PRR/PC Metroliners

It is my understanding that although Pennsy ordered the Metroliners that they did not go into service until after the merger with New York Central.

So my questions are as follows:

1) How many of the Metroliners did Pennsy order, as well as how many variations was ordered?

2) Was there any real difference between the Pennsy Metroliners and the Penn Central ones, meaning did PC want certains things added or removed that PRR either had or did not have?

3) What types of horns was used for the Metroliners?

4) What was the orginal numbering squences, and did Penn Central alter the numbering for their needs?

Thanks for your time.

One of One-Sixty wrote:It is my understanding that although Pennsy ordered the Metroliners that they did not go into service until after the merger with New York Central.
1) How many of the Metroliners did Pennsy order, as well as how many variations was ordered?

60, in conjunction with the U.S. goverment, 20 coach, 20 snack bar coach, and 20 parlor car. 11 more with the State of Pennsylvania, all snack bar coach.

2) Was there any real difference between the Pennsy Metroliners and the Penn Central ones, meaning did PC want certains things added or removed that PRR either had or did not have?

Other than changing the markings (Keystone to mating worms), just continuous correction of "bugs".

3) What types of horns was used for the Metroliners?

Don't know.

4) What was the orginal numbering squences, and did Penn Central alter the numbering for their needs?

I think it was 801 thru 860 and 880 thru 890 (the state cars).

I'm sorry, I think I'm off in my totals, and that there were only 61 Metroliners altogether. I probably miscounted the parlor cars.

Were the Metroliners delivered with Keystones? I've never seen a picture of them. I also recall, could be wrong though, that the Metroliners arrived about the same time as the Penn Central nightmare began.

Dieter.

Dieter wrote:Were the Metroliners delivered with Keystones? I've never seen a picture of them.

There are photos of them at Jenkintown and Wayne Jct. on the Reading while being delivered from Budd, with keystones on the ends.

There were 31, 76 seat, coaches fitted with Westinghouse propulsion equipment, PRR/PC 800-830.

There were 20, 60 seat, snack bar coaches fitted with General Electric propulsion equipment, PRR/PC 850-869.

There were 10, 34 seat, parplor cars fitted with General Electric propulsion equipment, PRR/PC 880-889.

All were equipped with General Steel trucks and Symington-Wayne (Dresser) SW-800 flat face hook couplers and Walton Products pin type trainline electrical connectors below the coupler. The electrical connectors were later replaced with jumper cables on all cars.

My post at the foot of this thread link (http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 4&start=15) has magazine scans of an indepth article on the Metroliners.

For your reference;

The JUNE 2006 Issue of TRAINS Magazine has an article regarding the history of Metroliner Service.

Dieter/

These EMU's were classics IMO. IIRC they began running in odd qty. sets on the Keystone(r) trains before they were retired.

I have an old magazine showing E60's hauling metro-EMU's on a keystone run. Both MU's and locomotive had raised pans - locomotive for propulsion, MU for heat/lights.

What type of trucks Budd use on the Metroliners? I could not find any info on that, thanks guys.

BlockLine_4111 wrote:These EMU's were classics IMO. IIRC they began running in odd qty. sets on the Keystone(r) trains before they were retired. :wink:

westbound Capitoliner running through Radnor Oct 21, 1981

Anyone have the builder's number for these, specifically 818? Thanks.

Charles

Here's one with keystones:

The photo and roster can be found here:
http://www.hebners.net/amtrak/amtMETRO.html