snuffy
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by snuffy on Nov 12, 2007 0:13:58 GMT -8
There was one of the new Breda's (701) in the blue line yard for a week or so last month, but it's been gone for a few weeks now. I've seen one in the blue line yard on many occasions but I've never seen them testing yet on the blue line. I've never seen them testing on the gold line either, but I rarely ride that line. I wonder where they go when they disappear from the gold line yard? Have you checked the green line yard? which I have never been there before.
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Post by erict on Nov 12, 2007 9:30:18 GMT -8
I looked into the gold line yard and there are about 6 or more of the new rail cars there, before there was only one.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 12, 2007 12:52:45 GMT -8
Have you checked the green line yard? which I have never been there before. I don't ride the green line much, so no. They are supposed to enlarge the blue line yard as part of the Expo project, but so far all they have used the extra property for is to stage the ties and track.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 12, 2007 12:57:14 GMT -8
I don't see the blue line connection to the freight lines on that diagram and I haven't seen it while riding either. The only connection that I've noticed is by Washington Station, but the tracks in that connection don't appear to go very far.
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Nov 12, 2007 17:42:31 GMT -8
Plus, I don't think freight trains are compatible with light rail, since their tracks are slightly different.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 12, 2007 21:35:57 GMT -8
Plus, I don't think freight trains are compatible with light rail, since their tracks are slightly different. Our LRV's could run on the freight tracks if they had an alternative power source (pushed or pulled). BTW I saw #701 in the blue line yard again this evening.
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Post by wad on Nov 13, 2007 4:34:29 GMT -8
Plus, I don't think freight trains are compatible with light rail, since their tracks are slightly different. Metro Rail uses standard gauge, but needs electricity to run.
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Nov 13, 2007 17:58:54 GMT -8
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 13, 2007 19:50:46 GMT -8
The tracks are the same, but you don't have to believe it if you don't wanna.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 13, 2007 19:53:46 GMT -8
Seeing car 701 in the blue line yard reminded me that the "silver" nippon sharyo's aren't in there any more. We know that 105 was repainted with the plain white/black body, but I hadn't realized that 109 had also been repainted. I'm pretty sure that I saw it this past weekend and it now has the standard blue line scheme.
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Nov 14, 2007 18:11:39 GMT -8
If the tracks of HR and LR are the same, then why is the cost for HR much higher??
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 14, 2007 18:30:09 GMT -8
If the tracks of HR and LR are the same, then why is the cost for HR much higher?? Lots of reasons, but it's not usually an apples to apples comparison. Heavy rail is usually grade separated and light rail usually isn't. Assuming you were to make the comparison with lines that are grade separated, like the green line, the cost of heavy rail would be very similar.
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Post by Elson on Nov 14, 2007 19:47:55 GMT -8
Seeing car 701 in the blue line yard reminded me that the "silver" nippon sharyo's aren't in there any more. We know that 105 was repainted with the plain white/black body, but I hadn't realized that 109 had also been repainted. I'm pretty sure that I saw it this past weekend and it now has the standard blue line scheme. Wow, the silver scheme failed!
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Post by bobdavis on Nov 14, 2007 22:30:43 GMT -8
Yes, typical light rail cars can move on any standard gauge railway. The San Diego system has freight trains running on the light-rail track at night, so the track is compatible. There are exceptions: Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have light rail cars running on legacy tracks built to 5' 2.5" inch gauge. Another possible source of trouble is wheel profile: some lines that are more in the "streetcar" category have girder rail with flangeways that are too constricted for wheels that are made for railroad service; conversely, wheels designed for streetcar service may have narrower treads and are more likely to derail on track built to freight railroad standards. The track used by our local LA Metro appears to be constructed with standard railroad switches and rails, and the cars probably have wheels that would work on non-Metro track. As far as running without electric overhead--Metro has a large hi-rail truck that they used for moving the Gold Line cars before the wire was energized, the only drawback being it's very slow. Some "tourist trolley" operations use a diesel generator mounted on a flatcar towed behind their trolley car in lieu of overhead wire; it would take a good-sized generator to run a light-rail unit, as opposed to a small streetcar, and there might be issues with the more sophisticated control system requiring a more robust or well regulated power supply. By the way, the term "light rail" does not refer to the actual size of the rails--rail is measured in "pounds per yard", and typical modern electric railways use 115 lb. steel. This was the standard for freight railroads for many years, although busy freight lines today use 132 lb. or 136 lb. Maybe someone at Metro can advise what size rail the Red Line uses for its "heavy rail" service. By contrast, the Pacific Electric that ran by my home in Monrovia was mostly 60 to 70 lb. steel, and it carried both heavy interurban cars and daily freight trains.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 17, 2007 20:45:31 GMT -8
Seeing car 701 in the blue line yard reminded me that the "silver" nippon sharyo's aren't in there any more. We know that 105 was repainted with the plain white/black body, but I hadn't realized that 109 had also been repainted. I'm pretty sure that I saw it this past weekend and it now has the standard blue line scheme. Wow, the silver scheme failed! Yup. I saw 109 again tonight and it has definitely been repainted in the standard blue line scheme.
