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Re: The apparent awkward Amtrak California Zephyr Detour
Author: Fenchprof
Date: 03-17-2007 - 09:54
A little research shows that the former SP West Valley Line from Davis to Tehama is a most unlikely alternate during the period that the trestle reconstruction.
Once the home of the fast Shasta Daylight and Cascade streamliners, both of which were scheduled for about 1 hour and 45 minutes to accomplish the 110.7 miles from Davis to Tehama in 1954, the line now is much slower. Operated by the California Northern, a 1994 employee timetable shows a maximum operating speed of 40 mph with some 60 miles of the 110.7 miles limited to 25 mph.
Since I-5 runs parallel to much of the line, my observation from the freeway is that it is unlikely that higher speeds are authorized currently.
Additionally, track warrants is the train order system as opposed to the Direct Traffic Control (DTC) during the last few years of SP operation.
One question: was that line been sold or is it leased to California Northern?
Once the home of the fast Shasta Daylight and Cascade streamliners, both of which were scheduled for about 1 hour and 45 minutes to accomplish the 110.7 miles from Davis to Tehama in 1954, the line now is much slower. Operated by the California Northern, a 1994 employee timetable shows a maximum operating speed of 40 mph with some 60 miles of the 110.7 miles limited to 25 mph.
Since I-5 runs parallel to much of the line, my observation from the freeway is that it is unlikely that higher speeds are authorized currently.
Additionally, track warrants is the train order system as opposed to the Direct Traffic Control (DTC) during the last few years of SP operation.
One question: was that line been sold or is it leased to California Northern?
