Train Spotting

[Streety McCarface]

MARC has not retired its HHP-8s (despite the fact that all of the new diesels are in service), and they apparently has no intention of doing so right now. Bombardier has been upgrading/replacing the electrical systems (like inverters) on the six units over the past year, with the goal of making the locos more reliable. I'm not sure who's paying for this, but they are clearly giving the hippos another chance (and they may need the extra power).

The big problem for MARC is that it doesn't own the corridor. Apparently they thought Amtrak was charging too much to use the catenary, and Amtrak was also performing a lot of the maintenance on MARC's electrics (although this practice is changing from what I understand). On top of that, Penn Line services are only pulled by electrics during peak periods (mid day services are run with shorter diesel sets from the other two lines). So for MARC, buying locomotives that would only be used during peak periods on one of the three lines didn't make sense. Hence, the switch to only buying diesels as new power.

I can't see this sort of scenario playing out with any other operator. SEPTA runs an all electric revenue fleet, and NJT runs on a large amount of electrified tracks. MBTA has apparently thought about electrics in the past, but they would likely have run into the same problems as MARC.

Did not know, thanks for the info.

I'm wondering if Metra or Metrolink would be willing to electrify some lines given an increase in ridership, though since Metra is heavily operated by freight companies, it may not be in their favour to do so.

 

[ShonTron]

Caltrain electrification is still moving forward:

https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/07...oject-kicks-off-with-groundbreaking-ceremony/

Commuter lines with electric operation include Metra, South Shore Line (both partly for historic reasons and a short underground section in Chicago), Metro-North, LIRR, NJ Transit, SEPTA (which is 100% electric operation), and as mentioned above, a few MARC runs on the Penn Line. The newest electrified commuter railway (more of a regional line) is Denver RTD's A-Line.

MBTA's Providence Line runs diesel completely under wire (in the interest of fleet standardization, I believe - and the Stoughton Branch isn't electrified too), as does Connecticut's Shore Line East.

 

[steveintoronto]

A BL-2! Only a handful built, just under 60.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMD_BL2

 

[M636RF]

Did not know, thanks for the info.

I'm wondering if Metra or Metrolink would be willing to electrify some lines given an increase in ridership, though since Metra is heavily operated by freight companies, it may not be in their favour to do so.

Metra certainly has experience with electrification on the ex IC line. The main problem for them is that freight companies own a lot of the other tracks.

Metrolink is currently in the process of renewing its diesel fleet, and many of its routes are also owned by freight carriers. There is an assumption that when the California high speed rail system is up and running, some of the commuter routes might be electrified as well. Of course I'm skeptical about that, given all the news about CAHSR's financial problems.

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Train spotting tip! A stainless steel New England States private car is arriving in Toronto on Tuesday and leaving Wednesday morning on the Amtrak Maple Leaf! See more at this link.

 

[crs1026]

^That car is no stranger to Toronto Union Station, having been owned by CP for a time and used on Toronto-Montreal and Toronto-Ottawa pool trains. History of the car here.

- Paul

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Train spotting tip! A stainless steel New England States private car is arriving in Toronto on Tuesday and leaving Wednesday morning on the Amtrak Maple Leaf! See more at this link.

Here she is!

 

[steveintoronto]

Here she is!

A thing of beauty. Those lines and curves are timeless, like an old Bugatti.

 

[EastYorkTTCFan]

Well not in Ontario this is a favourite spot of mine for train spotting. It's outside of a town in Pennsylvania called Altoona.

http://www.railroadcity.com/

 

[vic]

Amtrak at Bloor GO / Wallace Bridge by Vic Gedris, on Flickr

Was treated to a great sunset on my Saturday evening dog walk. Got photobombed by this Amtrak train while taking a photo. Not sure if I've ever seen an Amtrak train here before. Tons of UPX and GO, of course, and VIA.....

 

[innsertnamehere]

Amtrak visits union once a day for it's Maple Leaf service. Usually it follows the Lakeshore West line coming in from Niagara Falls, but because of the construction this weekend at the Humber River, utilized the Canpa Sub to go up to the Milton line like all Lakeshore West trains were doing.

 

[vic]

Amtrak visits union once a day for it's Maple Leaf service. Usually it follows the Lakeshore West line coming in from Niagara Falls, but because of the construction this weekend at the Humber River, utilized the Canpa Sub to go up to the Milton line like all Lakeshore West trains were doing.

Ah, right. Of course! Thanks for the explanation.

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Some Canpa Sub videos I found on Youtube, including VIA action in the second one:

 

[SaugeenJunction]

Not my pictures, but here is a cool link to a set from when GO bilevels ventured all the way up to Moosonee. Link.

 

[EastYorkTTCFan]

Not my pictures, but here is a cool link to a set from when GO bilevels ventured all the way up to Moosonee. Link.

interesting set of pictures and also that they don't open the doors on the go train cars, my guess would be that they can't supply the head end power necessary to power them to the cars.