by joshg1
There was a gee-whiz story in the Boston Globe a few weeks ago about a scheme to run DMUs from Back Bay to the convention center. Which hasn't been mentioned again. Debate on RR.net http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 5&t=152499 is divided on three lines:
1- this is an operational nightmare (my view)
2- but we're getting DMUs! They're great!
3- we're not getting DMUs for several reasons.
I want some background on #3. Leave aside the FRA waivers and the amazing potential of DMUs. If, for example, the MBTA could get a Federal DOT grant/matching funds to buy DMUs, would they be able to order units ready to go, that meet whatever the Federal US-content requirement is, right now?
And, how do they ride? Stadler is most common, and as far as I can tell the only one available, how does it compare to a loco hauled coach? Unfortunately I don't think we can compare them on the same line. 25 years ago I rode on DMUs in France that were very smooth, but I doubt we went much over 30mph. And I've been on Budd cars on slow, swaying, diesel scented tourist operations- awful and irrelevant.
1- this is an operational nightmare (my view)
2- but we're getting DMUs! They're great!
3- we're not getting DMUs for several reasons.
I want some background on #3. Leave aside the FRA waivers and the amazing potential of DMUs. If, for example, the MBTA could get a Federal DOT grant/matching funds to buy DMUs, would they be able to order units ready to go, that meet whatever the Federal US-content requirement is, right now?
And, how do they ride? Stadler is most common, and as far as I can tell the only one available, how does it compare to a loco hauled coach? Unfortunately I don't think we can compare them on the same line. 25 years ago I rode on DMUs in France that were very smooth, but I doubt we went much over 30mph. And I've been on Budd cars on slow, swaying, diesel scented tourist operations- awful and irrelevant.