Last Metroliner Run
#1
Posted 27 October 2006 - 10:55 PM
Take care and take trains!
#2
Posted 28 October 2006 - 02:15 PM
#3
Posted 28 October 2006 - 03:36 PM
It is sad to see the Metroliner go. Sadly, I only had the chance to at least see the Metroliner once. When my family decided for the fun of it to take a train trip cross-country to D.C, we were transfering from the Broadway Limited to a regional at 30th Street Station, we saw a Metroliner going by on another track. It had a different paint job to announce it as the Metroliner. Unfortunately, I was not much of a shutterbug at the time, so I did not have any pictures of it.
Sadly, the original Metroliner MU’s – the REAL Metroliners for us purists – were so troubled that Amtrak wisely substituted regular AEM7’s and Amfleets for what was called Metroliners in the early 1980’s. The MU’s were relegated to the Harrisburg service and then parked with many scrapped. A few were converted to cab cars and were used on the Atlantic City trains, the old San Diegans, and elsewhere. Only those cab cars live on.
So, here’s to the old Metroliners. Maybe those attending next month’s Keystone Excursion can sit in the cab car and think of the history that car represents and offer a toast: Pepsi, of course.
Now, weren't their other attempts to use the Metroliner Brand in other areas, such as New England and San Diego?
#4
Posted 28 October 2006 - 03:46 PM
Yes, they tried the Metroliner name for one of the SAN DIEGAN runs, but it was short-lived. There's only so much extra speed and luxury you can attain with single track, curves, and standard equipment. So it skipped a couple of stops... but it never caught on.Now, weren't their other attempts to use the Metroliner Brand in other areas, such as New England and San Diego?
New England had some Metroliner service but under different names. Remember that until the Acela program, electrification only ran as far north as New Haven. One Metroliner per day ran beyond New York City to New Haven, and returned south the next morning. Amtrak also experimented with a train called the New England Express that ran all the way up to Boston, but it was with standard Amfleet I equipment and again it was in diesel territory and it skipped some stops. As I recall it did not run through to/from Washington but it was strictly New York-Boston.
Ironically, Metroliners themselves never made it to Boston until after they were supposed to have been retired the last time. In 2005 the Metroliner fleet had to be reassembled from around the country to fill in for Acela Express service when the latter was pulled from service for several months.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#5
Posted 28 October 2006 - 03:49 PM
Your best bet of seeing them here on the east coast is on the VERMONTER.A few were converted to cab cars and were used on the Atlantic City trains, the old San Diegans, and elsewhere. Only those cab cars live on.
Kevin Korell
OTOL Board Leader
Lakewood, NJ
#6
Posted 28 October 2006 - 03:55 PM
Good thing that they never tried the same with the Mount Ranier. Before the TALGOs arrived, the train would not have worked at 79MPH let alone 110MPH with Amfleets and Superliners. Although both are geared for high speeds, the curves can be brutal. They have never tried using either the Metroliner name or skipping stops on the Amtrak Cascades. A non-stop train Seattle-Portland would not work, as the current services try to keep station dwell times to under 5 minutes if possible. It would not be worth the effort or money to try such a service up here at the time.
Yes, they tried the Metroliner name for one of the SAN DIEGAN runs, but it was short-lived. There's only so much extra speed and luxury you can attain with single track, curves, and standard equipment. So it skipped a couple of stops... but it never caught on.
Now, weren't their other attempts to use the Metroliner Brand in other areas, such as New England and San Diego?
#7
Posted 31 October 2006 - 08:22 AM
#8
Posted 31 October 2006 - 10:35 PM
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