MARC's electric locomotives

MACTRAXX wrote:...Those trains were laid up at Baltimore,right? How many were there if so? ...Thanks-MACTRAXX

One photo was Baltimore, one was Washington. I photographed what I saw; I wasn't in a position to count trains or Armadillos.

MARCs 10 electric locos cover all Penn Line service am I right?

I don't think MARC has ever had enough of the electrics actually running to provide 100% of the rush hour service on the Penn line. Maintenance, repairs, and installation of upgrades is done by Amtrak and they take care of their own motors first, then MARC's. At any rate, mid-day service on the Penn Line is provided by shorter diesel-powered train sets that arrive in Washington each morning off the Brunswick line. The electric powered train sets lay up in Washington all day.

Pete Schmidt

MTA tries to deploy the electrics to cover the longest trains on the Penn Line.

With ridership low and the price of electric high during the off times, they use Camden line trainsets from about 10am-2pm.

There often is a deadhead move south since the Camden line trainsets have to cross back to CSX at Union Station.

Can someone answer this? Marc and NJ Transit both have electric locomotives and also have equipment that is qualified to go over 100MPH. My question is, who runs faster speed? Marc or NJ transit?

Hi All,

While I can understand the term "meat balls" for the AEM-7, it still doesn't sit too well. I prefer what the enginemen and crew call them, "Toasters".

acela 2036 wrote:Can someone answer this? Marc and NJ Transit both have electric locomotives and also have equipment that is qualified to go over 100MPH. My question is, who runs faster speed? Marc or NJ transit?

If I'm not mistaken, NJT doesn't allow any of their equipment to operate above 100MPH. MARC, at least between Seabrook/Lanham and BWI-M, reaches upwards of 125 during express runs, I believe.

TRAINS Magazine states it definitively:

MARC operates the fastest commuter trains in North America, using electric locomotives that race along the Penn Line at speeds of up to 125 miles per hour...

http://www.trains.com/trn/default.aspx?c=a&id=398

pennsy wrote:Hi All,

While I can understand the term "meat balls" for the AEM-7, it still doesn't sit too well. I prefer what the enginemen and crew call them, "Toasters".

What enginemen call them toasters? We (Amtrak engineers) call them "meatballs."

What equipment is running 125 mph?

The HHP-8s.

Can't the AEM-7s operate at 125mph also?

acs85 wrote:The HHP-8s.

Pulling which cars?

Marc AEM7's can operate at 125 because I ran one that was apart of an amtrak train.

cpontani wrote:

acs85 wrote:The HHP-8s.

Pulling which cars?

Kawasaki MARC III Bi-levels.

writerthesp77 wrote:
If I'm not mistaken, NJT doesn't allow any of their equipment to operate above 100MPH. MARC, at least between Seabrook/Lanham and BWI-M, reaches upwards of 125 during express runs, I believe.

I've seen 109 between Union Station and New Carrollton on the GPS and the high 90's between Seabrook and Odenton on the GPS that I'll carry sometimes.

I get off on Odenton, I'll have to switch up and ride the express a time or two and see what we get up to.