renardo870 Posted January 13, 2019 Report Share Posted January 13, 2019 I found some interesting information regarding Metra down the road improvements especially regarding the Rock Island. Check it out. http://www.ctariders.org/Metra-s--5-billion-plan-for-improvements.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted January 13, 2019 Report Share Posted January 13, 2019 1 hour ago, renardo870 said: I found some interesting information regarding Metra down the road improvements especially regarding the Rock Island. Check it out. http://www.ctariders.org/Metra-s--5-billion-plan-for-improvements.html "The Ask" is probably the right name, and probably results in "won't get," especially to electrify the RID; not only construction cost, but also that if IIRC, the ME cars are about $1 million more each than other cars, unless they are talking only electric locomotives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richii0909 Posted January 14, 2019 Report Share Posted January 14, 2019 If RID went electric they would have to redesign the gallery area. Current ME cars have a single cut out for ground platforms and all of RID is street level vs raised platform level. Also it would be nice if these cars could be longer due to electrical equipment taking up some room on the bi level. I know some conductors prefer the electric as it’s easier to reconfigure the cars, snapped together and your all set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted January 14, 2019 Report Share Posted January 14, 2019 6 hours ago, richii0909 said: If RID went electric they would have to redesign the gallery area. Current ME cars have a single cut out for ground platforms and all of RID is street level vs raised platform level. Aside from the fantasy of getting 400 new cars, the ME cars have traps. Essentially they were redesigned from the 6000/8500 series cars.So. one could design from the original source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richii0909 Posted January 30, 2019 Report Share Posted January 30, 2019 On 1/14/2019 at 1:28 PM, Busjack said: Aside from the fantasy of getting 400 new cars, the ME cars have traps. Essentially they were redesigned from the 6000/8500 series cars.So. one could design from the original source. Well idk if they should electrify any lines!!! During these rare circumstances, ME and SS are disabled due to wire problems. At least the diesels are chugging along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geneking7320 Posted January 30, 2019 Report Share Posted January 30, 2019 37 minutes ago, richii0909 said: Well idk if they should electrify any lines!!! During these rare circumstances, ME and SS are disabled due to wire problems. At least the diesels are chugging along. These harsh winters are brutal on electric transit systems. But as far as car design is concerned you could look at what Caltrain is doing. www.calmod.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted January 30, 2019 Report Share Posted January 30, 2019 2 minutes ago, geneking7320 said: These harsh winters are brutal on electric transit systems. But as far as car design is concerned you could look at what Caltrain is doing. www.calmod.com Reminds me of a Sunday I was trying to get to work in Chicago from the Gary Metro station. The train that was supposed to come never did due to snow, ice, and wire issues between Gary and South Bend. I wound up taking an Indian Trails bus to the Chicago Greyhound Station and got a ride to work from there. Unfortunately Main Line and SS riders dont have alternates readily available. South Chicago, Blue Island, and Kensington Local and Hyde Park riders do. Today would've been a good day for the nonexistent Metra Southeast Service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pace831 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 Metra Electric will remain shut down for a third day due to a freight train derailment on Wednesday that damaged a catenary support. There will be limited Pace bus shuttles between the ME and RI. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTRSP1900-CTA3200 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 The Chicago Tribune has a picture of the damage in an article about the difficult commutes due to the weather. Not looking good for now. Link to the article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richii0909 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 8 hours ago, Pace831 said: Metra Electric will remain shut down for a third day due to a freight train derailment on Wednesday that damaged a catenary support. There will be limited Pace bus shuttles between the ME and RI. Was the initial shut down due to this or a wire problem some where else? It’s seems there was a wire issue and then this problem after. I saw that picture and OMG looks like a long time to fix!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 52 minutes ago, richii0909 said: Was the initial shut down due to this or a wire problem some where else? It’s seems there was a wire issue and then this problem after. I saw that picture and OMG looks like a long time to fix!! The initial shutdown was due to wire issues due to the severe cold. The CN derailment aggravated the situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richii0909 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 Wow ⚡️ district is down and out. Too bad the platforms are too high, metra could of ran a diesel train from van b to up. Hmmm SS borrowed metra 126 for a while, I wonder if it was just service from Chicago to Indiana with no stops in between. I’m just wondering if they stopped say 55-56-57th how did they board passengers at platform level Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 45 minutes ago, richii0909 said: Wow ⚡️ district is down and out. Too bad the platforms are too high, metra could of ran a diesel train from van b to