Does anyone know the status of the Caltrans Comet IB cars?

[Swadian Hardcore]

Thanks, I got confused by the slanted logo on the side. If that car is a Horizon owned by CDTX, what train is it going to be used on? Alongside the Comet IBs?

If you read further up in this discussion...

Caltrans plans to have two single level consists running on the San Joaquin each consisting of 4 or 5 Comet IB coaches, a Horizon dinette (leased from Amtrak) and a NPCU/"Cabbage" (also leased from Amtrak).

Thanks, wouldn't it have been better to just convert some Comet IBs to Dinettes, the leases could lead to problems.

 

[jis]

What problems? All this is mostly a stopgap measure anyway until the new corridor cars arrive.

 

[rickycourtney]

Thanks, wouldn't it have been better to just convert some Comet IBs to Dinettes, the leases could lead to problems.

Possibly.

But to my knowledge these 3 Horizon dinettes and 3 NPCU's were sitting unused. Amtrak has no shortage of single-level food service cars (so much so that they've been converting them into coaches) and NPCU's. On the other hand there is a shortage of Superliner coaches. Leasing these units to Caltrans allows them to return some of Superliner coaches they're currently leasing from Amtrak.

 

[sportbiker]

Seems like a lot of issues could have been avoided had Caltrans started with Metrolink's idle Bombardier bi-levels rather than Comets. They're newer coaches with dual automatic door sets on both sides, low loading and higher capacity.

 

[battalion51]

The challenge with starting with the Metrolink Bombardiers is they're not owned by CDOT, they're owned by SCRRA. Keep in mind when this whole adventure started the Metrolink Bombardiers were still in very active service. Additionally, the Bombardiers still wouldn't be compatible with the existing CDOT fleet since their passageway from one car to another is low, not high like the California cars. Granted some issues would have been moot like having automatic doors. They still would have likely gone with Horizon Food Service cars since converting a bi-level into a Food Service car would have been an extensive project to say the least.

 

[Nathanael]

But to my knowledge these 3 Horizon dinettes and 3 NPCU's were sitting unused. Amtrak has no shortage of single-level food service cars (so much so that they've been converting them into coaches) and NPCU's.

In the "old days", I have been told that Amtrak -- and the private railroads before them -- ran *far* more food service cars per train; now we seem to be fine with a ratio of something like 6 coaches to 1 cafe car, but back in the 70s I was told that Amtrak might have run 2 cafe cars for such a train. The result is that Amtrak's previous car orders left them with far more cafe cars than are needed for modern services.

 

[rickycourtney]

Caltrans had the second test run of the Comet IB coaches on October 1st.

This intrepid journalist booked a short trip... and posted a travelogue here.

Hope you enjoy!

 

[Fan Railer]

A slight off shoot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Ww5-WjtIg

Did my best in two hours time, what do you think?

 

[jis]

Comet 1Bs do not have smooth side like the real Comets. They have ribbed sides like the Jersey Arrow EMU cars, since they are actually demotored Arrow Is.

And of course as Swadian says they have the typical rounded end windows of Arrows too.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Don't they also have curves at the ends of the passenger windows? They're not rectangular, more like oval. The Horizon is good I must say, but the second car is not great.

 

[Fan Railer]

Don't they also have curves at the ends of the passenger windows? They're not rectangular, more like oval. The Horizon is good I must say, but the second car is not great.

Lol I should have mentioned that I used the same template car for the Comet IB, but it's only an initial version.

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Don't they also have curves at the ends of the passenger windows? They're not rectangular, more like oval. The Horizon is good I must say, but the second car is not great.

Lol I should have mentioned that I used the same template car for the Comet IB, but it's only an initial version.

It shouldn't be too hard to change, the side windows are almost geometrical rectangles, if you can just edit one window by dragging the sides outwards into an ourwards circle then cut the middle, you should be able to duplicate that and finish the railcar for the simulator. I would wish this to be on Railworks instead of OpenBVE.

 

[Fan Railer]

Done. However, the windows for the Comet IB in this initial release will have to remain in their current state. I'll probably get around to fixing them some time tomorrow.

http://www.mediafire.com/download/51c3c66go14qgy6/Caltrans+Amtrak+California+P42DC+with+F40PH+NPCU.rar

 

[rickycourtney]

A reliable source says that the Comet car trainset will officially go into service on trains 711/718 starting October 21st.

 

[SubwayNut]

Amtrak has issued this service advisory San Joaquin Trains 711 and 718: Operate with Refurbished Equipment:

San Joaquin Trains 711 and 718: Operate with Refurbished Equipment
Effective October 21, 2013To provide added capacity aboard the San Joaquin service, Trains 711 and 718 will operate with refurbished single level Comet cars, effective October 21, 2013. Comet cars offer a comfortable ride and more leg room than the bi-level California cars that will continue to operate on other San Joaquin trains. Passengers traveling on Trains 711 and 718 should be aware of the following:

Passengers with Limited MobilityThere are steps leading to the entrance of the Comet car on Trains 711 and 718. Passengers who need assistance should call Amtrak, or speak with an employee at the station or on board the train. Passengers who need assistance boarding the train should arrive 45 minutes prior to train departure.

