Passenger Trains > Caltrain Galleries in Peru Lookin' Pretty Sharp

The transportation authorities in Lima have wasted no time in an attempt to get the Caltrain
gallery fleet in service as reconditioning(maybe just a basic clean up) and repainting
into blue and yellow have begun.  A couple of screen shots on a foggy day seen in the
attached images.   

The media in Lima is reporting on a political power struggle between local authorities and the 
national govenment over this project.  Peru is a unitary republic where the national government 
holds great power over local authorities and disagreemnts are now coming forth over how 
this project should proceed. Don't know the long term impact yet.

As previously reported here on TO the BBC Genoa is due back at the Port of Stockton this
Saturday for its second and final trip:
https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9885300



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/31/25 10:04 by milepost20.

---

---

Glad to see they are hopefully ready for use.   

In this country we would have to decide on a paint scheme - six months or so.  Then are these cars meeting our pollution standards - one year study.  Are they handicapped accissible - three years of redisign and remodeling.  Are they structurally safe for railroad use - a 12 month study.    Yes, in five years we might let them be used in train service, with many "safeguards"......

MEKoch Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Glad to see they are hopefully ready for use. 
>  
>
> In this country we would have to decide on a paint
> scheme - six months or so.  Then are these cars
> meeting our pollution standards - one year
> study.  Are they handicapped accissible - three
> years of redisign and remodeling.  Are they
> structurally safe for railroad use - a 12 month
> study.    Yes, in five years we might let them
> be used in train service, with many
> "safeguards"......

Spot on, MEKoch…. We used to “get things done” in ‘Merica, and now we’re hamstrung at every turn making things virtually impossible to complete.

Nippon Sharyo built a plant near my farm in Rochelle, IL some years ago. Their cab-car “structural” fail at the USDOT Pueblo test killed the car order and company, and they subsequently left ‘Merica forever creating yet another passenger car shortage.

It’s good to see countries like Peru realizing that what our country throws away is actually salvageable, and useful for years to come. Maybe some of us will make it to Lima for a ride someday, too!

Are these the same cars that left the Bay Area via ship exactly a month ago? https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?1,6043117,page=1
If so, impressive how quick these were offloaded & prepared for service.

Desmond Praetzel, "4451 Puff"

4451Puff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Are these the same cars that left the Bay Area via
> ship exactly a month
> ago? https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.
> php?1,6043117,page=1
> If so, impressive how quick these were offloaded &
> prepared for service.
>
> Desmond Praetzel, "4451 Puff"

Yes they are.   The ship that transported this equipment is very efficient at loading and unloading what they carry since for them time is money.

> Spot on, MEKoch…. We used to “get things
> done” in ‘Merica, and now we’re hamstrung at
> every turn making things virtually impossible to
> complete.
>
> Nippon Sharyo built a plant near my farm in
> Rochelle, IL some years ago. Their cab-car
> “structural” fail at the USDOT Pueblo test
> killed the car order and company, and they
> subsequently left ‘Merica forever creating yet
> another passenger car shortage.
>
> It’s good to see countries like Peru realizing
> that what our country throws away is actually
> salvageable, and useful for years to come. Maybe
> some of us will make it to Lima for a ride
> someday, too!

Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car that could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which this board is skeptical of) built a railcar that could comply with regulations.

Posted from iPhone

AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car that
> could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which this
> board is skeptical of) built a railcar that could
> comply with regulations.

Siemens cars are not bilevel. Significant in terms of structural integrity. Not the first time you made a useless comment. 

AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > Spot on, MEKoch…. We used to “get things
> > done” in ‘Merica, and now we’re hamstrung
> at
> > every turn making things virtually impossible
> to
> > complete.
> >
> > Nippon Sharyo built a plant near my farm in
> > Rochelle, IL some years ago. Their cab-car
> > “structural” fail at the USDOT Pueblo test
> > killed the car order and company, and they
> > subsequently left ‘Merica forever creating
> yet
> > another passenger car shortage.
> >
> > It’s good to see countries like Peru
> realizing
> > that what our country throws away is actually
> > salvageable, and useful for years to come.
> Maybe
> > some of us will make it to Lima for a ride
> > someday, too!
>
> Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car that
> could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which this
> board is skeptical of) built a railcar that could
> comply with regulations.
>
> Posted from iPhone

....a passenger rail car that is terribly uncomfortable at best. 

cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car
> that
> > could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which this
> > board is skeptical of) built a railcar that
> could
> > comply with regulations.
>
> Siemens cars are not bilevel. Significant in terms
> of structural integrity. Not the first time you
> made a useless comment. 

