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Viewliner - 2 delivery, testing, and service

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Posted by D.Carleton on Saturday, December 20, 2014 7:15 PM

BaltACD

Another group of 8-12 cars are scheduled to leave DC night of the 21st to Miami.

The next group of eight have been recorded past Croton-Harmon.
 
Finally I pose the question: Why a special move? We have two trains a day to Miami. Why not send them two at a time per train from Sunnyside to Miami for set up? The whole move of the original 20 could have been done in five days without the expense of crews and equipment. Or was this a publicity stunt which from the posts on YouTube has been exceptionally successful? Kudos to all who took the time to record and post for the benefit of those who are too busy with other railroad matters.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, December 20, 2014 10:54 PM

Could the special  move have been required for some technical reason ?  Maybe legal ? Until final set up are not considered accepted so no payment till then ?  Maybe being delivered in MIA and ferry move paid by CAF ?

If any of the above reasons valid maybe we will see more moves like this one.

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Posted by D.Carleton on Monday, December 22, 2014 10:39 PM

Well now. Someone was kind enough to post a video of the second delivery paused and leaving Kissimmee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPC0zOBNd4U

Of note are the details on the doors (enough handles?) and below the doorway and side sill is a good-ole-fashoned disc brake indicator plunger. Apparently it's more than just the paint that's retro.

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Posted by Deggesty on Tuesday, December 23, 2014 9:58 AM

D.Carleton

Well now. Someone was kind enough to post a video of the second delivery paused and leaving Kissimmee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPC0zOBNd4U

Of note are the details on the doors (enough handles?) and below the doorway and side sill is a good-ole-fashoned disc brake indicator plunger. Apparently it's more than just the paint that's retro.

 

Very nice. Now, if he had been focused on the brake plunger when the engineer released the brake--. I, of course, had seen many in the appplied position, but never did watch any as the engineer released the brake; I was able to look at this one as it passed by. Of course, no EOT is necessary, since the coach has markers--and there was a monkeytail back there, too; where would this train have ben backed?

Johnny

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Posted by D.Carleton on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 10:36 AM

Deggesty
 

Very nice. Now, if he had been focused on the brake plunger when the engineer released the brake--. I, of course, had seen many in the appplied position, but never did watch any as the engineer released the brake; I was able to look at this one as it passed by. Of course, no EOT is necessary, since the coach has markers--and there was a monkeytail back there, too; where would this train have ben backed?

In continuing proof that old dogs can learn anew, whilst at work yesterday an Amtrak train with Amfleet 1 and 2 cars made its stop. Upon closer inspection was found that the Amfleet 1s have a yellow light for indication of brake application and a green light for release. The Amfleet 2s have the good-ole-fashioned disc brake plunger and no lights. Amazing the new things one can learn even from equipment that has been passing one for 20-30 years.

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Posted by D.Carleton on Saturday, December 27, 2014 6:15 PM

One more video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0Fvsa7DWmU

These are the eight baggage cars arriving in Hialeah. Of note: the green indicators on the side change color with a full brake application.

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Posted by aegrotatio on Friday, January 2, 2015 11:25 PM

oltmannd
Hopefully, they'll find out they don't need baggage cars, ever.  Then they can send the baggage cars back to Elmira to be fitted out as coaches.

 

It's worth pointing out that Viewliners are modular.  The baggage cars are likely a little bit more than the modular Viewliner shells with side doors, roof vents, and lading panels.  The roomettes and bathroom modules can be installed, roof vents removed, and doors re-cut when the time is needed.  Whether that will ever happen is left to be seen, but the platform is there--seventy copies of plain, generic Viewliner cars waiting for module installation when the time is right.

 

 

 

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Posted by Jim200 on Sunday, January 4, 2015 12:24 AM

Are the modules made in house and how difficult are the windows to install?

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Posted by D.Carleton on Sunday, January 4, 2015 10:35 PM

Jim200

Are the modules made in house and how difficult are the windows to install?

The modules are made by a third party (whose name escapes me at the moment) and cutting the holes for windows is not a huge challenge. Even so I cannot say how easy converting a baggage car into something else would be. How far does the car need to be "disassembled" to be reassembled into a sleeper or diner? It may be more cost effective to start over.

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Posted by oltmannd on Monday, January 5, 2015 6:23 AM

D.Carleton

 

 
Jim200

Are the modules made in house and how difficult are the windows to install?

 

 

The modules are made by a third party (whose name escapes me at the moment) and cutting the holes for windows is not a huge challenge. Even so I cannot say how easy converting a baggage car into something else would be. How far does the car need to be "disassembled" to be reassembled into a sleeper or diner? It may be more cost effective to start over.

 

 

I was mostly being facetioius Smile Turning a baggage car into a coach would be expensive, but somewhat less than starting from scratch.  Not too much to strip out and throw away, but you's essentially have to rewire the whole car, install and mount HVAC equipment as well as make changes to carbody for doors, windows, and vestibule.    Net would be about a quarter to a third less than new?  Makes sense only if carbodies are new or nearly new.

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Posted by Wizlish on Monday, January 5, 2015 11:13 AM

D.Carleton
The modules are made by a third party (whose name escapes me at the moment)

Isn't it these guys at RailPlan?

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Posted by D.Carleton on Monday, January 5, 2015 2:55 PM

Wizlish
 
D.Carleton
The modules are made by a third party (whose name escapes me at the moment) 

Isn't it these guys at RailPlan?

That's it. I remembered the website but not its name.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, February 13, 2015 4:25 PM

Dec 27th was delivery of last 8 V-2 baggage to Hialeah.  Nothing has been heard of any deliveries of additional cars or different types since.  Anyone know what is up ?

