| When HURRICANE KATRINA struck southeast Louisiana on 29 August 2005 it extensively damaged the Canadian National (former Illinois Central) line along Lake Pontchartrain, between New Orleans and Hammond. The CN quickly set up a base of operations in Hammond, and brought in seven passenger cars to accommodate its personnel: Amtrak SUPERLINER sleepers 32058, 32015 and 32030, IC sleeper 800210, IC kitchen car MW101315, Wisconsin Central office car 800201 SUPERIOR and IC training car MW101314. E-units 100 and 101 provide power for the cars. The southern terminal for Amtrak’s CITY OF NEW ORLEANS was initially cut back to Memphis, then it was extended to Jackson and then to Hammond on 13 September. To accommodate this service, the train ran with a locomotive on each end between Jackson and Hammond. In this view, eight days before service was restored out of New Orleans, the northbound CITY was accelerating away from the Hammond depot behind P42 number 91. |