Im surprised they didnt derail, not because of the snow. because they are amtrak.
Hopefully they had plenty of evil hydrocarbons in the tanks to keep these things running while they wait.
Considerably warmer temps are on the way.
NYT headlines:
Global warming kills hundreds as they froze to death...
“About 500 passengers aboard three Amtrak trains were stranded overnight in a remote part of northern Illinois”
Funny, I never thought that Mendota (which in the area where I live was remote) Chicago does not realize there is live beyond Chicago.
Winter had come early, in the last days of November. People said that it was the hardest winter on record and that no one could be blamed for the unusual severity of the snowstorms. They did not care to remember that there had been a time when snowstorms did not sweep, unresisted, down unlighted roads and upon the roofs of unheated houses, did not stop the movement of trains, did not leave a wake of corpses counted by the hundreds.The only difference is now that we know that the cold weather is caused by global warming.
Hate to rant, I hate lousy journalism, but I really, really despise lousy writing.
Should read "...stopped the engines cold in their tracks..."., not "paralyzed engines". imho
In the 1880`s here up til 1950`s the steam trains ran thru town -all the passenger cars had wood stoves inside and a supply of small logs to throw into it during wintertime.
Up to the 1960`s all the cabooses had wood stoves in case of snowstuck. I rode the steam trains in the 1940`s with my grandfather. [yea, I know, I`m OLD.]
The people are reportedly now on buses headed to Chicago.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/01/06/three-amtrak-trains-stranded-in-illinois/
He described the deplorable conditions but I was a kid and don't remember much. I suppose sickness, bathroom facilities and food supplies took their toll.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG59X7bMDpA
It was in 1952 and above is a newsreel from the time. Astounding footage. Well worth watching.
The US Coast Guard rescues some global warming nuts stranded in the Antarctic, but we can’t rescue 500 American citizens stranded by snow in Illinois... go figure.
After the Russian revolution, eastward-bound trains carrying people fleeing the commies were intentionally stopped so the passengers would freeze to death.
OMG!!!, I’m sure this has NEVER happened before in wintertime in all U.S. railroad history, never!!!!! /sarc
Amtrak runs out of food even on bright clear summer days on three-hour trips, I wonder what those folks wound up having to eat.
The Southwest Chief runs right through my little town, and the route has been cancelled the last two days. There is just no getting through yet.
Not just these three...
The Cardinal was stuck in Indianapolis due to frozen switches.
Amtrak put them up in the Crown Plaza overnight, but local media, showing the stranded Greyhound passengers sleeping in the station, made it appear Amtrak left them all on their own, and sleeping on the floor.