by mtuandrew
That’s a safe bet; I don’t see how else you’d get 3hr 30min travel times NYP-WAS with commuter equipment. (No one else runs 125 mph but Amtrak and MARC, and I find it highly unlikely that Amtrak asked for/got MARC IVs.)
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First, why doesn’t Amtrak lease commuter coaches to add to long-distance trainsAmtrak did that at one point with the Crescent, adding VRE former RDCs to add capacity between Washington and Charlottesville, though I think the cars ran through at least to Atlanta. I think the passengers were unhappy that the quality of the cars was so much lower than Amfleet II, and maybe the passengers didn't get a lower fare for riding in the old cars.
MACTRAXX wrote: ↑Sun Nov 10, 2019 5:26 pm These two Holiday Specials using MARC equipment run to Sunnyside Yard and are "looped" enteringQuestion: does the agreement require that the equipment must be returned to MARC facing in the same direction as received, or will MARC have to turn it? (Or does MARC always have the motor on the same end?)
the yard so the motor is on the head end in both directions.
ExCon90 wrote: ↑Tue Nov 12, 2019 3:56 pmMARC's push/pull. If Amtrak turns it in NYC, it'll have to turn again in DC, and that is if MARC provides a HHP-8 or two.MACTRAXX wrote: ↑Sun Nov 10, 2019 5:26 pm These two Holiday Specials using MARC equipment run to Sunnyside Yard and are "looped" enteringQuestion: does the agreement require that the equipment must be returned to MARC facing in the same direction as received, or will MARC have to turn it? (Or does MARC always have the motor on the same end?)
the yard so the motor is on the head end in both directions.
electricron wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2019 10:39 am Doesn't Amtrak just lease trailers? The cab cars stay in D.C.Cab cars have bathrooms in them.
It really doesn't matter which way the coaches are pointed when they arrive back in D.C. Amtrak just decouples the locomotive and MARC couples another locomotive back on the correct side pointing in the correct direction, then MARC couples the cab car back on. All that work can be done in the yard, not at the station.
Golly, it is not rocket science, railroads have been turning trains in the USA since the 1830s - almost 200 years ago. I'm pretty sure Amtrak and MARC can easily handle this task today.
STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2019 6:57 pmDoes this even matter as Amtrak is turning the trains itself as Amtrak runs the Penn Line?electricron wrote: ↑Wed Nov 13, 2019 10:39 am Doesn't Amtrak just lease trailers? The cab cars stay in D.C.Cab cars have bathrooms in them.
It really doesn't matter which way the coaches are pointed when they arrive back in D.C. Amtrak just decouples the locomotive and MARC couples another locomotive back on the correct side pointing in the correct direction, then MARC couples the cab car back on. All that work can be done in the yard, not at the station.
Golly, it is not rocket science, railroads have been turning trains in the USA since the 1830s - almost 200 years ago. I'm pretty sure Amtrak and MARC can easily handle this task today.
Doesn't really matter anyway. Amtrak can turn 'em at QN and F Tower at DC.
rcthompson04 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2019 12:42 pm Does this even matter as Amtrak is turning the trains itself as Amtrak runs the Penn Line?They have to wye the train so that a cab car is facing south, and any diesel engine is facing north away from the station. MARC's push/pull operation.