First Acela-2 train set gets FRA approval to ferry to the TTC at Pueblo, Co. Am wondering how fast the train set can test at the TTC? 170 MPH certainly requires very shallow curves. Are we to expect once testing complete that the Acela-2s will have FRA approval to be on all RRs?
https://www.eveningtribune.com/news/20200122/fra-approves-move-of-high-speed-train-from-hornell-to-colorado
Top speed at the TTC is 165MPH
https://aar.com/tracks.php
An "expensive model collector"
Amtrak inspector general thinks that the project is going to take a delay.
https://amtrakoig.gov/audit-documents/audit-reports/train-operations-acela-21-program-continues-face-significant-risk
https://amtrakoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/OIG-A-2020-004%20Acela%2021%20%28REDACTED%29.pdf
Brian will probably post this later today, either here or as a 'sticky' in General Discussion, but it appears the first trainset has been completed at Hornell and is about to go to TTCI for testing...
http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/02/13-first-of-amtraks-new-acelas-will-depart-new-york-state-for-high-speed-testing-in-colorado
Leaves Buffalo Monday, routed via Chicago 'on the route of the LSL and Southwest Chief'.
A completed second set goes to testing on the NEC in March, apparently to be based in Philadelphia.
I'm surprised the Internet isn't full of pictures of these completed trains! (Although I do have to confess that a couple of the early production publicity shots looked remarkably like Katy Perry having her mouth washed out with soap...)
I do still think that if we used a different shade of blue, and yellow instead of white, on these trains, and painted a big black X on the nose, we'd have something nostalgically better (although, hopefully, NOT predictive!)
Different aesthetic palettes but to me, the yellow would make it look like a big banana or lemon, with all the corresponding associations. White or light grey are classy.
charlie hebdoDifferent aesthetic palettes but to me, the yellow would make it look like a big banana or lemon, with all the corresponding associations. White or light grey are classy.
I wasn't being serious. The overhead view of the train made the paint scheme look similar to the Xplorer train we were discussing 'elsewhere' a couple of days ago...
UC Santa Cruz alums might not find the Xplorer front end quite as bad an association, although I grant you it is a little radical (and I did like the train better in the years before I found out the actual nose color...)
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.