WhiteRiverProductions


Amtrak by the Numbers


WELCOME ABOARD… the entire Amtrak fleet!


LIGHT RAIL, TRANSIT, AND COMMUTER RAIL NEWS BY GEORGE M. SMERK Changes on SEPTA’s Red Arrow Division


This comprehensive roster of Amtrak’s passenger cars and motive power in service during the company’s first 40 years is fully illustrated with a mixture of lineside scenes and roster views. Roster information is presented in a spreadsheet format with introductory text, grouped by major categories such as steam-heated cars, Heritage fleet, Amfleet,


Superliners, diesel locomotives, and electric locomotives.


$79.95


S/H per book: $5 US, $9 Canada, all others, call or email for rates. Order item AMTN


Lehigh & New England


The Lehigh & New England was a bridge carrier stretching from Anthracite country in northeastern Pennsylvania to the gateway yard at Maybrook, New York. This Carstens Classic features rare photos of this anthracite carrier in its final twenty years. Enjoy great photos of Camelbacks and conventional steam, to transition era diesels including Alco FAs and road switchers.


877-787-2467 TOLL-FREE 660-695-4433 NON-US


WhiteRiverProductions.com 20 SEPTEMBER 2015 • RAILFAN.COM A NORTHEAST CLASSIC! $13.95 PLUS S&H ITEM CRS-LNE


Order online day or night at WhiteRiverProductions.com P.O. Box 48, Bucklin, MO 64631 • Toll-free (877) 787-2467


ALTHOUGH SEPTA REFERS TO THE STATION as 69th Street Transportation Center, I still pre- fer to call it 69th Street Terminal. Changes came to the terminal in Upper Darby, Pa., on June 15, 2015, when bus service commenced on the trolley lines to Sharon Hill and Me- dia (the two lines, along with the Norristown High Speed Line, make up the rail portion of SEPTA’s Red Arrow Division). The substitu- tion will allow SEPTA to replace all street track on both lines (including all track at grade crossings) and replace all wood bridge ties, timbers, and walkways. In addition, there are basic structural repairs and main- tenance such as the reparation of track struc- tures, replacement of trolley wire, trimming of trees and vegetation, and incorporation of communication-based train control. Ma- jor changes and improvements will be made in fixed facilities and selected boarding and alighting places will be improved. The work is scheduled to end on September


6, 2015, since the shut down of service will allow the work to be carried out quickly and efficiently. There will be many changes, som e temporary and some permanent, on board- ing locations for many of the bus routes that serve the terminal. I am sure I will not recog- nize the place when the projects are complet- ed. This group of projects is an important part of SEPTA’s efforts to catch up on $5 billion in


deferred maintenance that has been delayed for many years. Many thanks to David Harris for the news.


Boston: New Green Line Cars


We all grow older with time and the Green Line cars in Boston are no exception. In ad- dition to the cars already on order from CAF USA, an order for 24 more cars has been placed. Scheduled for delivery in 2017 and 2018, the new cars will feature computer con- trolled heating, lighting, and air conditioning. Also, 70 percent of the cars will be low-floor with four wheelchair locations; signage infor- mation will also be improved. The body shells of the cars are to be built in Spain and will be completed in CAF’s factory in Elmira, N.Y. The cost of the equipment is expected to be $118 million, and it is likely that orders for new Orange Line and Red Line cars will be placed in the near future.


News of St. Louis and Philadelphia


In Philadelphia, SEPTA will replace about 4001 feet of track on Route 11. The work will take place between 70th street and Woodland Avenue and the Darby Transportation Center at Ninth and Main Street. The replacement is necessary due to the significant deterioration of the street structure supporting the track. The new rail will be continuously welded and


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