IMHO - The MARC Chargers look just fine IRL. The silver really pops. When coupled to an MP36, they do look smaller. However, they also look more modern. MARC has said that they are reliable and will share the higher speed duties with refurbished HHP-8s north of Baltimore. The logo is a nice addition, but the MP36s have always had them. Maybe just an oversight?
Judging looks is always so personal. I remember standing as a small boy watching the New York Central steam locomotives at the old Elyria, Ohio passenger station. To this day, the NYC look is still my favorite. But I know it is just because I saw it first.
I'll be honest I've only ever seen a Mohawk I was attempting to restore once and I love the NYC look as well. But I think the Hudson is the epitome of a steam locomotives. Partially due to Lionel.
Or, perhaps, if they could afford it, Phase IIIb.
Amtrak bought none for themselves so probably not. I doubt the State owners are willing to shell out money to paint them in livery that has nothing to do with them.
I really hope they keep the hippos captive to certain trains, otherwise, either the Charger-hauled trains will all be late, or the hippo-hauled trains will be early and have to sit, or simply be run at a lower speed than they're capable of.
Why would the charger trains be late? They're rated for 125 mph. If anything the MP36 unit would make trains late, and they already do. The MP36 units are painfully slow to accelerate to high speeds. They aren't really made for service along the NEC.
There is some discussion of this subject at two separate places in the poorly edited MRAC April minutes at https://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/MARCRAC_Minutes_20178-04-19.pdf . Remember that MARC’s HHP-8s are being refurbished.
I would certainly hope that Amtrak continues with the Phase III scheme on the long distance Services. They’ve already started the Amtrak America brand, might as well finish it out, and give the corridor services the Vb on new equipment.
If it works like the corridor locomotives, there are 150 long distance options available to essentially anyone associated with a government in the USA. Is this different or is it someone who may exercise the existing options? Also, does anyone know when the ability to exercise the current options expires? I know that they aren’t available forever, but I have been unable to find the date.
Because they're still diesels, each with half the horsepower rating of an HHP-8.
But isn't it that even for the horsepower it has, the MP36s are relatively slow to accelerate?
And they’ve been tested at 125 MPH on the NEC. Your point in baseless.
See http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/75858.aspx for a quick refresher of the Physics. It should be then obvious how they relate. If it is not, ping me, and we can go over it.
I think you're missing MattW's point. While they will perform better than your typical diesel, they would be hard pressed to accelerate faster than the HHP's and that is the key to commuter service. It is a sprint, not a marathon.
Unfortunately it is not only top speed that determines a train’s time between stations. It is also how quickly the train can get up to its top speed or the maximum speed allowed for the track. A higher horsepower locomotive will get up to speed quicker. Its average speed will be higher even if it’s maximum speed is the same. Higher average speed means shorter times between stations. Closer stations make acceleration more important.
