I am concluding my RailCamp 2019 coverage on the first couple of days. Sunday, June 29, I had to pick up some of the campers who decided to take the train. What a way to start things off, eh?
The Wilmington area is really cool to watch trains. It seems as if you don't have to wait 20 minutes before something rolls by. Amtrak runs the Acela, and the Northeast Regional trains, plus Septa stops here, on their way between Philadelphia and Newark, DE.
Here is the crew we picked up at the station. My phrase is that they start the week as rail fans, and end up being railroaders.
On Monday, June 30, we started the road trips with a safety briefing and other information at the Wilmington Locomotive shops of Amtrak.
A cool walk through of the locomotive shop gave the boys a chance to see all types of work needed to keep the trains rolling.
An interesting part of the Amtrak operation is that the railroad has to maintain the HHP8 electric locomotives as though they are running them. It is a contractual obligation, until they are paid off, and returned to the bank that is financing them.
Group photos are big in this camp. This was the photo location chosen for the loco shop visit.
After lunch, we toured CTEC, which manages the electric operations of Amtrak, and the dispatching area for the lower sections, plus CNOC, which manages the operations of the nationwide network.
Our train to Washington DC arrives. The boys are ecstatic that we get to ride behind the Veteran's Unit, no. 645.
While in Washington, DC, there are several photo opportunities. VP of operations, Chris Jagodzinski leads the tour to Tower K, which still manages the trains running in and out of Union Station. This includes MARC trains, and Virginia Railway Express.
After dinner, we have a group photo taken with the US Capital in the background.
Our Acela awaits us. We boarded a regional train inbound, riding the wire and track inspection cars, and take the high-class train on the way back.
Our arrival at Wilmington, DE at dusk.