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Posted by oltmannd on Friday, February 13, 2015 9:14 PM

I what kind of strange world is it okay to take years to get new equipment in service?  

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Posted by schlimm on Friday, February 13, 2015 10:17 PM

blue streak 1
Dec 27th was delivery of last 8 V-2 baggage to Hialeah.  Nothing has been heard of any deliveries of additional cars or different types since. 

Maybe someone at Amtrak got his or her head into the current century and finally realized Amtrak does not need baggage cars, it needs PASSENGER cars.

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Posted by oltmannd on Saturday, February 14, 2015 7:27 AM

schlimm

 

 
blue streak 1
Dec 27th was delivery of last 8 V-2 baggage to Hialeah.  Nothing has been heard of any deliveries of additional cars or different types since. 

 

Maybe someone at Amtrak got his or her head into the current century and finally realized Amtrak does not need baggage cars, it needs PASSENGER cars.

 

Someone clued Congress in on this...

PRRIA of 2015 has some language to require Amtrak show the basis for any investment before the money becomes available.

Amtrak only needs more passenger cars if it has a plan to deploy the cars in new or exanded service.  The only new or expanded service in the works is state sponsored stuff where they have to go get their own equipment anyway.

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Posted by oltmannd on Saturday, February 14, 2015 7:29 AM

blue streak 1

Dec 27th was delivery of last 8 V-2 baggage to Hialeah.  Nothing has been heard of any deliveries of additional cars or different types since.  Anyone know what is up ?

 

They were good enough to roll 1000 miles to FL but not good enough to put in revenue service?   I thought the "need" was so urgent - the cost of keeping the old baggage cars in service was so high...  Devil

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, February 14, 2015 10:32 AM

oltmannd
 They were good enough to roll 1000 miles to FL but not good enough to put in revenue service?   I thought the "need" was so urgent - the cost of keeping the old baggage cars in service was so high...  Devil
 

Preciseley one of this poster's questions.  The withdrawl of baggage cars on many trains this winter may indicate that Amtrak is trying to get the last miles before needed overhaul out of the Heritage cars ?  But that would require very advanced thinking on Amtrak's part.

 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 11:43 AM

Need the following to be checked out.

1 new baggage on the front and 2 on the rear reported on train # 98 departed Miami today ( Wedensday ).

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 2:29 PM

blue streak 1

Need the following to be checked out.

1 new baggage on the front and 2 on the rear reported on train # 98 departed Miami today ( Wedensday ).

Additional report also unconfirmed that 61004, 61005, 61006 on train along with diner 8400.  If all viewliner and Afleet only it may be that this consist will be able to operate at the 125 MPH NEC regional speeds?
 
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Posted by D.Carleton on Thursday, February 26, 2015 1:20 PM

blue streak 1
 
blue streak 1

Need the following to be checked out.

1 new baggage on the front and 2 on the rear reported on train # 98 departed Miami today ( Wedensday ). 

Additional report also unconfirmed that 61004, 61005, 61006 on train along with diner 8400.  It may be that this consist will be able to operate at the 125 MPH NEC regional speeds? 

If there are Viewliner I's or heritage cars on the train then the limit is 110 mph.

Edit: PO098 had the three aforementioned Viewliner baggage cars, the Viewliner diner, three Viewliner sleepers and a heritage baggage. Seven Viewliners on a revenue train, that should be a first.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Friday, February 27, 2015 11:49 AM

Pictures 3 & 4 show baggage cars on train  # 98

http://members.trainorders.com/ddavies/News/news.htm

Picture of 2 on rear of 98 with back up signal attached.  Note Heritage baggage ahead of 2 V-2 bags.  guess it was used for checked baggage ?

 

 

 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Saturday, February 28, 2015 5:28 AM


Unconfirmed report 2 more V-2s on 98/27 Feb

Cancel above   now unconfirmed that 2 V-2s will be on 98 today SATURDAY

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, March 2, 2015 6:32 PM

Saw pictures of 4 V-2s on today's 98 .  2 on front and 2 on rear of train.  No car numbers available.  Note: Heritage baggage was on immediate rear of 98.  Saturday's run must have been cancelled. 

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 12:53 PM

Unconfirmed report 4 V-2s on train #98 leaving Miami today.  Get your pictures if so.

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 1:08 PM

Keeping up with the V-2s is getting complicated. Amtrak appears to be planning in depth training of agents.  61000 & 61001 appear to still be instrumented for various  test runs on each of its routes.  Here is a short list.  Realize that all the Silver trips still are running a heritage baggage for baggage.  Maybe not all agents have been trained especially at smaller stations.

61000 & 61001 testing on 97/04 along with a sleeper for training personel

61003 at WAS from 98/02

61004 at NYP from 98/03              1

61005 & 61007 WAS from 98/03

61006 at WASH from 98/25

61009 at JAX from 98/03

61010, 61011, 61018, 61024 DH WASH on 98/04 

 

Corrections welcome

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 5:46 PM

What sort of work is being done on the cars that they had to be transported from the manufacturer to Miami and 'modified' before they are placed in revenue service?

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Posted by Jim200 on Thursday, March 5, 2015 7:36 AM

Could 61000 and 61001 be loaded with sand bags, and test personnel are keeping an eye on the instrumentation to make sure that all is okay? It only seems prudent, before they are put in service.

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, March 5, 2015 8:07 AM

What is the Load Limit for one of these baggage cars?  How often would the car ever be loaded to it load limit?  How would Amtrak even know that a baggage car is loaded to or beyond it's load limit?

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Posted by blue streak 1 on Thursday, March 5, 2015 4:56 PM

3 more reported on northbound 98/05 todday and one on Capital today  all at front of trains ?

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