EEW GROSS
blue streak 1 As slick as the cab cars look they are not functional. The shovel nose Cab car has no way to be an intermediate car and the other one does not either. I can not tell you how often you see cab cars in the middle of a train on commuter services so the un needed cars are not run empty during non rush hour times. Looks great but not very economical!
As slick as the cab cars look they are not functional. The shovel nose Cab car has no way to be an intermediate car and the other one does not either. I can not tell you how often you see cab cars in the middle of a train on commuter services so the un needed cars are not run empty during non rush hour times. Looks great but not very economical!
The North Western, for one, ordered more cab coaches on the premise that trains would be broken down for off-peak service and built up for the rush. Few if any cars are switched in and out this way; and consists stay fixed for the peak load. In reality, only enough cab coaches are needed for the number of train sets operated plus spares for rotating equipment through inspection and maintenance. Hardly any economy would be lost; in fact, fewer expensive cabs would be needed. Whether the fuel cost would be a factor in deadheading cars back and forth in the off-peak may become an issue.
In Search of the New Cars
Part V (of I-V)
The Colton maintenance facility is only a short distance from the San Bernardino stop, and that facility is accessed by BNSF's Main 4, the former AT&SF "Short Way" from many years ago.
That Colton maintenance facility had a number of 85-foot flats with newly delivered Metrolink cars on them.
So, slowly things are looking up and more promising for those in search of the new cars!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- K.P.’s absolute “theorem” from early, early childhood that he has seen over and over and over again: Those that CAUSE a problem in the first place will act the most violently if questioned or exposed.
Part IV (of I-V)
Within seconds the cab car will go under the Mt. Vernon Ave. viaduct.
And, the last two new cars follow.
The train goes up the flyover ...
... and it is on its way to Los Angeles.
Continued in Part V
Part III (of I-V)
A close-up of that cab car 648:
Departure time arrives, and like clockwork, the train moves out.
Continued in Part IV
Part II (of I-V)
Boarders tricked over to the train.
More people arrive and it is getting lighter.
Old and new commuter car roofs:
Continued in Part III
Part I (of I-V)
K.P. arrived at the San Bernardino stop early in the morning, at the crack of light on Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Still, most of the big fleet of early trains had already departed for Los Angeles. And, again, NO new cars were present.
However, there was a train in the curved servicing facility just to the west, and that train had new cars!
The train soon was pulled to the station tracks, and right behind the engine was two of the new cars.
The last car was a new cab car.
Continued in Part II
Had Aliens Taken the New Cars Up to Outer Space? Was Scrooge on the Prowl?
It was Christmas Day 2010, and K.P. thought that a bunch of the crashworthy new Metrolink cars surely would be idle at the end of the San Bernardino Line. To K.P.'s dismay, however, NO new cars were present. Had aliens taken them through outer space to another planet? Was Scrooge on the loose?
Here is what the idle OLD cars looked like. View looks east from Mt. Vernon Ave.
The servicing facility on the west side of the Mt. Vernon Avenue's Viaduct Bridge: Something had crashed through the bridge's protective side walling.
A nearby overflow yard (background) by the I-215 Freeway:
Out of all the cars at the San Bernardino stop and its surroundings, one would think at least a few new cars would be present. But, absolutely none were!
One time K.P. forsook riding Metrolink for lack of parking spaces at San Bernardino. A new parking structure is finally being built ... and is well along. At least those wishing to ride the new cars (when they show up) will soon have a place to park and ride.
A few days earlier, a non-cabcar was spotted behind the engine on an outbound run on the Riverside Line, near Pico Rivera. The train was quickly moving away from the camera (leftward).
Also passed by on Christmas Day was the new Metrolink Colton Maintenance Yard just about a mile to the south. It WAS packed with the new cars! Earlier posted photos of the new cars at that facility are elsewhere in this thread.
If it wasn't for the near to Pico Rivera single new car siting and seeing the Maintenance facility in Colton full of new cars, this forumist just might have started to believe aliens had taken the new cars to outer space ...The new cars' widespread absence undoubtedly disappoints the followers of this thread!
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4440444
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_16792495
They will be in service starting next Monday 12/13/10
Check out the imbedded videos in the article, the one at the bottom is interesting.
Have fun with your trains
"Whistle Stop Debut"
Here is the Metrolink website link about touring December 6, 8, and 9, 2010 ...
http://www.metrolinktrains.com/news/?id=5803
Natarai (12-4):
Here is what the semi-packed with new cars Colton Metrolink facility looked like yesterday (Saturday, December 4, 2010) in the late afternoon.
Most, if not all, of the new cab cars faced south.
K. P. Harrier Natarai (11-4): You asked when the new cars would enter service. I don't know, but I was by the Colton facility Thursday (12-2-2010), and the new facility was just packed with the new cars! K.P.
Natarai (11-4):
You asked when the new cars would enter service. I don't know, but I was by the Colton facility Thursday (12-2-2010), and the new facility was just packed with the new cars!
K.P.
Thanks for the update!
Someone on the amtrack unlimited forums said they read a tweet/blog post from metrolink saying the first cars will enter service (either fully as a new train, or combined with the older cars) around the 6th of december.