up. Hmmm SS borrowed metra 126 for a while, I wonder if it was just service from Chicago to Indiana with no stops in between. I’m just wondering if they stopped say 55-56-57th how did they board passengers at platform level SS is also suspended. Where would you store diesel locomotives for the electric lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richii0909 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 12 minutes ago, artthouwill said: SS is also suspended. Where would you store diesel locomotives for the electric lines? I was referring back in the late 80’ SS had to borrow equipment from metra for a while they stored it downtown millennium. My point is this, it would be nice if metra could run a diesel train when days of extreme cold. Like I said they could run to Van B and drop off passengers to avoid Smokey millennium station, but the platform is the issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pace831 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 32 minutes ago, richii0909 said: I was referring back in the late 80’ SS had to borrow equipment from metra for a while they stored it downtown millennium. My point is this, it would be nice if metra could run a diesel train when days of extreme cold. Like I said they could run to Van B and drop off passengers to avoid Smokey millennium station, but the platform is the issue. In 2005 they used a diesel switch engine to pull a Highliner on a South Chicago branch shuttle. This couldn’t be done on a large enough scale to be of any help today, but it’s one solution to the platform height issue. http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=146502 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richii0909 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 This is a great idea, I wonder if they could put brake and 3 phase connectors as in a hybrid system for certain situations. Or just have future diesel cars with drop floors to accommodate me platforms in extreme emergencies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pace831 Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 The ME will remain shut down tomorrow (Saturday). There will be no supplemental bus service but CTA and Pace will continue to accept Metra tickets on some routes. An announcement about Sunday service will be made tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 hour ago, Pace831 said: The ME will remain shut down tomorrow (Saturday). There will be no supplemental bus service but CTA and Pace will continue to accept Metra tickets on some routes. An announcement about Sunday service will be made tomorrow. The SS will operate test trains on Saturday on its tracks. However, like ME, no passenger service Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 asking a what if ;;; could a Metra diesel engine pull an electric trainset and provide all utilities and functions? not sure of cab car functions but if diesels on both ends? i know they dont have enough engomes asking if it could be done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 20 hours ago, west towns said: asking a what if ;;; could a Metra diesel engine pull an electric trainset and provide all utilities and functions? not sure of cab car functions but if diesels on both ends? i know they dont have enough engomes asking if it could be done Could it....yes. Will it ever happen...no ! Why? Because the Chicago clean air act prohibits Metra from operating diesel locomotives along the lakefront. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
west towns Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 amtrak runs diesel south of 12th street. just a what if. similar to when amtrak shuttle trai s and pulled with diesels on NEC a few yrs ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MTRSP1900-CTA3200 Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 Before it was discontinued, the ACES service on the Northeast Corridor ran with a diesel locomotive at one end and an electric locomotive all the way from New York Penn to Atlantic City. The electric locomotive pushed the train out of Penn Station down to north Philadelphia where the train reversed and the diesel locomotive pushed the train for the rest of the trip. I’m assuming this was because the train left the Northeast Corridor during the journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artthouwill Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 15 hours ago, trainman8119 said: Could it....yes. Will it ever happen...no ! Why? Because the Chicago clean air act prohibits Metra from operating diesel locomotives along the lakefront. That doesn't seem to make much since unless its specific to downtown seeing that CN operates freight trains from 16th St south. And we've known the SS to have borrowed a Metra diesel set in the past. But you're right that the city wanted the IC to not operate steam engines which is why the IC electrified way back in the 1920s. Plus they also separated their commuter tracks from the freight tracks. The ME will remain electric for the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richii0909 Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 15 hours ago, trainman8119 said: Could it....yes. Will it ever happen...no ! Why? Because the Chicago clean air act prohibits Metra from operating diesel locomotives along the lakefront. Train man are you sure? Since these are MTU I never seen them with air hoses, power 3 phase connectors. Am I missing something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trainman8119 Posted February 3, 2019 Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 There are special couplers for the mu cars. The switch engines have them. I am sure you could put them on a diesel and use them. Like I said, could it-yes, will it-never Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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