Gilbert B Norman wrote: ↑Wed Dec 25, 2019 10:43 amI’ve ridden DMUs in Scandinavia and didn’t care for them: the whole car shakes due to diesel engine vibrations.njt/mnrrbuff wrote: ↑Tue Dec 24, 2019 11:50 pmI think in order for our trains to be like European standards, the 28 minute plus layovers at DC must stop.Mr. NJT/MNR, you couldn't be more correct. "Been there done that" on the OBB approaching Linz (2nd largest Austrian city) and if this were Amtrak, there would be "higgling and piggiling" for maybe 20min or so. But "get 'em off, load 'em up" (even considering what the backpackers are handling), and be gone in two minutes is the standard (even Salzburg; 3rd largest, same story).
But adding new classes of equipment such as self propelled MU's and Dual Mode locomotives, none of which in their limited Amtrak use have produced good results, might not be beneficial. Electrifying the RF&P might prove worthy, even if costly.
Finally, I must question to what extent have the MU "advocates" around here actually ridden the Diesel varietal - here or Overseas?
Joyeux Noel
The DC-Richmond line needs to be electrified or at least trains need dual-mode locomotives.
Plus Amtrak’s operations in DC are inefficient: it seems like everything is done one slow step at a time instead of doing them at the same time. For example, why change the locomotive and then put baggage onboard? Whoever is loading baggage could just load it at the same time and then hold off for a moment when the new locomotive is coupled to the consist.