New Blue Line "Panda" Cars

[Elson]

I got some more pics of car #105 in the new "Panda" scheme. An earlier pic can be seen in this post.

What's REAL COOL about the "Panda" scheme is that the black "Metro / Metro Rail" lettering on top is reflective, and there's an FRA-compliant reflective stripe along the bottom of the cars that can only be seen when illuminated. Here's an example exposed by my camera flash:

Now you see it:


Now you don't:


Also, take a look at the various subtleties of the cars. Look at the lower black "lip" below the lower edge of the front windshield to make it appear rounder:



...this is consistent with the look of the new Breda cars, that have the same "lip" to make the window appear rounder.

There is also a smaller "Metro Rail" lettering along the tapered side.

[bluelineshawn]

Cool shot! Thanks for sharing it.

I'm sure that you know, but just in case others don't it's not a good idea to use your flash when you take pictures in the subway. Especially if you're taking a picture of the operator with the train moving. The flash can be momentarily blinding.

[Elson]

bluelineshawn said:

Cool shot! Thanks for sharing it.

I'm sure that you know, but just in case others don't it's not a good idea to use your flash when you take pictures in the subway. Especially if you're taking a picture of the operator with the train moving. The flash can be momentarily blinding.

Yes, but #105 was the middle car, and it was in the middle of a layover anyway. I rarely ever use the flash since I get the effect demonstrated in the top pic.

[Mac]

Wow that first pic looks like the lights are glowing! Looks pretty cool! So if you were driving by a blue line crossing at night, that stripe would reflect the light off your headlights huh? Guess it could have been done for a saftey matter, yet still making it look tight! =)