Acela II (Alstom Avelia Liberty): Design, Production, Delivery, Acceptance

Given the eastbound traffic pileup near Frankord Junction, I'm no longer checking tonight. If the test train is running, it's probably still waiting in the yard. I'll be back if I hear radio communications.

Night 5/16 - morning 5/17
10:14PM - KP2022 chatter about cut-in and cut-out (cab control?)
10:33PM - KP2022 received protection 4 track Lincoln - County
10:43PM - cleared protection; asked to call dispatcher
10:45PM - #3737 reported unfavorable signal at Menlo (foul wasn't yet cleared)
11:13PM - Eastbound KP2022 on 3 track blocking #3742 from leaving the branch as usual
11:22PM - #3742 and KP2022 having their usual conversation
2:42AM - #3805 trying to race KP2022 as usual (same engineer as #3742)
3:05AM - KP2022 (east of County, likely) preventing a westbound MOW move at Lincoln on 3 track

Night 5/17 - morning 5/18
11:11PM - Eastbound KP2022 on 3 track blocking #3742 from leaving the branch as usual
11:27PM - #3742's sees red light on west side of KP2022 (couldn't hear response)
2:31AM - #7805 (weekend run for #3805) trying to race again...

west point wrote: ↑Fri May 17, 2024 11:04 pm Although most posters here may not care us engineering types might like to know the test schedule parameters looked for on each test run.

It would be nice to know what they're even testing at this point. I expected crew qualification to begin already. There has been so much County - Ham speed testing that railfans stopped paying attention.

Found this video from 5/17 around noon - passing BWI going to Philadelphia
You guessed it - running at 90MPH and not line speed

JuniusLivonius wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 8:31 pm Found this video from 5/17 around noon - passing BWI going to Philadelphia
You guessed it - running at 90MPH and not line speed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ3RbJ7Yauc

The curve south of the station has a speed limit of 90 MPH. I think part of the 4-track plans w/BWI station reconstruction is to smooth the curve out to get it up to faster speeds.

The train is still running at Column D speeds unless otherwise permitted by Form D

STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2024 11:09 am

JuniusLivonius wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 8:31 pm Found this video from 5/17 around noon - passing BWI going to Philadelphia
You guessed it - running at 90MPH and not line speed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ3RbJ7Yauc

The curve south of the station has a speed limit of 90 MPH. I think part of the 4-track plans w/BWI station reconstruction is to smooth the curve out to get it up to faster speeds.

I have never been able to find a detailed map of the planned changes to the track formation for this project; the FONSI and attachments don't have the appropriate detail. Do you have any insight into how the curve would have its radius increased?

TheOneKEA wrote: ↑Wed May 22, 2024 7:04 pm

STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2024 11:09 am

JuniusLivonius wrote: ↑Mon May 20, 2024 8:31 pm Found this video from 5/17 around noon - passing BWI going to Philadelphia
You guessed it - running at 90MPH and not line speed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ3RbJ7Yauc

The curve south of the station has a speed limit of 90 MPH. I think part of the 4-track plans w/BWI station reconstruction is to smooth the curve out to get it up to faster speeds.

I have never been able to find a detailed map of the planned changes to the track formation for this project; the FONSI and attachments don't have the appropriate detail. Do you have any insight into how the curve would have its radius increased?

You'll want the EIS, which covers this. https://www.mta.maryland.gov/bwi-amtrak ... mprovement has it.

Avelia Liberty passed over Schuylkill River at 8:22PM, headed east

STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2024 11:09 am The curve south of the station has a speed limit of 90 MPH. I think part of the 4-track plans w/BWI station reconstruction is to smooth the curve out to get it up to faster speeds.

Oops. 110mph for Type A (Acela with tilt) and 90mph for everyone else on that curve.

CNJGeep wrote: ↑Tue May 21, 2024 8:12 pm The train is still running at Column D speeds unless otherwise permitted by Form D

Are you sure it's a Form D? I would love to read one and it should be an easy FOIA request.

The authorization generally comes from a Form D, Line 13. It will say something to the effect of :
"Extra 2103 (or whatever) is authorized to run at speeds not exceeding 170 MPH (or whatever) for testing purposes on #3 Tk between Ham & County under the direction of Foreman SoandSo"

There are other ways to get permission, but that's the easiest and most generally accepted way.

