Originally Posted by
trucker
They set out from Chicago yesterday morning.
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/20...e-efficient-l/
"The two diesel-powered ALC-42 Charger locomotives leading the train westward on the more-than-2,200-mile Empire Builder route are more environmentally friendly than the 1990s-era engines they are replacing, Amtrak said in a news release. Numbered 301 and 302, they are the first of 75 locomotives manufactured by Siemens Mobility in California that Amtrak plans to add to its fleet by the end of 2024."
"Compared to the older models they are replacing, the locomotives use less fuel and reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide by 89% and the particulate matter responsible for black diesel smoke by 95%, according to Amtrak. They are also faster, with a top speed of 125 mph, although track and signal infrastructure limits the top speed on the Empire Builder route to 79 mph..."
Last time I was in Montana, the speed limit in Montana for cars was "reasonable and proper"! So, a car can drive across Montana faster than Amtrak. Can't speak to the rest of the ride though.
{edit -- Montana now does have a speed limit of 80 mph on freeways, as does South Dakota}