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[eolafan]

OUTSTANDING PICTURE shown on this link! Where was it taken, anybody know? Jim

QUOTE: Originally posted by knan16734

The MP36's are running on BNSF, RI, and MILW lines. They do operate on NCS once and a while. 401 - 407 are on BNSF. 408, 410, 412 & 413 are on RI. The two MP36's involved in the RI derailment (409 & 411) are being repaired and/or replaced. 414 - 419 are on MILW. Starting with 416, the MP36's have number boards on each side of the headlight.

4 F40C's have been taken out of service as of now. The F40PH's from BNSF and RI will not be taken out of service, they will just be moved to SWS or NCS when expansion construction is done in about a year, so they do still run on both of those lines.

BNSF does not have any problem with the MP36's. They pull an 11 car train with no problem. The longest trains on RI and MILW are only 9 cars, but the MP36's still run early with their trains.

I think the paint scheme for the MP36's is the best scheme for Metra, seeing it in person is a lot better than from a picture. I think this is the best picture of a Metra MP36.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=31976

[AltonFan]

The caption (scroll down until information appears under the picture) says Route 59 in Chicago, IL. The yellow rubber tiles at the platform's edge indicate that it was ttaken at a station. So which Metra station in the Chicago area is at Route 59?

[Anonymous]

The Route 59 station is at Route 59. Route 59 is the second station in Naperville and is the busiest station in the Metra system. An 11 car train will make only two stops (Route 59 and Naperville) and will be full, just shows what a busy line that is.

94 Metra trains alone run every weekday on the BNSF line, the schedule can be seen here, with rush hour trains leaving chicago every 4-6 minutes.

http://metrarail.com/Sched/bn/bn.html

[Anonymous]

[:(] The New Loco Has Already Had Some Bad Luck Jan Trains mag
There Was A Single Train Wreck When The Train Hit A Cross Over
The Train Was Going Way To Fast And Derailed As A Result
Its Bad When That Happens My Prayers Go Out To The Familys[:(]

[Anonymous]

409 and 411 were the two that were in the derailment on RI on 10/12. The crossover speed was 10 mph, while the train went over it at 60. No one was injured in the derailment, not even the engineer. Both MP36's will be repaired and/or replaced in Boise.

[bluepuma]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Stuby

Any one from the Chicagoland area seen this new locomotive unit Metra is running?

Does anyone no the name or model name and or number?...or any info on it?

or were I might find it in "N"scale??????????????????

Trains Magazine has had pictures of it and most other new stuff like it in various other areas...I wondered about the 30,000 lbs, was that really 3,000? The new 1:1 stuff I read first in Trains, before MR even.

No N scale yet, but it may depend on how the F59PHI does in commuter type sales. I'd be up for one, got 2 of the F59PHI in Amtrak West. Got to have cars too.

[Anonymous]

THey are ugly and have the world worst horns

[Anonymous]

There was a correction printed in the November or December issue of trains that stated that they are 3000 lbs. overweight, not the 30,000 lbs. reported in the previous issue. That still seems like a stupendous screw-up IMO. Anyway, the extra weight has kept them off of the UP lines because the bridges on those lines can't handle them. Metra has also had reliability problems. So they have generally had to be doubled with F40s. I know they are in use on the BNSF line to Naperville and also on the line to Joliet. The derailment that occurred that totaled one of the new locos was on this line There is a post-accident photo in the January issue of "Trains."

I have also heard that the engineers don't like them. Apparently, they don't handle well, probably because of the extra weight. They sure are pretty though! I hope that Motive Power will be able to work the bugs out.

[eolafan]

I have been watching Metra since 1978 and have seen E's, F40's, and all other kinds of units and I kind of like the new units, and yes I like the sound of their horns better than the F40 horns. Their engines when in dynamic braking sound good also. Jim

[Anonymous]

The MP36PH's horns are great! The rumbling sound they make when they accelerate is awesome! At first they didn't have numberboards on the front so it was very hard to tell unless you looked at the side.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=34632 But most of them have numberboards now. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=56217 The "S" stands for static inverter. CalTrain's "C" stands for Caterpillar. Metra's locomotives have a mars light in the center area, while CalTrain's have the unit number. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=56101

[eolafan]

The new units have been here on the BNSF Aurora line for some time now and they still look really good after quite a bit of service. For some reason they seem to be easier for METRA to keep clean than the F40 units do (in either configuration). I also like the way they sound (engines as well as horns sound awesome). Eolafan

[Anonymous]

i have a model of a f40c in ho its 613