him the map, but he doesn't see too well anymore.
