[July 09, 2018]      

Lincoln played host to 194 visitors Saturday afternoon, but they were not here of their own choice. The Amtrak Texas Eagle that travels from San Antonio to Chicago usually arrives in Lincoln around 11 a.m. on Saturdays. This week it was four hours late, arriving at 2:45 p.m., and when it went to depart the Lincoln depot to resume the journey to Chicago the engine died.

The passengers were stranded. The train had no air conditioning nor were the restrooms working. The train was blocking the main rail artery between St. Louis and Chicago. All freight and passenger service was halted.

Lincoln Police and Fire Departments arrived to help in any way they could. The First Responders handed out cold water and made arrangements with local Emergency Management to bring more supplies if needed.

The newly remodeled Amtrak station was a welcome respite with its air conditioned waiting area, and restrooms. Passengers reported that conditions onboard the train was very unpleasant.

Saturday’s low humidity and moderate temperatures made the wait on the platform tolerable.

After almost two hours of waiting, the railroad sent a freight engine to tow the train to Normal where the weary passengers could board busses or wait for a later train for the remainder of the way to their destinations.

[Curtis Fox]

The Lincoln Depot had a large crowd of reluctant visitors on Saturday afternoon.

 

Lincoln Police and Fire Departments were on the scene to help out.

 

Lincoln First Responders passed out cold water to the weary passengers.

 

Lots of passengers and their first stop in Lincoln.

 

A freight engine was finally sent to tow the Texas Eagle to Normal.

 

Personnel from the railroad hook the freight locomotive to the Amtrak engine.