Type 7 Overhaul Program

I road a rebuilt unit this week and thought it looked pretty nice inside. Interesting that Alstom has removed the Kinki-Sharyo nameplates inside the cars and substituted their own nameplate. I'm surprised that they're rebuilding instead of replacing these cars that are maybe 40 years old (?)

They're exactly 30 years old, not 40. And they have to do this rebuild. Replacement procurement isn't programmed yet on the 4-year Capital Improvements Plan budget, which means they aren't going to RFP it before 2019. Throw in the standard 5 years between vehicle RFP to delivery, and multiply by 200+ Type 7's and 8's that would need to be replaced in that procurement and you've got at least another 10 years that they have to stay in-service. At least 10, but probably more like 12 because the 20+ year-old Bredas will probably be ahead of the Kinki rebuilds in the retirement line during that procurement.

Plus the kinki cars are not crippled with compromises for ADA

3696 is finally being prepped for shipment! This car has looked awful for a long time. Only original green cars left are 3676, 3680, 3686, 3687, 3688, and 3692. I actually rode 3687 on Saturday.

So with the latest shuffles in and out of Alstom we've had a tipping of scales of sorts. . .

There are now more active Type 7's in the new paint scheme (44 total / 35 rebuilds + 9 non-rebuilds) than in the original (6) and teal-vomit (31) schemes combined.

Type 7 (and type 8, too) specification question: Looking at the Wikipedia page for "PCC Streetcar", I see that a PCC streetcar has four powered axles at 55HP per axle for a total of 220HP per car. After extensive Googling, I have been unable to find the same horsepower info for MBTA Type 7 car built by Kinki-Sharyo or the Type 8 car built by AnsaldoBreda (Now Hitachi Rail?). I believe both the Type 7 and Type 8 have four powered axles with an unpowered 2 axle truck under the articulation point. Is this the case? And how much HP is there per traction motor? Thanks in advance!

The 7s and 8s have 540 hp per car in 4 motors/car. Center truck is non-powered in both.

Kinki Sharyo has a datasheet for the Type 7 on their website.

MBTA3247 wrote:Kinki Sharyo has a datasheet for the Type 7 on their website.

Yep, saw that data sheet but it doesn't specify how many powered axles there are per car or what the traction motor horsepower is.

johnpbarlow wrote:

MBTA3247 wrote:Kinki Sharyo has a datasheet for the Type 7 on their website.

Yep, saw that data sheet but it doesn't specify how many powered axles there are per car or what the traction motor horsepower is.

I'll grant you the first part, but it does state that each motor is 100kW (~134HP)

MBTA3247 wrote:I'll grant you the first part, but it does state that each motor is 100kW (~134HP)

Very good point! Thanks!

According to NETransit, the first 3700 car is prep to ship. This car is 3714 and is the pilot 3700 car for overhaul.

Correction on Type 8 motors, there are 4-140 hp motors, according to Rollsign May-June 1998.

With 3688 now prep to ship, there are only 5 original green trains left: 3676, 3680, 3686, 3687, and 3692. This is the 4th train to ship this month...

Type 7 3684 wrote:With 3688 now prep to ship, there are only 5 original green trains left: 3676, 3680, 3686, 3687, and 3692. This is the 4th train to ship this month...

...and a milestone! Active rebuilds now outnumber active non-rebuilds 40 to 39.