WhiteRiverProductions
Amtrak by the Numbers
WELCOME ABOARD… the entire Amtrak fleet!
LIGHT RAIL, TRANSIT, AND COMMUTER RAIL NEWS BY GEORGE M. SMERK New Washington Metrorail Cars Debut
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 DECEMBER 2015 •
RAILFAN.COM
A NORTHEAST CLASSIC! $
13.95
S/H per book: $5 US, $9 Canada, all others, call or email for rates.
Order item CRS-LNE
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WhiteRiverProductions.com P.O. Box 48, Bucklin, MO 64631 • Toll-free (877) 787-2467
WASHINGTON METRORAIL’S first 7000-series cars were placed in revenue service on April 14, 2015, and were used exclusively on the Blue Line service. Metrorail will continue to receive the new cars, and if all goes as planned, by the end of 2020 all 748 of the cars will be in revenue service. Previous Washing- ton Metropolitan Area Transit Authority pol- icy was that each new series of subway cars had to be compatible with the oldest cars so that they could all be coupled into trains. The new 7000-series cars, however, can be mated only with other cars of the same series. This will allow Metrorail to take advantage of tech- nical improvements built into the new cars. The old 1000-series cars are deemed to be structurally outmoded and not crashworthy. Even so, the 1000-series cars will stay in ser- vice until all of the 7000-series cars replace them. The plan is for the new series to be heavily used during rush hours; only eight- car trains will be used during these busy times. In 2015, WMATA did not have enough money to operate the longer trains; in order to handle eight-car trains, the electrical power supply system has to be upgraded. Thanks to Peter Perrault for the news.
Workin’ on the Railroad in the New York Region Well under way, or relatively soon to open,
are rail transportation improvements in the New York City region. The long-awaited 2nd Avenue subway may finally be constructed during our lifespan. Less dramatic are the improvements in the catenary used by Met- ro North’s heavy rail commuter lines. New transformers have been installed at the elec- trical substations along the New Haven Line at Cos Cob, Conn., and Mount Vernon, N.Y. New rolling stock and improved electrical supply are keys to improving service delivery and reliability. Another improvement is train service on weekends on the North Jersey Coast Line be- tween Bay Head, N.J., and New York Penn Station. Before the latest round of improve- ments, passengers had to change trains at Long Branch, N.J. New ALP45DP dual-mode locomotives operate under catenary from Penn Station, then turn on the diesel engine at Long Branch, allowing for a one-seat ride over the entire line. Thanks to Fred Cole and J.R. Duntonio for the news.
Commuter Rail Expansion In the Los Angeles Area Frank Bauer has supplied this column with
a bounty of information over the years. Mr. Bauer’s recent news is about the future ex- pansion of California’s Metrolink commuter rail service to Moreno Valley and Perris from
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