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Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:31 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

Putting a couple of crash pads on the front of a train might satisfy some FRA rule, but it does not a safe railcar make. When that railcar goes off the tracks and rolls down an embankment at speed what the hell are those crumple zones going to do? Good old "Yank Tank" rail vehicles are wh...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:44 am ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

Buff strenght does not relate to weight as it can be archived by using different materials, carbon steel at high end carbon fiber at low end of spectrum. All of which do have and add weight if you need more of them as increased buff strength requires. If it didn't, then FRA compliant equipment woul...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:56 am ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

I totally agree with Dutch. British rolling stock is definitely built with much lighter body shells. It is, but being lighter is not, in and of itself, detrimental to the safety of passengers and crew (again, I point to the Great Heck train crash which, despite significantly greater speeds, resulte...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:48 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

I totally agree with Dutch. British rolling stock is definitely built with much lighter body shells. It is, but being lighter is not, in and of itself, detrimental to the safety of passengers and crew (again, I point to the Great Heck train crash which, despite significantly greater speeds, resulte...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:38 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

as for not needing extrta engine, maybe, but it still drains same Kilowatts, which results in same fuel use. As does any HEP use, locomotive or not. It's not a terribly large load and the figures I've given earlier include the use of HEP and still come out more fuel efficient than American locomoti...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:13 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

again comparing British trains is of little value, no AC no outlets at seats, British trains, including the specific example of the Class 222, do indeed have power sockets at the seat, and they do indeed all have AC (Class 432, built 1960s-1970s, was last intercity rolling stock built without AC; i...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Sat Jun 16, 2012 5:39 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

I would love to see some spec sheets on gallons per seat mile and per hour usage, frequency of tank filling etc on these other designs. There is data on fuel consumption for British DMUs (and locomotives) as well as British and international EMUs and locomotives in these documents: Traction energy ...

Re: Amtrak's electricity consumption

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Sat Jun 16, 2012 1:21 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Amtrak's electricity consumption ¦  Replies: 29 ¦  Views: 4566

Amtrak's 2011 annual report has some more sane numbers:
Seat-miles per gallon of diesel fuel: 143.7
Seat-miles per kWh of electric traction: 6.85

They're both still ludicrously high by international standards, but at least they aren't Cthulhu-high.

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Sat Jun 16, 2012 1:07 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

can you guys take the NYC discussion to NYC board ? it has nothing to do with topic on hand. Well it completely does actually. The whole point of my posts about the black beetle is to highlight the shortcomings of DMU in inter-city service in the US, and the limited usefulness of EMU especially giv...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:40 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

and as far as US Railcar - well if they can't get an order to mfg. an American DMU from somebody to keep this company viable then America's ONLY passenger railcar company will implode - at some point some big commuter RR or Amtrak has to give them a chance so that they will not become American RR h...

They still expect everybody to drive to their LA-area station. Nothing about bus service to the station. Why would they have their own dedicated bus service to LA Union or Palmdale? Integrated ticketing with Metrolink's fairly easy. Are they expecting some pork from some mountain-state politicians?...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:44 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

On the other hand, the BR Class 166 (and 165 for that matter) with 3 power cars are estimated at 0.95 kilograms per kilometer (with a 32km distance between stations), which comes out to about 0.48 gallons per mile (at a density of seven pounds to the gallon). Amtrak and the various commuters are abo...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:43 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

DMU's are not the money savers they say they are, , yes they may save fuel if trains of two cars or less are used. they cost same in crew but a lot more in mechanical maintenance. servicing one P40/42 and two cars is fairly easy with only one drive engine sitting on a fuel and waste tank. The two c...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Tue Jun 12, 2012 1:20 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

Amtrak owns & operates a very large electrified railroad between boston, dc, philly & harrisburg. They will never ever ever ever never never ever ever run DMU under wires. Simply look elsewhere in the amtrak forum and you will see new locomotives and coaches being ordered. If you look in an...

Re: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs?

 by Paulus Magnus ¦  Tue Jun 12, 2012 12:05 pm ¦  Forum: Amtrak ¦  Topic: Why doesn't Amtrak use DMUs/EMUs? ¦  Replies: 124 ¦  Views: 19051

Why in the world are MUs being criticized on the grounds of not suitable for Amtrak LD services? I don't think there was anyone suggesting that they should be used for that. It's NEC and corridor operations where it is suggested for use. DMU equipment is not really what Amtrak needs for their operat...

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