Mix Multilevel and Single Level

[jp1822]

I see that MARC and AMT are mixing the multilevels - same as NJT design etc. - and single level cars. The MARC cars I'd label as Heritage coaches and the AMT as Comet coaches. Will there be a day when NJT mixes???

[ThirdRail7]

It is possible but not probable. Why would they split the sets? MARC has little choice since their MLV cab cars are not ready for operations at this time. NJT has their fleet situated so this appears to be unnecessary.

[TrainPhotos]

Isn't there something about door control or something being an issue?

[keyboardkat]

You left one out. MBTA up in Boston also mixes multilevels and Bombardier single-level coaches. They have cab cars of both types so that doesn't seem to be an issue. They also have some single level cab cars that were apparently modified from older, fluted-side coaches. They've been equipped with inboard-bearing trucks like the Bombers and control cabs, horns, bells, headlights, etc., etc.
It would appear to me that the whole idea is to get optimum utilization of the rolling stock by using any car on any line, any time.

[F40]

If I remember correctly, the MLV's are kept together on NJT because mixing the cars would render the PEI inoperative.

[Backshophoss]

MBTA runs mixed consists of "K" car Bi-levels,Rotem Bi-levels and BBD Comet varients with manual doors,
and a few German built Cab cars that are still useable.
Due to Warrenty Glitches on the Rotems,the "K" car remanufacture at Alstrom,MBTA is some what short of coaches,
last winter didn't help,so the mixed bag of cars in the consist is the current "norm".

The UTA Frontrunner is the only other known Commuter Rail to run mixed Bi-level/single level consists,
BBD built "Sausage" cars with ex NJT Comets

[Zeke]

We had a ongoing bone to pick with mechanical, in the mid nineties, over the mixing of C2s,3s and 4s in the same consist. If the engineer wasn't a careful train handler the deceleration under heavy braking was violent as each type car had it's own mind. The condition was most pronounced when a ALP-44 was on the hind end in push mode and would slam into the train like a 8000 horsepower bumper car then in a millisecond the dynamic brake would kick in and the motor would try and tear the draw head out the last car mimicking a drag chute on the space shuttle. This led to passenger complaints such as being scalded by spilled coffee, a few passengers were using the bathroom and were in a shall we say vulnerable position when the fun started and more than one trainman was sent flying up the aisle if hadn't solidly braced himself in time for the hell ride. The road foreman got involved and figured out that maybe we should look into this.

NJT is a progressive railroad and mechanical agreed to assemble a test train and everybody would go out on the NEC after midnight, between Midway and Trenton, with one of these crazy consists wired up with all type of instrumentation and have at it. Luckily it was a rainy night and the train performed to expectations. Full service braking tests from 100 mph in push mode almost put everybody out the front door of the cab car and it was even more pronounced at lower speeds. The tests went on the next night on dry rail without much difference. So all the heads got together and they tried from then on to put the sets together with similar model cars. Sometimes they couldn't due to shortages of particular cars but it set a pattern that they try and stick to today. IIRC the M/Ls are not that compatible for a variety of reasons with other coach's in fact I do recall a test train running around,when they first showed up,and hearing there were just to many problems like train line door and computer glitches to workout so they decided to keep them in segregated consist mode. They can be hauled in Xtra service trains, coupled up to anything, but just the air is trainlined.

[Tadman]

The UTA Frontrunner is the only other known Commuter Rail to run mixed Bi-level/single level consists,
BBD built "Sausage" cars with ex NJT Comets

This is very esoteric but Metra runs one train every day with a single level club car between the gallery cars and the F40PH. Union Pacific North Line.

[nick11a]

We had a ongoing bone to pick with mechanical, in the mid nineties, over the mixing of C2s,3s and 4s in the same consist. If the engineer wasn't a careful train handler the deceleration under heavy braking was violent as each type car had it's own mind. The condition was most pronounced when a ALP-44 was on the hind end in push mode and would slam into the train like a 8000 horsepower bumper car then in a millisecond the dynamic brake would kick in and the motor would try and tear the draw head out the last car mimicking a drag chute on the space shuttle. This led to passenger complaints such as being scalded by spilled coffee, a few passengers were using the bathroom and were in a shall we say vulnerable position when the fun started and more than one trainman was sent flying up the aisle if hadn't solidly braced himself in time for the hell ride. The road foreman got involved and figured out that maybe we should look into this.

NJT is a progressive railroad and mechanical agreed to assemble a test train and everybody would go out on the NEC after midnight, between Midway and Trenton, with one of these crazy consists wired up with all type of instrumentation and have at it. Luckily it was a rainy night and the train performed to expectations. Full service braking tests from 100 mph in push mode almost put everybody out the front door of the cab car and it was even more pronounced at lower speeds. The tests went on the next night on dry rail without much difference. So all the heads got together and they tried from then on to put the sets together with similar model cars. Sometimes they couldn't due to shortages of particular cars but it set a pattern that they try and stick to today. IIRC the M/Ls are not that compatible for a variety of reasons with other coach's in fact I do recall a test train running around,when they first showed up,and hearing there were just to many problems like train line door and computer glitches to workout so they decided to keep them in segregated consist mode. They can be hauled in Xtra service trains, coupled up to anything, but just the air is trainlined.

Yes, those were fun sets. I never knew the back story that they actually tested them at night to see how bad it was. I do remember about 10 years ago or more when they finally started trying to put like cars together. Makes sense.