Recent content by smallspy

Beyond all that.... The TTC also runs storm cars & trains when the weather is expected to be inclement. They do this done on all streetcar trackage, on the surface-running parts of the subway, and on the Crosstown as well. I don't know if the contract for Finch West allows for them, but up to...

The obsession - if you think it is that - has to do with what is capable. Some members seem to think that using the particular track that they are planning on using will enforce some sort of artificially low speed limit that could potentially damage the long-term viability of the project by...

Switch heaters, and trackside forces equipped with brooms. The same thing as the full-sized railways. Dan

The trainshed is not an impediment to electrification of the tracks at Union Station, and never has been. Dan

The H5s in particular went through a couple of courses of rather intensive work to keep them running reliably. The one that APTA-2048 refers to in the 1990s specifically was a rather major structural rebuild, to deal with structural corrosion issues. But you don't need an overhaul to keep an...

The plow was stuck at the time - the operator had exited the vehicle before the train was in sight. Dan

Why are you assuming that the TTC didn't rebuild any of their equipment? Dan

The trains that operate the actual tests where they are aiming for the highest speed possible - yes. That is correct. But part of those programs also involves operating regular trains at higher speeds than will be operated in revenue service. As part of the 1990 high-speed tests, for instance...

The French have seemed to have figured out the issue. Even in the test runs, where they ran many, many runs well in excess of 350km/h, they didn't have any issues with flying ballast. Perhaps look into what they are doing? Dan

There will be a switch added to the current north track immediately west of the current Danforth interlocking. In the long run, the whole plant at Danforth needs to be moved and reconstructed, as the 4th track will be added to the north side of the corridor to the west of there, but to the...

The vast, vast majority of the French network is ballasted track, and they've tested it up to almost 575km/h. The LGV Est is operated at 320km/h every single day with no issues. Dan

There are a number of different regulatory regimes regarding equipment. There are regular inspections for certain things like air brakes, suspension, wheels, etc. that need to happen on an ongoing basis (every 10 days, I believe). These are pretty innocuous, however. Locos - and any...

It does, at Downsview Park Station. Of course, the grade difference would be problematic, as would trying to shlep a subway car down 3 flights of escalators. More seriously, the TRs were delivered by truck, not train. Dan

What bearing does the existence or lack-thereof of an airport at Downview have on the existence and use of a loading ramp at the TTC's facility? At the end of the day - sure, anything is possible. But the question is why? What does building a new ramp at Kipling or anywhere else get you versus...

Tunnels are the preferred method of providing grade-separated accesses to platforms because the distance that passengers must travel is less than if a bridge was built. That said, Metrolinx has absolutely built overhead bridges where it makes sense to because of the lay-of-the-land, or...