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Post by Elson on Nov 17, 2007 21:44:34 GMT -8
Wow, the silver scheme failed! Yup. I saw 109 again tonight and it has definitely been repainted in the standard blue line scheme. With or without (panda scheme) stripes? Did it have the large "Metro" and "Metro Rail" at the top?
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 17, 2007 22:03:20 GMT -8
Yup. I saw 109 again tonight and it has definitely been repainted in the standard blue line scheme. With or without (panda scheme) stripes? Did it have the large "Metro" and "Metro Rail" at the top? It looked exactly like all of the other blue line cars. I almost snapped a pic, but I was sitting too far from the door when we were at the platform. I did get a good look at it though. I also looked to see if they were testing 701, but it was sitting in exactly the same spot inside the blue line yard that it was a week ago. I'm not sure if it even moved in the last week.
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Nov 18, 2007 14:17:08 GMT -8
AWWWW.. no pic?? Oh well, I'll just have to wait until u guys get another. I don't know about you, but I never carrier my camera around...
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Post by antonio on Nov 19, 2007 2:01:31 GMT -8
So when the Breda cars do become operational (in the next month hopefully) will they operate on the Gold, Blue, and Green simultaneously and alongside the Siemens (and for however much longer, the Nippon Sharyos) or will they mainly stay on the Gold Line with some in the other two yards (for rush hour work and such)? If its the former and we have this mish-mash of trainsets and liveries, then we should paint the fleet a uniform color (silver makes obvious sense) whatever that color is, it could be be the new "panda" design or the apparently no longer grey blue line cars or fire engine red or rose or aqua as long as it looks uniform not only as a personal preference but since Metro seems intent on cultivating their image
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Post by kenalpern on Nov 19, 2007 6:39:18 GMT -8
Hey, Antonio, great hearing from you again. My two cents: paint 'em all silver, and if any will be devoted to a given line than have a streak of some placard in the right color with a panel (easily replaced?) that helps provide a sense of which line people are using.
Yes, people already know which line they're using, most likely--but signage has more than few benefits than just presenting the facts. A sense of place, a sense of usage on a rail car where one will spend a bit of every commuting day.
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Post by Elson on Nov 19, 2007 13:08:26 GMT -8
Given a choice between panda and silver, I'd go for panda. The blue line silver cars looked dismal and didn't appear that visible on the streets. Silver is fine for the subway cars since, well, there's no grade crossings for them to worry about! (If it were at all feasible, Panda red line cars would look slick).
I believe the new Breda cars have colored displays that can show the appropriate line color.
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Mac
Full Member
Posts: 192
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Post by Mac on Nov 19, 2007 14:00:20 GMT -8
PANDAS ALL THE WAY! I like the pandas better. Thers a pic of one in the blue like forum.
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snuffy
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by snuffy on Nov 27, 2007 9:18:09 GMT -8
from MTA website: >Metro Gold Line > rail vehicle >testing (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday) is scheduled between Lake and Sierra Madre Villa from 9:00pm until close.
Is this something to do with a new breda car? thanks, Snuffy
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Post by bluelineshawn on Nov 27, 2007 12:19:36 GMT -8
I can't imagine what else it would be. I'm gonna check it out if I have some time.
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Post by bobdavis on Jan 9, 2008 18:55:15 GMT -8
Well, here it is 2008 and Siemens still rules the Gold Line. I did catch a glimpse of something last night that might have been a Breda between Allen and SMV.
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snuffy
Junior Member
Posts: 62
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Post by snuffy on Jan 9, 2008 21:52:12 GMT -8
I saw a breda car waiting for pick up MTA employee at near China town, entrance of the Gold Line yard. Looks like a breda car become a cab for MTA employees between Union Station and Gold Line yard.
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Post by antonio on Jan 18, 2008 17:36:41 GMT -8
So last I heard these were going to be operational by December. Has the MTA given us a new date? Another question. Does anyone have or know where I can find a picture of these in MU operation. There is a small thumbnail on the Expo website that looks like it would be very cool but it can't be enlarged and its too small to see.
edit to ask second q
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Post by Transit Coalition on Jan 18, 2008 18:11:04 GMT -8
So last I heard these were going to be operational by December. Has the MTA given us a new date? Another question. Does anyone have or know where I can find a picture of these in MU operation. There is a small thumbnail on the Expo website that looks like it would be very cool but it can't be enlarged and its too small to see. The P-2550 cars are being run late at night for burn-in. Each car must run for 1,000 miles without any type of failure. It appears that the first cars may pass the test fairly soon.
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Post by antonio on Feb 18, 2008 6:28:21 GMT -8
I hope the 1,000 miles are complete by the time I come home in March. They've been testing for two years. I can't imagine why the first few cars havn't already been burnt in.
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Post by bluelineshawn on Feb 18, 2008 7:26:33 GMT -8
They may well be, but I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were you. Given that they were supposed to be in service long ago there must be some issue that they are trying to resolve. I don't know whether the issue is with the car's performance, some operational issue, or what.
Just for comparison NYCT got their new R160 cars after we got the P-2550's and started their testing after us. The new R160's failed their initial tests, but they have now been in service for well over a year. IINM they have a couple hundred of them in service already.
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