GO Transit Fleet Equipment and other

[RU479]

What's the current status of the refurbished cab cars? I believe there was one that was running quasi regularly later in the summer. Is it still in service or has it vanished into the aether again?

Vanished once again. Supposedly it's in for lighting fixes, it's ditchlights were malfunctioning. Apparently some of the others are ready for use but GO has just not rolled them into service.


In other news, ex Metrolink units 862, 863, and 869 have made it to North Bay. Apparently these units do not have prime movers inside them, and will likely need to get new ones.

 

[ryanandmagic]

Vanished once again. Supposedly it's in for lighting fixes, it's ditchlights were malfunctioning. Apparently some of the others are ready for use but GO has just not rolled them into service.


In other news, ex Metrolink units 862, 863, and 869 have made it to North Bay. Apparently these units do not have prime movers inside them, and will likely need to get new ones.

I am curious where can I find this news outside the forum ?

 

[drum118]

I am curious where can I find this news outside the forum ?

ask Metrolinx

 

[SaugeenJunction]

What the heck is Metrolinx cooking up now

RFI-2024-EQPD-135 - Locomotive Battery Hybrid Conversion

 

[Bordercollie]

I mean, Metrolinx is refurbishing those old cab cars. So a move like this shouldn't come as a surprise.

It's interesting how they sold some of their original F59's to EXO, only now to be buying some more back from Caltrain.

My only concern with the F59's is they're limited to moving 6 coaches. Unless the plan is to have two F59's per train. How many coaches can two F59's move? Without sacrificing speed.

F59's often pulled L10 consists before the MP40's came. But maybe L8 is more realistic.

 

[Bordercollie]

What the heck is Metrolinx cooking up now

RFI-2024-EQPD-135 - Locomotive Battery Hybrid Conversion

If the bid has yet to be awarded its likely not for the F59's since they are already going to North Bay. However it makes sense. Regenerate power to slow the train and recharge batteries. Use that power to get the train started like a booster. That would save a lot of fuel.

 

[crs1026]

If the bid has yet to be awarded its likely not for the F59's since they are already going to North Bay. However it makes sense. Regenerate power to slow the train and recharge batteries. Use that power to get the train started like a booster. That would save a lot of fuel.

It's a RFI, not a RFP - so just an early exploration of who might be interested in bidding. Not going to result in a product anytime soon. One would expect that the result might be a single prototype (or two) that might need a couple years or more of testing and tweaking - not unlike the experience with GO 647.

Good on ML for looking for an opportunity, but (as with 647) don't get your hopes up for anything soon.... this may take a while.

- Paul

 

[RU479]

I mean, Metrolinx is refurbishing those old cab cars. So a move like this shouldn't come as a surprise.

It's interesting how they sold some of their original F59's to EXO, only now to be buying some more back from Caltrain.

My only concern with the F59's is they're limited to moving 6 coaches. Unless the plan is to have two F59's per train. How many coaches can two F59's move? Without sacrificing speed.

Well the amount of coaches the F59 can pull reliably all depends on the HEP, the prime mover on its own is more than enough to haul even 12 coaches by itself, but the HEP needed to provide hotel power to all the coaches limits them to pull at most 10.

Since some of the F59s reported to be arriving at North Bay don't even have HEP generators (along with prime movers), it is expected that they will be replaced, and they might end up with the same HEP the MP40s have, allowing them to pull even 12 car trains.

 

[smallspy]

Well the amount of coaches the F59 can pull reliably all depends on the HEP, the prime mover on its own is more than enough to haul even 12 coaches by itself, but the HEP needed to provide hotel power to all the coaches limits them to pull at most 10.

Since some of the F59s reported to be arriving at North Bay don't even have HEP generators (along with prime movers), it is expected that they will be replaced, and they might end up with the same HEP the MP40s have, allowing them to pull even 12 car trains.

While this is true, recall too that top speed with a load is a function of the horsepower available.

The MP40s were spec'd to be able accelerate a loaded 12-car train faster than an F59 pulling a loaded 10-car train, and they do this without fail. And that's because of their additional weight (for tractive effort) and horsepower (for speed), and despite their higher gearing (for a higher top speed).

There is no reason why an F59 can't pull a train of 20 or 30 cars. But don't expect the train to be able to get up to speed particularly quickly, and don't expect much in terms of amenities - lights, heating or AC, etc. - in most of the train.

Dan