cpotisch
Engineer
Does it seem like MARC might be ordering ACS-64s anytime soon? Because I imagine owning HHP-8s for this long has involved some significant maintenance costs.
Wasn't one of the main issues with the HHPs that the trucks were cracking? Are they (or could they) replace those?I understand that the rebuild involves a complete replacement of the power pack and drive system. IOW replacement of the guts.
Acela Express? But they never used HHP-8s. Or are you referring to the idiotic and short lived Acela Regional and/or Acela Commuter?That was back in 2002 and also affected Acela service.
The problem was present in both HHP-8s and Acela Express trainsets.Acela Express? But they never used HHP-8s. Or are you referring to the idiotic and short lived Acela Regional and/or Acela Commuter?That was back in 2002 and also affected Acela service.
No crack on trucks. Crack was in the Yaw Damper Bracket that attaches the side Yaw Damper to the body frame, and that was fixed then by replacing them with more robust Yaw Damper Brackets as I recall. That is now a non-issue.Wasn't one of the main issues with the HHPs that the trucks were cracking? Are they (or could they) replace those?I understand that the rebuild involves a complete replacement of the power pack and drive system. IOW replacement of the guts.
This is getting sort of off-topic but what was that shortcut maneuver?Cracks in trucks was in P42s due the use of an improper short cut procedure for maintenance by Beech Grove.
Something to do with improperly replacing wheels. Don’t remember the details.This is getting sort of off-topic but what was that shortcut maneuver?Cracks in trucks was in P42s due the use of an improper short cut procedure for maintenance by Beech Grove.
Oh. I thought you were saying that when the locomotives were literally being moved and/or shunted around the yard, that they were wearing out the trucks or something. Thanks though!Something to do with improperly replacing wheels. Don’t remember the details.This is getting sort of off-topic but what was that shortcut maneuver?Cracks in trucks was in P42s due the use of an improper short cut procedure for maintenance by Beech Grove.
What they are doing to the HHP-8s is reported on in these minutes under Old Business. https://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/MARCRAC_Minutes_2017-11-15.pdf .I understand that the rebuild involves a complete replacement of the power pack and drive system. IOW replacement of the guts.
Thanks. I thought it was the Sun. Then Railway Age and others reported that all the electric locomotives were going. https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/commuterregional/marc-replacing-electric-locomotive-fleet-with-high-speed-diesels/ . That reference made it into Wikipedia and history was altered.Actually, some of the press reported it almost exactly as you recall, this from the Baltimore Sun:
"Shepard said four of MARC's electric locomotives are 27 years old, near the end of their useful life, while six are 15 years old and do not have a good record for reliability. He said the older models will be scrapped as soon as there are diesels to replace them. The newer models will be evaluated to determine whether they can still be useful."
That was a reference to the AEM-7 and the HHP-8 plan at the time of the announcement of the proposed Charger purchase
My recent personal experience is all watching Camden line trains that parallel the Metro Rail line I take from Greenbelt. There are no 12 car trains for sure. Four car single level trains at times but more cars (5?) and multilevel cars at other times. MP36s and Chargers seemed to be used almost randomly.We first read of MARC getting rid of all electrics found it puzzling. To run MARC schedules on 2 and 3 track mains seemed impossible without electrics and said so. MARC trains especially locals are often held especially at WASH Union station until all faster Amtrak trains have left pulled by faster Acelas and ACS-64s .That is especially true for MARC locals. Less so for Baltimore express trains. We felt that the only way for MARC diesel trains to maintain required Amtrak schedules would be for 2 Chargers to pull each train,
Now if the HHPs can be made reliable maybe MARC might buy some of the Amtrak units as well ? If one of the many CAT failures that occur MARC would then have the extra diesels to run on the Penn line when travel times are not important.
Another factor may be MARC needing to add more passenger cars due to overcrowding. MARC does not have the extra equipment yet but from reports some crush hour trains on Penn line need 12 cars now.
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