Interesting Consist Discussion for the North Side

RenegadeMonster wrote: Also noticed a lot more locomotives are have a round MassDOT sticker on the front?

Is that a question or a statement?

The MBTA is part of MassDOT, therefor its assets are not changing hands.

MassDOT is the mothership, MBTA the subsidiary. Perhaps the equipment is supposedly surplus, perhaps MBTA doesn't have the budget & MassDOT is paying for an overhaul "off the books", maybe because work isn't being done at BET or under an MBTA contract, so they paper transfer the ownership to avoid "trouble"

They could also be creating equipment pools for the Cape Flyer or Greenfield shuttles.

Looks like all the MBB's are getting the MassDOT logo.

524 had it as well this morning.

The 010 is paired with the 1070, with the 010 in the lead.

The 011 seems to have wandered north as well.

Yes, I saw it yesterday.

It was part of a set with 2 engines. Both engines on the outbound side.

I have seen quite a few sets like this recently. What's the purpose of the two engines on one side?

It's typically done for one of two reasons: both engines are ailing, with one providing traction and the other HEP; or one has just come out of the shop after being repaired and the second loco is there for insurance if the repair doesn't hold up.

RenegadeMonster wrote:Yes, I saw it yesterday.

It was part of a set with 2 engines. Both engines on the outbound side.

I have seen quite a few sets like this recently. What's the purpose of the two engines on one side?

The 011 was still paired with 1070 this morning. It was on 305, and broke down at Winchester Center, resuming its trip about 15 minutes late.

Two engines can be one of a number of things:
* One of the engines is just back from major repairs and the second is to serve as a protect
* One engine has no HEP and the other has no prime mover; as a pair they serve as one engine
* I'm sure there are others...

There seems to be a lot more sets of all flats as of late.

There is one dreaded set of 4 flats. And at least 2 others of 5 flats that I have seen.

Also, the randomness of sets it getting more chaotic. The train I catch from Salem in the morning can bounce from 6 cars which include 2 double deckers to the 4 car flat set (standing room only).

Last night 173 has two engines on the front. The lead one looked to be a F40PHM-2C with a HSP behind it.

Also a note of oddity. This morning there was a Pan Am Passenger Train at North Station.

RenegadeMonster wrote:Also a note of oddity. This morning there was a Pan Am Passenger Train at North Station.

PAR's business train doing business!

viewtopic.php?f=55&t=55043&view=unread#p1447483

JoeD

The past week and a half I have noticed the train sets are either 6 cars or 4 with over crowding.

No 5 car sets, at least on the trains I take. Every other trip seems to be alternating between 6 and 4 cars almost. No consistency.


Anyone know if they will be adding additional cars to sets on the Eastern this week like they did last year for Halloween?

Whoa. 1513, what are you doing up there? Get back down south where you belong.

Was just about to post about 1513 as well. I saw it at North Station this morning leading a set on Track 1.

First time I have ever saw a 15XX on the North Side.