DMU question

A few questions regarding the DMUs on Tri-Rail:

1. Is the single-level Aero DMU still in service on Tri-Rail?

2. Is the Aero DMU that has been operating on Tri-Rail originally the Colorado Railcar demo DMU, or is it a new vehicle built for Tri-Rail?

3. What is the perceived opinion of the cars, both from a passenger/customer perspective, and an owner/operator perspective?

Thanks!

The "Aero DMU" single-level is the same demonstrator that toured the country. It visited NJ Transit, most notably in the northeast, operating in revenue service on the Princeton Branch with one Comet V in push-pull configuration (the DMU has one cab).

As for Tri-Rail, they currently have double-deck CRC DMUs on the property IIRC (with double-deck trailers), awaiting testing.

Yesterday, April 8, 2006, the new DMU set was testing around the middle of the day. They are, quite colorful and very unique looking equipment.

For something as described as succesfull etc is the DMU in Service yet.
3 months of testing but I don't see the better than sliced bread concept plying rails with passengers ??? what gives.

I suspect that they might be having some sort of problems with the test
runs of this equipment. I took a ride down to Miami a few weeks ago and
we got stabbed getting back to Fort Lauderdale by a test train that had
broken down.
Just like Metro-North, these trains have to perform a certain minimum of
miles on test runs without any failures before they can be considered
accepted, owned and able to be put into revenue service. I have been
watching for them but have not seen any in revenue service at this point
and I also watch the train tracker most days for them too, haven't seen
them listed on there as yet either.
Maybe later this month things will start to happen.
Tri-Rail is still having various problems with CSX and in addition the new
bridge over the New River is still not finished.
Noel Weaver

3 months is long time for testing Noel, considering that the Bi-Level DMU has same propulsion plant as the demonstrator.
But then the demonstrator was towed everywhere and only had to perform its tricks in front of press.
My feeling is that DMU's are not as simple as RDC's and unless run with technicians are not very dependable.

DutchRailnut wrote:3 months is long time for testing Noel, considering that the Bi-Level DMU has same propulsion plant as the demonstrator.
But then the demonstrator was towed everywhere and only had to perform its tricks in front of press.
My feeling is that DMU's are not as simple as RDC's and unless run with technicians are not very dependable.

You may well be right on this one, I am not really sure. I know that they
ran the demonstrator for a while but I never got a chance to ride it when
they were running it. When the New River bridge job is finished, I am not
positive just when this will be but I don't think it will be in 2006 but maybe
early 2007, they want to run more service but right now I don't think they
have enough equipment to run much more than what they are right now.I remember when the M-2's on the New Haven Line were brand new and
after first acceptance, there was a GE person on every train, every trip for
a while until they were absolutely sure that the bugs were out of them and
believe me, when they were new, they had plenty of bugs too.
Noel Weaver

But then the demonstrator was towed everywhere and only had to perform its tricks in front of press

Aren't all prototypes towed everywhere, to save wear and tear, and also to avoid fouling the main in case of breakdown? Imagine having to use qualified crews in each railroad territory and having to refuel over thousands of miles. I haven't heard of any Turboliners making a full run from New York to Chicago, for example, under their own power.

Irish Chieftain wrote:

But then the demonstrator was towed everywhere and only had to perform its tricks in front of press

This is incorrect. While I was still working in 2002 or 2003,I had to clear up into Port Jervis yard.After about 10 mins., the demo came thru,under its own power,on the way back to Colorado.They were finished at NJT & were going home.

Ok so how are these DMU's on Tri-Rail ?? any in service yet ??
This thing was to be better than sliced cheese ??? it beat all previous DMU's The news paper articles where Colorado car boasted of its techincal merrits are no longer acurate are they ???

Several of the coachs are in service,I have been seeing them in the afternoon.They are being pulled by the GP 49 rebuilds,not the DMU motive power units.The local paper says the are in extended testing,and are seeking customer comment.

I got a tour of the Tri-Rail facilities yesterday and got the information on
train assignments for the one set of DMU equipment that is currently in
regular operation:
Northbound train P606 from MIA at 5:50 AM arr Mangonia Park 7:35 AM
Southbound train P617 from Mangonia Park at 8:00 AM arr MIA 9:45 AM
Northbound train P634 from MIA at 4:30 PM arr Mangonia Park 6:15 PM
Southbound train P645 from Mangonia Park 6:40 PM arr MIA 8:25 PM
The above are Monday through Friday trains, the DUM equipment does
not normally operate on Saturday or Sunday.
As always, the above infrmation is subject to change without notice.
Noel Weaver

Using the above information as to train assignments for the DMU
equipment, yesterday morning (Monday) I decided to take a ride on these
cars up to West Palm Beach and back. I got to the Fort Lauderdale
station for train P606 and it arrived at 6:33 AM (a couple of minutes late)
and sure enough, it had the DMU cars. Going north, I rode one of the power cars and here are my comments. It took a climb of four steps to
get into this car and around 11 more steps to get up to the upper level.
The seating was nicely upholstered and quite comfortable to sit in, the
power car rode reasonably well over our welded rail with its concrete ties
but I would have to wonder how it would do on older track with stick rail,
there was some noise and vibration and it reminded me in that respect of
the BUDD RDC cars of the 1950's and 1960's. We towered over the other
bi-level cars and on an opposing Amtrak train, we got a very good look at
the roofs. The windows are huge and great for viewing scenery but they
caused a huge glare from the morning sun even for me sitting on the
opposite side of the car. The AC worked well and the temperature was
at a comfortable level but an AC vent is on the window ledge and it is
right where you would probably like to rest your arm on a trip like this
one and that could get mighty uncomfortable before you finish your trip.
The rest rooms were very spacious and easy to use, a big improvement
over the other cars where the rest room is very cramped.
On my return to Fort Lauderdale I rode the center car which is an
unpowered coach and it rode very well even over the wheels where I sat
and was comfortable in nearly every respect. Biggest problem with this
car was the thirteen steps to the upper level which can be a challenge
for some people and again the huge windows which are neither
necessary nor desireable on a commuter train.
We were a little bit late in both directions but I do not think it was the
fault of the equipment but rather the presence of some slow orders
enroute, even though the tracks are either new or rebuilt, they are still
maintained and operated by CSX and we all know what that means.
All in all it was an interesting trip and I am sharing the experience with
you on here.
Noel Weaver

I took my first an only Tri-Rail trip back in '89, I think. Lots has changed since then, I'm sure. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Tri-Rail is the only place with the bi-level Colorado Railcar DMU, right?

cpontani wrote:Correct me if I'm wrong, but Tri-Rail is the only place with the bi-level Colorado Railcar DMU, right?

I saw a northbound DMU set in Pompano/Cypress area yesterday but the set looked empty.