https://metrarail.com/about-metra/newsroom/metra-board-approves-purchase-500-modern-railcars
I wonder how the engineers will like being moved to the lower level?
An "expensive model collector"
I didn't see where cab cars were mentioned.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The photo (& video) show the operators spot on the first floor. These are mid-section double-deckers rather than gallery cars, and there is no second floor at the car ends. HVAC above cab.
Will be much nicer than the drafty and always get a chill in the winter current set of cattle cars. Stairs wider, none of this atrium aisle crap for ticket collection, better seats, double set of doors for faster loading and unloading, bigger windows, etc. I'll bet those HVAC packs are more than adequate in winter.
CMStPnP Will be much nicer than the drafty and always get a chill in the winter current set of cattle cars. Stairs wider, none of this atrium aisle crap for ticket collection, better seats, double set of doors for faster loading and unloading, bigger windows, etc. I'll bet those HVAC packs are more than adequate in winter.
Agreed. I've ridden on cars of similar design in Germany. A much more pleasant experience and faster loading and unloading. Replacing those 50+ year-old designs finally!!
Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak
D.Carleton Now all they need are some Chargers to pull/push them.
Now all they need are some Chargers to pull/push them.
Aren't they going with rebuilt SD70MAC's instead?
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
SD70Dude D.Carleton Now all they need are some Chargers to pull/push them. Aren't they going with rebuilt SD70MAC's instead?
The "SD70MACH" was announced two years ago next month. Nothing seems to have happened since.
The SD70MACH required a fair amount of engineering to fit the HEP package and other items onto an existing locomotive. A long lead time for production was announced at the time.
CSSHEGEWISCH The SD70MACH required a fair amount of engineering to fit the HEP package and other items onto an existing locomotive. A long lead time for production was announced at the time.
Did anyone note the number of seats on these new cars? I did not find it. I do think the narrow stairs on the old galley cars will not be missed.
Wider stairs may be difficult to impossible to include in the design. The Superliner stairs are also quite narrow and I couldn't see how wider stairs could fit.
If the stairs are anything like those on the similar German cars, they are wider, half a flight up, half a flight down from the entry door level at each end.
https://images.app.goo.gl/8AGjtGov6JYVNsrZA
Mentioning that 'entry door level', I was expecting these cars to have both high-platform and low-height doors, but I only see the low doors in the renderings. Are these cars not operating anywhere there are 'Continental' platforms?
Overmod Mentioning that 'entry door level', I was expecting these cars to have both high-platform and low-height doors, but I only see the low doors in the renderings. Are these cars not operating anywhere there are 'Continental' platforms?
South Shore and the Electric District both have gallery cars for high-level platforms so it shouldn't be a major engineering issue.
Gallery cars have their lower floor above the trucks while the new Multi-level cars have an end level floor above the trucks and a lower level floor (1/2 flight down) between the trucks plus the upper level (1/2 flight up from the end level) floor. If you want high level platform operation, you put the doors on the end section (above the trucks).
Also the operators cab on the new cars is at the same level as the Metra Electric District Gallery cars, (above the trucks).
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