Once again, Amtrak’s Southwest Chief encountered problems en route from Chicago to Los Angeles, and train 3 picked up a BNSF engine to assist it in Kansas City, at which point it was running about 5 hours behind schedule due to mechanical issues. The lead engine, BNSF 614, is fairly unusual. Built in March 1994 by General Electric as Santa Fe Dash 9-44CW 614 (later BNSF 614), this engine is one of twenty-one Dash 9s that BNSF rebuilt into AC44C4Ms by changing them from DC electrical systems to AC power, and replacing their C trucks (each with three traction motors) to A-1-A trucks, with a non-powered center axle as used on their GE ES44C4s and ET44C4s. This unpowered center axle can be raised and lowered as part of the traction control system. Every time a variation in grade, traction, or wheel slip occurs, the computer will adjust the pressure in the cylinders connected to the center axle adjust it to varying the weight on the drive axles in order to maintain sufficient adhesion. BNSF 614 was rebuilt at GE in San Luis Potosi, México, released on September 17, 2015. While the freight engine provides the muscle that this train was needing, they are geared for slower speeds than passenger engines and so Amtrak train 3 continued to lose time as it headed west, and was 10-hours 15-minutes late as it departed Fullerton, the next to last stop on its journey. (Fullerton, California – October 1, 2021)
