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Amtrak Metroliners

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Morristown, NJ
  • 808 posts
Posted by nealknows on Friday, July 6, 2018 7:48 PM

Yes, I've ridden Amtrak to/from NYC many times. Back in the early 70's I went down into Sunnyside Yard (now if you try it they lock you up and throw away the keys), and as a young railfan was offered a ride inside a GG-1 with 2 other friends. Talk about a tight squeeze! The conductor on the platform in NY Penn was staring at us trying to figure out what was going on.

Also rode the Acela from NY Penn to Wilmington 3 years ago with my nephew. Stopped for lunch then took the next one back. Very cool ride, very fast and he enjoyed it! Okay, so did I...

Neal

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: Jersey Shore
  • 313 posts
Posted by wojosa31 on Friday, July 6, 2018 6:41 PM

Amtrak ran Metroliners in both 4 and 6 car sets - 6 cars were the maximum due to current draw limitations.

The cab ends were designed to open up so that passengers and crew members could walk through the train. 

Some of the original Metroliners still exist as Cab control cars on push pull sets.

I did on occasion run them, and still have my Amtrak cab control key.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, July 6, 2018 5:02 PM

My ex was from Collingswood, which is close enough to Morristown and the NE corridor.  Are you telling us you have never ridden Amtrak to NYC?

My all time favorite memories are going to NYC on the PRR behind GG-1's from 1958 to the late 60's with my father.  The dining car has been replaced by the Amtrak fast food car. 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Morristown, NJ
  • 808 posts
Posted by nealknows on Friday, July 6, 2018 3:42 PM

Thanks Ed! Greatly appreciate the information!

Neal

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Friday, July 6, 2018 1:50 PM

nealknows
Did the Metroliners have diaphrams between the two married sets so you can walk from one car to another?

 

Yes:

(click image to enlarge)

 Metroliner by Edmund, on Flickr

Somewhere around here I have more photos, the end-doors extended and swung to the side and a diaphragm extended using a motorized worm-screw. You could easily walk from car-to-car.

 Metroliner2 by Edmund, on Flickr

 Metroliner1a by Edmund, on Flickr

 Metroliner1 by Edmund, on Flickr

* These instructions are for the "as-built" Pennsylvania Railroad Metroliners (GE and Westinghouse) but I imagine Amtrak didn't make many changes to the coupling and diaphragm systems when they rebuilt them.

Good Luck, Ed

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Southern California
  • 1,682 posts
Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Friday, July 6, 2018 1:27 PM

If nobody here knows the answer, there is an Amtrak modelers group on Facebook where the members are very knowledgeable about questions like this.

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Morristown, NJ
  • 808 posts
Amtrak Metroliners
Posted by nealknows on Friday, July 6, 2018 7:32 AM

Hello everyone,

Amtrak Metroliners ran in sets of 4, more the most part, with 2 married pair sets. So the question is - Did the Metroliners have diaphrams between the two married sets so you can walk from one car to another? my friend and I are trying to model a 4 car set and we're trying to either get pics that show them or confirmation from anyone who has worked for Amtrak back in the day of these trainsets or knows first hand.

Thanks to all who reply!

Neal

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