Checked BaggagePassengers traveling aboard Amtrak trains are encouraged to check in their luggage when traveling to and from stations that offer checked baggage service.

Carry-on BaggagePassengers on Trains 711 and 718 who are traveling to or from stations that do not offer checked baggage are encouraged to travel with luggage that can be carried with ease. Passengers may carry up to two pieces of baggage onto the train, each bag not exceeding 28" x 22" x 14" or 50 lbs. Other restrictions apply.

Bicycle Loading Changes at Staffed StationsPassengers boarding Trains 711 and 718 must take their bicycles to the baggage car for an employee to load it onto the train. Walk-On Bicycle Service is not available on board Comet cars.

Bicycles Not Permitted at Unstaffed StationsPassengers boarding or detraining at unstaffed stations will not be permitted to load bicycles on Trains 711 and 718. Passengers with bicycles may make travel aboard other San Joaquin trains.

Thank you for traveling with Amtrak. We appreciate your patronage. Reservations and information is available on Amtrak.com, our free mobile apps and at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

Join us on facebook.com/Amtrak, and follow us on twitter.com/Amtrak.

PSN 1013-01

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Indeed, those California Cars were not very comfortable when I rode them. Hopefully the Comets will be better. Does nayone know the seat manufacturers of the California Car and the refurbished Comets?

 

[Fan Railer]

Indeed, those California Cars were not very comfortable when I rode them. Hopefully the Comets will be better. Does nayone know the seat manufacturers of the California Car and the refurbished Comets?

not sure about the california cars, but i hear that they don't recline... the seats on the refurbed comets will be the same ones found in the amfleet 2, iirc.

 

[X]

Indeed, those California Cars were not very comfortable when I rode them. Hopefully the Comets will be better. Does nayone know the seat manufacturers of the California Car and the refurbished Comets?

not sure about the california cars, but i hear that they don't recline... the seats on the refurbed comets will be the same ones found in the amfleet 2, iirc.

Correct.

 

[rickycourtney]

The seats are more like the seats used on the Amfleet I cars and the Superliner I cars that were refurbished for Caltrans a few years ago. They have a pretty generous recline but no legrest or footrest.

Here are some pictures I took earlier this month:

 

[Swadian Hardcore]

Nice pics, Ricky! They're a bit too big to fit but that's no big deal. Those Comets look comfortable, I like those rounded windows. They need these same seats in the California Cars, if not for the quite-poor lumbar support. I would still like to know what company made these seats.

 

[X]

http://www.kustomseating.com/ maybe?

I can assure you that the seats are 100% Amtrak standard long distance seats, I'm told they're straight out of the Amfleet IIs, and similar to the Superliner / Amfleet I seats, except they don't rotate or have the calf rest.

 

[rickycourtney]

http://www.kustomseating.com/ maybe?

I can assure you that the seats are 100% Amtrak standard long distance seats, I'm told they're straight out of the Amfleet IIs, and similar to the Superliner / Amfleet I seats, except they don't rotate or have the calf rest.

Mr. X-

You're right. They're very similar.

It's Amtrak's standard short haul seat, which unlike the long haul seats don't have the calf rests or foot rests. Other than that they're very similar and do have a very generous recline.

In my opinion they're a lot more comfortable than the seats on the California cars and Surfliner cars.

 

[Blackwolf]

http://www.kustomseating.com/ maybe?

I can assure you that the seats are 100% Amtrak standard long distance seats, I'm told they're straight out of the Amfleet IIs, and similar to the Superliner / Amfleet I seats, except they don't rotate or have the calf rest.

And now we know who made/makes Amtrak's seats, including those much-loved leather ex-Metroliner Business Class seats that most people simply assume cannot be made any longer. The seats are featured on the KSU website. I have no idea what these products cost a company like Amtrak to be manufactured, but it certainly proves that Amtrak must have a supply stream available and is not only recycling the stock they may have sitting in a warehouse.

 

[sportbiker]

The challenge with starting with the Metrolink Bombardiers is they're not owned by CDOT, they're owned by SCRRA. Keep in mind when this whole adventure started the Metrolink Bombardiers were still in very active service. Additionally, the Bombardiers still wouldn't be compatible with the existing CDOT fleet since their passageway from one car to another is low, not high like the California cars. Granted some issues would have been moot like having automatic doors. They still would have likely gone with Horizon Food Service cars since converting a bi-level into a Food Service car would have been an extensive project to say the least.

The challenge with starting with the NJT Comets is they're not owned by CDOT, they're owned by NJT. Additionally, the Comets still wouldn't be compatible with the existing CDOT fleet since their passageway from one car to another is low, not high like the California cars. Granted some issues would remain like not having automatic doors. They still would have likely gone with Horizon Food Service cars since converting a Comet into a Food Service car would have been an extensive project to say the least.

 

[sportbiker]

not sure about the california cars, but i hear that they don't recline... the seats on the refurbed comets will be the same ones found in the amfleet 2, iirc.

California Car seats recline in a way similar to a Superliner bedroom couch: reach under the center of the seat and pull the lever. The bottom cushion will slide forward a few inches and the lower end of the back cushion will pivot forward to match. The seat frame doesn't move.