Greg Moore wrote: Umm, a "cabbage" provides no extra power that I'm aware of since the room for the baggage portion comes from where the motor was removed. And this would also permit them to be used in NYP (since again, no exhaust.)Too tall for NYP.
Railroad Forums
Moderators: GirlOnTheTrain, mtuandrew, Tadman
Greg Moore wrote: Umm, a "cabbage" provides no extra power that I'm aware of since the room for the baggage portion comes from where the motor was removed. And this would also permit them to be used in NYP (since again, no exhaust.)Too tall for NYP.
shadyjay wrote:I don't think we'll see the return of cab cars on the Vermonter.... most have all gone to PA for Keystone Service, with a couple retained NHV-SPG for shuttles.Jay, it would probably be easier to purchase and restore the old B&M ROW north of Springfield....the way the original Montrealer/Washingtonian used to use.
I thought the F40 cabbage would be perfect - solve two birds with one stone (baggage cars out of service/sold/stored + the extra power vs cab car) but I was informed by DRN that they cannot run into NYP. I guess one could be added on in NHV during the power swap.
The SB run on Fri was delayed an hour by the time we got into NHV, mainly because of CSX not getting us out on the line sooner. So it got me to thinking - would rerouting the Vermonter down the NECR the entire length to New London save time? Have stops in Willimantic and New London. You'd get off CSX and have much better time keeping, providing the line south of Palmer was fixed up a bit, though I remember reading that there is still some welded rail down south. Sure, you'd lose Springfield and Hartford, but a connecting shuttle at NHV could solve some problems, and keep frequency in that time slot. Most riders simply use the Vermonter as an additional frequency option between SPG and WAS.
As we were backing out of SPG on the NB move, I had another wondering, if by some chance if we were going to limp up the Conn River Line - then I realized that (h**l) had not frozen over yet (though it was cold Monday).
-Jay
CNJ wrote: Jay, it would probably be easier to purchase and restore the old B&M ROW north of Springfield....the way the original Montrealer/Washingtonian used to use.Yes, that would be the ideal route, in a perfect world.
gprimr1 wrote:Thefunny you mention the Ethan Allen as it stands right now It is the same amount of time to go from the New Haven line in Old greenwich to Harlem 125th transfer to the Hudson line go all the way up to poughkipsie transfer to Amtrak to get to Rutland. I can't believe it only minutes difference than going from old greenwich to new haven then transfering to the Vermonter. (using the commuter rail as much as possible saves money)
Amtrak does have trackage rights over NECR Bellows Falls, they use the track that goes north, Green Mountain RR uses the track that goes west. Your point about Chester is interesting, but the Vermonter is supposed to be transit for Vermont residents. A second train there might be productive, as the Ethan Allen Express sells out, and the trackage is there, but the main issues are: