Busjack Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 On 2/5/2016 at 7:58 PM, maths22 said: Is the statement here: http://chicagorailfan.com/rosmetcb.html (at the bottom) no longer accurate then? Are the BNSF cars electrically compatible with the other lines? Expand I thought it was updated that they were, based on the BNSF lines getting some 6000s and 8500s, but that seems to indicate the opposite direction for modification (which wouldn't make sense). The 400 series of locomotives have run elsewhere, such as Ollie Tibbels starting on the BNSF but also having been sent to the Milw N. Clearly the 480 volt power comes from the locomotive. The specs for the new cars say that they have to be compatible with everything, including 700s and 800s. The only reference I saw to particular railroads was that the cab signal system had to cover the different signal systems on the BNSF, RI, and various UP lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strictures Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 On 2/5/2016 at 7:49 PM, artthouwill said: At that time, each RR ran its own commuter lines. Now Metra is responsible for the service and equipment with Metra only outsourcing the BNSF and UP lines. Expand But did Metra then use the Burlington anti-telescoping requirements for new coaches? Is that why all the Metra coaches except the old C&NW green & yellow ones aren't used there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 On 2/5/2016 at 11:29 PM, strictures said: But did Metra then use the Burlington anti-telescoping requirements for new coaches? Is that why all the Metra coaches except the old C&NW green & yellow ones aren't used there? Expand You can look at the link math posted and figure it out. My reading is that they did not, but read them for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 The new lift cars are mixed in on bnsf Co sifts so the older cars appear to be compatible Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Everything is compatible. BNSF cars are in use on some SWS trains, Looks like Metra has been playing CTA lately. Many higher 8500s from BNSF are on the Milwaukee, UP has some of the Milwaukee 8500s, some of the UP 6000 and 8400 have found their way to the Milwaukee too. Also, there was a Pullman on a Heritage train this afternoon. Many 8200s (old cab cars) have been rehabbed, so they should be around for awhile (thank God !) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cta5658 Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 On 3/10/2016 at 1:25 AM, trainman8119 said: Everything is compatible. BNSF cars are in use on some SWS trains, Looks like Metra has been playing CTA lately. Many higher 8500s from BNSF are on the Milwaukee, UP has some of the Milwaukee 8500s, some of the UP 6000 and 8400 have found their way to the Milwaukee too. Also, there was a Pullman on a Heritage train this afternoon. Many 8200s (old cab cars) have been rehabbed, so they should be around for awhile (thank God !) Expand Besides #8580, have there been any cars from other routes that made their way to the RI? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted March 11, 2016 Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 Funny how the assignment of cars was previously discussed and now metra is moving cars around the system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted March 11, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2016 On 3/11/2016 at 3:08 AM, west towns said: Funny how the assignment of cars was previously discussed and now metra is moving cars around the system Expand What do you expect when the 7400s and 8400s are in for rehab? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transit kid 12 Posted June 20, 2016 Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 Has Metra ever even considered single-level cars? UTA has some comet cars. On most trains there is one comet and three bombardier cars, and their passengers say the like the overall setup of the comets better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted June 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2016 On 6/20/2016 at 5:02 PM, transit kid 12 said: Has Metra ever even considered single-level cars? UTA has some comet cars. On most trains there is one comet and three bombardier cars, and their passengers say the like the overall setup of the comets better. Expand This requisition is for cars compatible back to the 700s, so no. Also, it was pointed out that with most bilevel trains already blocking crossings when stopped at stations, going to single level cars would not work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted July 1, 2016 Report Share Posted July 1, 2016 I still dont understand why metra doesnt consider the trilevel design or a lower level bilevel. There are other designs than the barbardier tri levels if they are worried about the structure. He big step of the 1960s gallery cars is difficult to board with high step. Yeah wheelchairs have a lift but its slow time consuming and labor intensive. Also for folks older with a bum knee or with packages luggage the steps are difficult CMAP 2040 