Hello all ;
Here are some videos of the NEC. By all standars it still seems to be some sort of very special operation, at least for me a simple european guy. By the way, what's the top speed allowed for long distamce trains? They seem to be flying (circa 100 mph), even with some heritage cars.
watch?v=sEswSWwEBM
watch?v=FCiiIIzeY2k
The top speed is defined by the track. There is a little 110 mph and I think some 125 mph but the numerous curves on the line hold average speeds down. .
THANK YOU, MARIO!
It was my understanding that the peak speed south of New Brunswick was 135mph (after the interlocking at Princeton Junction was taken out) with the tests now complete to "over 170 mph" (I await actual video of the in-cab display showing faster; sorry, Turbo fans ;-} )
Naturally the speed is still cat-limited.
Linden is north of New Brunswick, and most probably slower -- who has the current speed profile?
Not relevant to this particular post -- but the peak speed north of New Haven where there is constant-tension catenary should still be 150mph, shouldn't it? If not, somebody chime in.
Overmod THANK YOU, MARIO! It was my understanding that the peak speed south of New Brunswick was 135mph (after the interlocking at Princeton Junction was taken out) with the tests now complete to "over 170 mph" (I await actual video of the in-cab display showing faster; sorry, Turbo fans ;-} ) Naturally the speed is still cat-limited. Linden is north of New Brunswick, and most probably slower -- who has the current speed profile? Not relevant to this particular post -- but the peak speed north of New Haven where there is constant-tension catenary should still be 150mph, shouldn't it? If not, somebody chime in.
There are several stretches North of New Haven where Acela equipment runs at 150 MPH. Southern RI is one..
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
One of things I've noticed is the fact of the catenary in use, at least between NY and Washington, and in MNRR territory is still the original. It's a feat to run trains with electric power under it at 125 or 135 mph. As for sections of the linewere Acelas reach more than 135, only north of New Haven and these tend to be short, so taking a train to 150 Mph in short sections is really a waste of energy. Maybe a solution for it with be to built new alignments (avoiding lines in british english parlance), but I guess real esata prices are too high to have that into consideration.
Ah, one thing I was able to enlight myself: trains with heritage cars (Silver service, Crescent) are limited to 90 Mph, because that's the top speep Amtrak permits for such cars. also I've noticed that most of these cars got a new type of diaphragms, wich are not articulated like the older ones, and are of widespread use in Europe.
And since I'm from Europe, the NEC looks like very, erm, europena, with all those RC5 derivatives (AEM7s) and TRAXXes (ALP46/46As) hauling the bilevel Sumitomo cars. It's not all that different
Mario_vMaybe a solution for it with be to built new alignments (avoiding lines in british english parlance), but I guess real esata prices are too high to have that into consideration.
The tracks between New York and Boston used to be called the Shore Line. Especially in Connecticut and central Rhode Island the follow the shore. By and large they were surveyed before the Civil War. Some though, for example the section between Providence and Boston, are quite straight.
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