Comets in California

[philipmartin]

Some of NJT's retired Comets are rolling again, but on the West Coast. See article 'Comets' lead to more 'San Joaquins' in the September 2016 "Trains Magazine." Here's a video "Riding the California Comet Cars" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxYSC5Wbg4c" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The article doesn't mention this but NJT also sold eleven surplus PCC cars to San Francisco when the light rail vehicles replaced them. Here's a link to the Wiki article on San Francisco's PCC's. It sounds like a railfan's dream. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Franc ... _PCC_fleet" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This issue also has an informative article "Controling the Corridore." Altogether a good issue for NJT fans.

[glennk419]

The Comets live on. That is quite a testimonial to just how well they were designed and built. About the only distinguishing features that identify them these days are the plug doors and what's left of the pantograph mounts.

[R36 Combine Coach]

Wonder if the Comarrows will outlive not just the Silverliner IIIs, but one day the IVs and Arrow IIIs as well? Quite possible given their full rebuild for at least another 15+ years.

[glennk419]

They will most likely outlive the SEPTA SLV's. Don't see those being converted to anything but razor blades.

AND, I love how they kept the (modified) disco stripes.

[Backshophoss]

In the rebuild at Beech Grove,they lost their roof "humps" as well.

[philipmartin]

Here are a couple of photos from http://discuss.amtraktrains.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; a year and a half ago. The F40PHs that go with them are control cars and their side doors roll up for bicycle and baggage storage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu51cCvcq7A#t=78.761542" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[philipmartin]

Here's a post by Ted Bell in Amtrak Unlimited, three and a half years ago.
"The Utah Transit Authority purchased 25 Comet Cars from NJ Transit. They were refurbished by Bombardier and are added to the FrontRunner commuter rail when demand is high."
UTA-FrontRunner-Comet.jpg

For an other picture, here's a link to the current "Front Runner" website. http://www.rideuta.com/Rider-Tools/Sche ... rontRunner" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[glennk419]

I believe the Utah cars are the original EL/NJ Dot Comet 1's, aka "Sliders" while the California cars are actually "Comarrows" (de-motored MU's).

[kilroy]

Glenn, you are correct, they're CI's. You can even see the outline of the disco stripes under the UTA paint.

[jamesinclair]

Some people thought the purchase was foolish, because the new Amtrak cars were expected in 2015. Well, the new cars are no where in sight, so the Comets have been well used, and allowed the San Joaquin line to add an extra daily train.

One downside is that Amtrak California operates on low-level platforms, so the Comets require much more dwell time at stations than the standard California cars. So theyre operated in the lowest demand train of the day (the 4am I think)

[philipmartin]

So that's he reason he Utah cars have, what to me is the peculiar look of the EL cars. Apologies to EL fans. Photos from http://www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[R36 Combine Coach]

In the rebuild at Beech Grove,they lost their roof "humps" as well.

The Arrow I MUs did not have roof humps, like Silverliner IV and Arrow II/III.

Arrow I and SLIII were perhaps the only St. Louis stainless cars with with build quality on Budd caliber. Most other St. Louis stainless cars were prone to corrosion (being stainless sheetmetal on the exterior shell only and carbon based alloy for framing).