Go ahead and defend a crappy manufacturer, they messed up a huge order for Metra too. Tons of cracks in brand new cars.

AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cchan006 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car
> > that
> > > could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which this
> > > board is skeptical of) built a railcar that
> > could
> > > comply with regulations.
> >
> > Siemens cars are not bilevel. Significant in
> terms
> > of structural integrity. Not the first time you
> > made a useless comment. 
>
> Go ahead and defend a crappy manufacturer, they
> messed up a huge order for Metra too. Tons off
> cracks in brand new cars.

You're the fisst person I've heard call them a crappy manufacturer. Their cars have been running fine in regular Metea service ever since they were delivered.

There was a video on one of the social media sites a few weeks ago showing the cars rolling by, not sure if that was the initial delivery or if they were already in service.  Hope Lima, Peru gets some good use out of the equipment, I'm glad I rode those once just for fun.

Nathan

cchan006 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car
> that
> > could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which this
> > board is skeptical of) built a railcar that
> could
> > comply with regulations.
>
> Siemens cars are not bilevel. Significant in terms
> of structural integrity. Not the first time you
> made a useless comment. 

Yes but Nippon built loads of bilevels for Metra and South Shore so they knew how to do it. Both trailers and EMUs. The fact that they walked away so readily means there is something more to this story that somebody isn’t talking about.

Posted from iPhone

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > > Spot on, MEKoch…. We used to “get things
> > > done” in ‘Merica, and now we’re
> hamstrung
> > at
> > > every turn making things virtually impossible
> > to
> > > complete.
> > >
> > > Nippon Sharyo built a plant near my farm in
> > > Rochelle, IL some years ago. Their cab-car
> > > “structural” fail at the USDOT Pueblo
> test
> > > killed the car order and company, and they
> > > subsequently left ‘Merica forever creating
> > yet
> > > another passenger car shortage.
> > >
> > > It’s good to see countries like Peru
> > realizing
> > > that what our country throws away is actually
> > > salvageable, and useful for years to come.
> > Maybe
> > > some of us will make it to Lima for a ride
> > > someday, too!
> >
> > Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car
> that
> > could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which this
> > board is skeptical of) built a railcar that
> could
> > comply with regulations.
> >
> > Posted from iPhone
>
> ....a passenger rail car that is terribly
> uncomfortable at best.

The BrightLine cars are very comfortable.   

Jonny_Chi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cchan006 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car
> > that
> > > could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which this
> > > board is skeptical of) built a railcar that
> > could
> > > comply with regulations.
> >
> > Siemens cars are not bilevel. Significant in
> terms
> > of structural integrity. Not the first time you
> > made a useless comment. 
>
> Yes but Nippon built loads of bilevels for Metra
> and South Shore so they knew how to do it. Both
> trailers and EMUs. The fact that they walked away
> so readily means there is something more to this
> story that somebody isn’t talking about.

Are those Metra and South Shore Nippon Bi-Levels entirely built in the US with US workers?

That Nippon bi-level design and build SUB-contract for the states group contact with Sumitomo had very rigorous build in US federal requirements as they were being paid for substantially with federal money.

Maybe next time, spend the time and effort to check facts.

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4369071
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4413463
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4209520
https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,4185057

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jonny_Chi Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > cchan006 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a car
> > > that
> > > > could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which
> this
> > > > board is skeptical of) built a railcar that
> > > could
> > > > comply with regulations.
> > >
> > > Siemens cars are not bilevel. Significant in
> > terms
> > > of structural integrity. Not the first time
> you
> > > made a useless comment. 
> >
> > Yes but Nippon built loads of bilevels for
> Metra
> > and South Shore so they knew how to do it. Both
> > trailers and EMUs. The fact that they walked
> away
> > so readily means there is something more to
> this
> > story that somebody isn’t talking about.
>
> Are those Metra and South Shore Nippon Bi-Levels
> entirely built in the US with US workers?
>
> That Nippon bi-level design and build SUB-contract
> for the states group contact with Sumitomo had
> very rigorous build in US federal requirements as
> they were being paid for substantially with
> federal money.
>
> Maybe next time, spend the time and effort to
> check facts.
>
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
> 4369071
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
> 4413463
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
> 4209520
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
> 4185057

I'm not sure where you are going with this.

