Jersey_Mike wrote:Can anyone explain why the Arrow II's were retired so early compared with the IIIs? I can't find much information about them on the web and the forum search refuses to lock onto the term. The II's were 1975 Budd products and as such they should have easily lasted a good 40 or 50 years instead of 20.
From the info I had, the Arrow II's were actually built by GE and delivered in 1973, just ahead of the first Silverliner IV's (1973-1976). The Arrow III's then immediately followed the Silverliner IV deliveries (1976-1978). They were run pretty much into the ground, and while NJT did have them overhauled in the mid-1980's, the heavy use took its toll on the cars.
Susquehaniewikiwokiwani wrote:Why was MARC using them and how many sets did they borrow? I never, ever remember hearing this are there any photos from there time on MARC? I do remember seeing the MARC AEM-7s on NJT in the '80s as a demo unit.
It wasn't MARC yet when they were running in Maryland. From the late 1970's after the Arrow III's arrived until 1984 or so, the Arrow II's were leased to Amtrak (for Keystone service) and Maryland DOT (for the Baltimore-Washington commuter service). The MARC name wasn't first adopted until either 1983 or 1984 and first displayed on the Sumitomo coaches delivered in 1985. It was while in Maryland DOT service that the only pair of Arrow II's to be scrapped before the rest of the fleet met their demise when a train of Arrow II's was rear-ended by the E60 leading an Amtrak train at Beltway-Lanham station. The Arrow II's were returned to NJT to be overhauled and put into service on the Morris and Essex lines in 1984 with the completion of the electrification project.
transit383 wrote:Did SEPTA evaluate the entire fleet before purchasing 1236-1237? Were they interested in anything other than one pair for work train service?
I answered that question for you in your post on the SEPTA forum
And here is video I got of Arrow II 602 (ex-1236, nee-536) on one of the SEPTA gel trains as it comes out of Wayne Junction. It is the second train in the video, appearing at the 1:45 mark. Unlike 601, it retains its roof hump. On the down side, it has gotten some unwanted attention on its sides....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTM1EbbgFgQ