Between Hudson, NY and Schenectady, NY, track speed on Amtrak’s Empire Corridor reaches 110 MPH in several locations. On May 26, 2019, we are trackside at several of them to see Amtrak trains hustle through at maximum authorized speed.
First, an eastbound Empire Service doing every last bit of 110 MPH absolutely rockets through the Hamilton Way grade crossing on the outskirts of Castleton-on-Hudson, NY.
Train 1 - EB Empire Service
AMTK 714 P32ACDM (Phase III)
Next up is 49, the westbound Lake Shore Limited. At Colonie, NY, we catch the full consist just after the combining of sections at Albany-Rensselaer, as the heavy long-distance train hustles past the Cordell Road grade crossing at 100+ MPH.
Train 2 - 49 Lake Shore Limited
AMTK 125 P42DC (Phase V)
AMTK 138 P42DC (Phase V)
At the same location we also see the eastbound Maple Leaf fly through on its way to Albany for an engine swap.
Train 3 - 64 Maple Leaf
AMTK 104 P42DC (Phase V)
Finally, we see two Empire Services blast through the otherwise sleepy town of Castleton-on Hudson, blowing for a pair of grade crossings that connect the town to its riverfront.
Train 4 - WB Empire Service
AMTK 702 P32ACDM (Phase III)
Train 5 - EB Empire Service
AMTK 705 P32ACDM (Phase V)