HOME | DD

Description
Continuing from my previous photo ("End of An Era"), shortly after the Talgo VI scrap train passed heading south to California, the northbound Cascades rolled by, and close to on-time for once. Today's edition consisted of one of Oregon's Talgo VIII sets. A grand total of four were constructed; two 13-car trains for Oregon, and two 14-car trains for Wisconsin. The Wisconsin trains were meant to be used to upgrade trains on the Hiawatha Service between Milwaukee and Chicago. A change in governor brought a change in tune, and the sets were not used, ultimately remaining property of Talgo. For the last several years they've languished in storage at Amtrak's shop in Indiana, while Oregon's sets roamed the northwest. As of late, they've alternated duties on the single Cascades round trip with regular Horizon cars. Last winter, however, the Wisconsin Talgos were moved back to the factory in Milwaukee, to be reconfigured for Cascades service. They would replace Amtrak's two Talgo VI trains. A three-car spare set would be expanded with three cars from each Wisconsin set and two from the Oregon sets, resulting in five total 11-car trains. Unfortunately, this project appears to have stalled out.

Meanwhile, there are rumors that a commission attempting to restore passenger rail service between New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL expressed interest in the Talgo VI sets, but could not get either WSDOT or the ultimate buyer to speak with them. Perhaps, if the Wisconsin Talgos don't come this way, they could find a home in the South? Certainly a major change, from the mountains to the bayou...

Description
Continuing from my previous photo ("End of An Era"), shortly after the Talgo VI scrap train passed heading south to California, the northbound Cascades rolled by, and close to on-time for once. Today's edition consisted of one of Oregon's Talgo VIII sets. A grand total of four were constructed; two 13-car trains for Oregon, and two 14-car trains for Wisconsin. The Wisconsin trains were meant to be used to upgrade trains on the Hiawatha Service between Milwaukee and Chicago. A change in governor brought a change in tune, and the sets were not used, ultimately remaining property of Talgo. For the last several years they've languished in storage at Amtrak's shop in Indiana, while Oregon's sets roamed the northwest. As of late, they've alternated duties on the single Cascades round trip with regular Horizon cars. Last winter, however, the Wisconsin Talgos were moved back to the factory in Milwaukee, to be reconfigured for Cascades service. They would replace Amtrak's two Talgo VI trains. A three-car spare set would be expanded with three cars from each Wisconsin set and two from the Oregon sets, resulting in five total 11-car trains. Unfortunately, this project appears to have stalled out.

Meanwhile, there are rumors that a commission attempting to restore passenger rail service between New Orleans, LA and Mobile, AL expressed interest in the Talgo VI sets, but could not get either WSDOT or the ultimate buyer to speak with them. Perhaps, if the Wisconsin Talgos don't come this way, they could find a home in the South? Certainly a major change, from the mountains to the bayou...