calls for vehicles with better passenger amenities and conveniences. Why doesnt metra just play along and at least test a train set. Its like when they fought bikes on board trains 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted July 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2016 On 7/1/2016 at 9:06 PM, west towns said: I still dont understand why metra doesnt consider the trilevel design or a lower level bilevel. There are other designs than the barbardier tri levels if they are worried about the structure. He big step of the 1960s gallery cars is difficult to board with high step. Yeah wheelchairs have a lift but its slow time consuming and labor intensive. Also for folks older with a bum knee or with packages luggage the steps are difficult CMAP 2040 calls for vehicles with better passenger amenities and conveniences. Why doesnt metra just play along and at least test a train set. Its like when they fought bikes on board trains Expand I guess you did not read the spec that this has to be compatible with all prior Metra cars. It looks like Metra does not want to run mixed train sets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Thats the problem . Metra does not want to change. There can be a mixed fleet as ibe said in past amtrak runs superli ers and low level fleets so mixed fleets can work The excuse metra needs only one type of equipment doesnt hd water as the electric equipment only stays on electric so they do have dedicated fleetd. They just dont want to change to better serve passengers No innovation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pace831 Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 On 7/5/2016 at 4:16 AM, west towns said: Thats the problem . Metra does not want to change. There can be a mixed fleet as ibe said in past amtrak runs superli ers and low level fleets so mixed fleets can work The excuse metra needs only one type of equipment doesnt hd water as the electric equipment only stays on electric so they do have dedicated fleetd. They just dont want to change to better serve passengers No innovation Expand The electric district has different equipment simply because it was the only electrified line when Metra took it over, making unique equipment a necessity. Your analogy fails because electric and diesel equipment aren't run on the same trains, which there is no practical way to do anyway. It's been said many times on this forum that less variety of equipment saves money on maintenance costs. Specifying new cars must be compatible with existing ones, especially when capital funds to buy them are scarce, doesn't indicate "no innovation". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Correct me if I'm wrong, but compatibility is mostly related to couplings, and electrical issues. Obviously the old lounge cars were single level and ran with the bilevel cars. Could a trilevel car work? Possibly, if the cars height fits in with the other cars. Then there's the capacity issue of if the composition of crews needs altering. Trilevels would need their own parts stock, which increases costs. Personally, the only way I consider it is on a new start service, such as Southeast Service, if it ever comes to be. Honestly a trilevelb is a mixture of a single level and a bilevel in the same car. Look at the Twin Cities MetroTransit North Star cars as an example. Thus honestly a trilevel really doesn't work on most Metra lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted July 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 On 7/5/2016 at 4:45 PM, artthouwill said: Could a trilevel car work? Possibly, if the cars height fits in with the other cars. Expand If you are suggesting a Bombardier car (clearly not a trilevel) those are just pop cans, and don't offer any capacity increase. This claims 136, which is about the same as a Metra car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strictures Posted July 5, 2016 Report Share Posted July 5, 2016 Here's a slightly off-topic question. Why do you have to step up from the platform to the first step of the gallery cars at Ogilvie? It's not like anyone is going to be running oversized freight equipment through there! Why hasn't the platform been raised up to the level of the first step. It would sure make unloading faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted July 7, 2016 Report Share Posted July 7, 2016 On 7/5/2016 at 5:28 AM, Pace831 said: The electric district has different equipment simply because it was the only electrified line when Metra took it over, making unique equipment a necessity. Your analogy fails because electric and diesel equipment aren't run on the same trains, which there is no practical way to do anyway. It's been said many times on this forum that less variety of equipment saves money on maintenance costs. Specifying new cars must be compatible with existing ones, especially when capital funds to buy them are scarce, doesn't indicate "no innovation". Expand Scarce capital funds didnt stop metra from planning the boondoggle starline it had its own decicated fleet of dmus. So that arguement doesnt work. Metra was gung