I don't know if they get it before they leave Philly, they probably do, but if not, you can usually hear them issuing Form Ds over the radio.

I've never heard of an FOIA request for a Form D, they only get retained for 7 Days at least on the T&E side. Anything's possible, though.

8:27PM - Unknown train crawling north (east) out of what I think is part of the Penn Coach Yard. Shape looks kinda right to be Avelia Liberty.

Briefly had a nice camera alignment until 8:13PM when I-76 east jammed up and they rotated all 3 cameras.

Currently waiting on a camera near Torresdale.
8:49PM KP2022 spotted passing between Torresdale and Cornwells Heights

Night of 5/28
8:30PM KP2022 / Avelia Liberty spotted over Schuylkill river heading east
8:41PM Tacony
8:53PM Eddington


If my locations, times and judgement are correct, that looks like it took an unusually long time between Tacony and Eddington.

Had a continuous view from 8:10PM - 8:45PM of the 2 tracks leading out from PCY (west of the two Keystone Corridor tracks underneath the West Philadelphia Elevated)
No Avelia Liberty sighting - I think they typically don't run in the rain as I've noticed before

JuniusLivonius wrote: ↑Wed May 29, 2024 7:45 pm Had a continuous view from 8:10PM - 8:45PM of the 2 tracks leading out from PCY (west of the two Keystone Corridor tracks underneath the West Philadelphia Elevated)
No Avelia Liberty sighting - I think they typically don't run in the rain as I've noticed before

DISREGARD

They snuck out at a different time or I'm blind. As of 11:05PM they were near County when #3737 (outbound #3742 from Jersey Ave) usually talks to KP2022.

The engineer of #3737-#3742-#3805 is really keeping it together every night with confirmation. Usually KP2022 doesn't make a peep otherwise.

Picking up radio summary from morning 5/18... no activity from then until night of 5/23

Night 5/23 - morning 5/24
11:12PM - #3742 asks dispatcher to tell KP2022 to do 300 tonight
11:23PM - #3742 from Jersey Ave waiting on KP2022 to clear County
11:25PM - KP2022 waiting for #3742 to come off the branch
11:30PM - #3742 moving
2:39AM - KP2022 gets scared and runs away before #7805 can race

Night 5/24 - morning 5/25
9:32PM - #3984 held on 2 (where?) for test train crossing on 3
9:37PM - KP2022 asked to give a call when ready to go back west
11:10PM - #3742 possibly going down 3 once test train gets west of County
11:15PM - #3742 having the regular conversation with KP2022

Night 5/28 - morning 5/29
10:58PM - #3737 - the usual
2:26AM - #3805 - the usual
2:27AM - The race is on. KP2022 ready in 5 mins to do its last westbound run
2:30AM - "Here we come" - KP2022 wins

Edit: 353 is Siemens Charger - They stole KP2022's identity
Night 5/29 - morning 5/30
11:01PM - #3737 - the usual
11:02PM - KP2022 engine "353" requested permission to press stop release button 3 track at County proceed west to 3 track
12:06AM - Same permission requested
12:51AM - Same permission requested
12:52AM - KP2022 to dispatcher: "tomorrow will be a long day; Friday isn't looking bad"

A bit late but it's obvious in retrospect what the "long day" is with the round trip from Philadelphia to Boston to swap trainsets. I suppose there's no speed run tonight, 5/30. Tomorrow I suppose...

Anyone know what engine "353" means in an ACSES context?
(Edit: this was not Avelia Liberty)



Regarding the swap, Fan Railer was on top of it... some people just have internal contacts I guess. TS12 and TS8 swapped today 5/30 as Extra 884 and 885, respectively. TS12 moves east to Boston, while TS8 returns west to Philly


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMwREPcE2kY

511pa re-arranged the backend of their camera feeds which threw me off but I had the best shot to date of the PCY.

KP2022 / Avelia Liberty test train is moving tonight...
~8:04PM moving in PCY
~8:07PM moving onto main tracks
8:25PM KP2022 crossed the Schuylkill

No longer looking. Happy railfanning.