AMTRAK'S publication INK says testing to begin for higher speeds on this segment in september.
look on page 4
http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/960/223/Amtrak-Ink-Aug-Sept-2012.pdf
after some thought the 165 MPH tests will probably be done on a weekend night being at least early morning 0300 - 0600. This would be so that the CAT would be cooler. AMTRAK is probably hoping for a cool september or they may need to pospone ?? since the variable tension PRR CAT ( tension varies inversley to the temperature ) will be tighter at the cooler temperatures the pans will be able to maintain better contact and not as likely to bounce. I will bet that the first few runs will find various problems with the PRR era CAT that will need to be corrected by the catenary maintenance persons. This is going to be an expensive test program. !
Is this still the same 75-year -old catenrary or has it been replaced?
daveklepper Is this still the same 75-year -old catenrary or has it been replaced?
Same old.... This is where the Metroliners did their 165 mph test runs in the late 60s.
-Don (Random stuff, mostly about trains - what else? http://blerfblog.blogspot.com/)
several additional items.
1. the publication said trenton - new brunswick and that direction probably is operationally better because slower speeds now just south of trenton station.
2. AMTRAK may increase the force of their PANS to maintain better contact.
3. that would probably designate the inside right track as the proving runs track.
4. it has been a while since I have ridden that route so do not kknow if the contact wire is set to contact the pans at different point like constant tension wire.
5. the increased higher contact force may wear the pans at a higher rate.
6. northbound traffic is not scheduled nort of trenton after 0048 until 0544 each day.
7. southbound #67 can run on the outside track 1st to measure aerodynamic forces then meet on the inside track.
8. maybe even substitute an ACELA on #67 to measure these forces between 2 165 MPH acelas.
9. There have been developed in europe of a laser measuring and photo device to see interaction of pans to the cat which may be used as well.
10. final tests may be in afternoons to measure interactions between various AMTRAK trains & NJ transit trains.
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