I wondered where they went. They were at the San Fernando Blvd facilities at the start of October, still think they look alot better than the current cab cars.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! THAT LOOKS SO FOREIGHN
K. P. Harrier New Cars at the New Colton Facility A visit to outside the gated Metrolink Colton facility was made on Sunday, October 31, 2010, and at least seven new Metrolink cab cars were present, six of which were coupled together. The below shot was taken from the east approach to the Mill Street overpass. A side view. The new cab car on the right is numbered 643. One cab car was within an outdoor servicing structure. For any that may wish to visit the new Colton facility, be advised that it is a gated yard with security guards present. It is also very difficult to photograph the new cars. Besides the gating around the facility, there are "No Parking" signs everywhere. This forumist had to actually park in two different residential areas, and hike in on public roads each time. But, it is great to personally see and photograph the spiffy new cars at the new facility!
New Cars at the New Colton Facility
A visit to outside the gated Metrolink Colton facility was made on Sunday, October 31, 2010, and at least seven new Metrolink cab cars were present, six of which were coupled together. The below shot was taken from the east approach to the Mill Street overpass.
A side view. The new cab car on the right is numbered 643.
One cab car was within an outdoor servicing structure.
For any that may wish to visit the new Colton facility, be advised that it is a gated yard with security guards present. It is also very difficult to photograph the new cars. Besides the gating around the facility, there are "No Parking" signs everywhere. This forumist had to actually park in two different residential areas, and hike in on public roads each time. But, it is great to personally see and photograph the spiffy new cars at the new facility!
Nice pics!! Any word on when the will enter service?
CSSHEGEWISCH One question about the bi-levels as used on Metrolink, Coaster, GO Transit, and others: Why are they using this design instead of gallery bi-levels as used on Metra, Caltrain, NICTD and MUCTC (ex-CP)?
One question about the bi-levels as used on Metrolink, Coaster, GO Transit, and others: Why are they using this design instead of gallery bi-levels as used on Metra, Caltrain, NICTD and MUCTC (ex-CP)?
Caltrain uses bombardier cars as well... They are used on their "baby bullet express" service.
They ride much better and are quieter than the gallery cars.
IMHO, they look like someone converted a P42 into a cab car!
Not exactly hideous, but..... well, I suppose the important thing is they are safer for the engineer.
That looks like a wrap to protect the paint during delivery.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
Are the new Metrolink cars gray or white?
Photo taken at Metrolink's new Colton facility.
On gallery cars some people don't like to ride downstairs because they don't like to have to look at people's legs in the seats above :)
Patrick Boylan
Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message
The center doors on gallery coaches are at least double width and loading and unloading usually proceeds at a brisk pace. The number of passengers who don't like to ride upstairs must be minimal because I've found that the upstairs seats tend to fill up faster than the downstairs seats. Also, the engineer's cab on control coaches is located on the UPPER level.
On gallery cars some people don't like to ride upstairs because they don't like people in the aisle below to look at their legs. Also, gallery cars generally have one center door for loading and unleading, while the lozinge-shaped double-deckers have two, one near each end on the single-level portion of the car. They are more expensive, but reduce station dwell times as compared with gallery cars.
Southwest ChiefSort of looks like a giant P42.I don't know about the rest of the Southern California residents who frequent this board, but I really hate the new Metrolink paint scheme. Some have dubbed it the "tampon" scheme. I'm also wondering how well these new bare metal finish cars will look with the white painted Bombardier coaches.
Sort of looks like a giant P42.
I don't know about the rest of the Southern California residents who frequent this board, but I really hate the new Metrolink paint scheme. Some have dubbed it the "tampon" scheme.
I'm also wondering how well these new bare metal finish cars will look with the white painted Bombardier coaches.
I'm from SoCal. I don't mind the new scheme. I do think Metrolink lacks an actual *logo* Right now they use a wedge shot illustration of the new cab cars, which I think is inadequate as a branding mark.
The usual cycle of corporate/organizational re-branding happens about every 10-15 years. The original Metrolink logo/scheme was unveiled in 1991 so it's due. And like all re-brandings, most people dislike the new one, then get used to it over time.
CSSHEGEWISCHI don't think they add that much of a safety factor while eliminating flexibility. There isn't much of a crush zone ahead of the cab. They don't look that good, either.
I don't think they add that much of a safety factor while eliminating flexibility. There isn't much of a crush zone ahead of the cab. They don't look that good, either.
I think you're wrong. Having the cab in a higher position helps tremendously, whereas in the Bombardier cab cars, they were right against the nose of the UP loco. You stand a MUCH better chance of survival if you're not going to be hit head-on in a higher position. I doubt you've seen the schematics of how the crush zone works, you're just looking at the externals.
As for the looks, they're in the eye of the beholder. I suspect most people hate change but get used to things eventually, then hate it when something even newer replaces that later on!
Matt from Anaheim, CA and Bayfield, COClick Here for my model train photo website
Interesting design. Of course it doesn't lend well to being in the middle of a consist, but if it increases visibility and safety for the train and her crew, I am all for it!
I'd really want to see one in person though... that makes all the difference. A cab ride would be even better!!
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