ho with star line and had all the communities believing the man behind the curtain. What a waste in time and funding. Glad to see pace is doing something real in the corridor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted July 7, 2016 Report Share Posted July 7, 2016 Also its not just capacity of new car but amenities The high step of the galery cars is a killer for those with bad knees or with luggage and stollers and bags. My point is metra is fixated on a 1960s design built in a passenger be damned rsilroad era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted July 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2016 On 7/7/2016 at 2:40 AM, west towns said: Also its not just capacity of new car but amenities The high step of the galery cars is a killer for those with bad knees or with luggage and stollers and bags. My point is metra is fixated on a 1960s design built in a passenger be damned rsilroad era. Expand Then why don't you offer to Oberman to take over Orseno's job? On 7/7/2016 at 2:33 AM, west towns said: Scarce capital funds didnt stop metra from planning the boondoggle starline it had its own decicated fleet of dmus. Expand Which might have escaped you that that project is as dead as about everything under the 2006 bill, or the Tollway and Pace would not have entered into the I-90 project, including the part where you asked tonight where the construction was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pace831 Posted July 7, 2016 Report Share Posted July 7, 2016 On 7/7/2016 at 2:33 AM, west towns said: Scarce capital funds didnt stop metra from planning the boondoggle starline it had its own decicated fleet of dmus. So that arguement doesnt work. Metra was gung ho with star line and had all the communities believing the man behind the curtain. What a waste in time and funding. Glad to see pace is doing something real in the corridor Expand That was 10 years ago, has since been deemed impractical, and Metra is now under new management with more expertise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted July 7, 2016 Report Share Posted July 7, 2016 Im well aware of the I90 service plans having watched it over the yrs. My issue was metra has and was planning for dedicated fleets so the standard fleet issue goes out the window. Why doesnt metra test a trainset of low level equipment and see what the pubic thinks. What are they afraid of. People will like them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted July 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2016 On 7/7/2016 at 6:08 PM, west towns said: Im well aware of the I90 service plans having watched it over the yrs. My issue was metra has and was planning for dedicated fleets so the standard fleet issue goes out the window. Why doesnt metra test a trainset of low level equipment and see what the pubic thinks. What are they afraid of. People will like them? Expand No, they are afraid they can't intertrain them with the current fleet. Also, your "test" costs $4 million per car. Also, the proposed and dead STAR line was never intended to interchange with other Metra lines. Why don't you ask Metra itself, or ask NICTD why it doesn't intertrain 300s with other series? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strictures Posted July 8, 2016 Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 On 7/7/2016 at 6:23 PM, Busjack said: No, they are afraid they can't intertrain them with the current fleet. Also, your "test" costs $4 million per car. Also, the proposed and dead STAR line was never intended to interchange with other Metra lines. Why don't you ask Metra itself, or ask NICTD why it doesn't intertrain 300s with other series? Expand Metra could've had a number of the two level cars with low boarding from Los Angeles a few years ago to at least test the concept out, when LA Metrolink decided to replace all their rolling stock & get coaches with a higher standard of anti-telescoping bracing, after the Chatsworth collision. They would be excellent for the UP North Line, as it has almost no freight service & is dual or triple track all the way to Waukegan. Plus the grade crossings on the UP North Line have little truck traffic, unlike the crossings in LA or on any of the other Metra lines around here. Metrolink uses the old SP line which is just a single track from the West San Fernando Valley to Oxnard, which is why the crash occurred at Chatsworth. Having ridden it, it's an odd ride to be on such a curving single track including the three tunnels between Chatsworth & Simi Valley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted July 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2016 On 7/8/2016 at 12:19 AM, strictures said: They would be excellent for the UP North Line, as it has almost no freight service & is dual or triple track all the way to Waukegan. Expand Except that the UPN has almost all new cars. Also, I see that this same topic was mentioned a couple of months ago, so west town's rehashing is not adding anything to the discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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