The "fact" is Nippon Sharyo had a plant in Rochelle Illinois from 2012-2018 that built galley cars for Metra, Caltrain and VRE, DMUs for SMART and Metrolinx as well as replacement Highliners for Metra and the South Shore.

DutchDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> longliveSP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Jonny_Chi Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > cchan006 Wrote:
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > > -----
> > > > AmtrakMidwest Wrote:
> > > >
> > >
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> >
> > >
> > > > -----
> > > > > Maybe Nippon Sharyo should’ve built a
> car
> > > > that
> > > > > could pass FRA specs, even Siemens(which
> > this
> > > > > board is skeptical of) built a railcar
> that
> > > > could
> > > > > comply with regulations.
> > > >
> > > > Siemens cars are not bilevel. Significant
> in
> > > terms
> > > > of structural integrity. Not the first time
> > you
> > > > made a useless comment. 
> > >
> > > Yes but Nippon built loads of bilevels for
> > Metra
> > > and South Shore so they knew how to do it.
> Both
> > > trailers and EMUs. The fact that they walked
> > away
> > > so readily means there is something more to
> > this
> > > story that somebody isn’t talking about.
> >
> > Are those Metra and South Shore Nippon
> Bi-Levels
> > entirely built in the US with US workers?
> >
> > That Nippon bi-level design and build
> SUB-contract
> > for the states group contact with Sumitomo had
> > very rigorous build in US federal requirements
> as
> > they were being paid for substantially with
> > federal money.
> >
> > Maybe next time, spend the time and effort to
> > check facts.
> >
> >
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
>
> > 4369071
> >
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
>
> > 4413463
> >
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
>
> > 4209520
> >
> https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?4,
>
> > 4185057
>
> I'm not sure where you are going with this.
>
> The "fact" is Nippon Sharyo had a plant in
> Rochelle Illinois from 2012-2018 that built galley
> cars for Metra, Caltrain and VRE, DMUs for SMART
> and Metrolinx as well as replacement Highliners
> for Metra and the South Shore.

Are higher capacity commuter rail cars suitable for regional passenger service?

Did those Nippon Sharyo commuter cars meet the federal requirements under the federal money contract between Sumitmo and the states, of which Nippon Sharyo was a sub contractor?

Those Nippon Sharyo bi-level commuter cars were actually at first assembled from shells and components imported from Japan.

longliveSP Wrote:
----------------------------------------
>
> Are higher capacity commuter rail cars suitable
> for regional passenger service?

Yes.


> Did those Nippon Sharyo commuter cars meet the
> federal requirements under the federal money
> contract between Sumitmo and the states, of which
> Nippon Sharyo was a sub contractor?

Yes. They were paid for with federal funds.


> Those Nippon Sharyo bi-level commuter cars were
> actually at first assembled from shells and
> components imported from Japan.

The early Nippon Sharyo (pre 2010) were assembled in Japan. Later cars were fabricated and assembled in Illinois.

DutchDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> longliveSP Wrote:
> ----------------------------------------
> >
> > Are higher capacity commuter rail cars suitable
> > for regional passenger service?
>
> Yes.

That is your opinion. Would the passengers of the trains for which the Bi-Level cars under the contract between the states and Summitmo were destined for agree with you?

• San Joaquin's
• Borealis
• Hiawatha
• Illinois Service trains
• Michigan Service Trains
• Missouri River Runner

> > Did those Nippon Sharyo commuter cars meet the
> > federal requirements under the federal money
> > contract between Sumitmo and the states, of
> which
> > Nippon Sharyo was a sub contractor?
>
> Yes. They were paid for with federal funds.

So, you did not answer the question. Different federal funds come with different requirements and specifications.

Remember, the contact was between CalTrans/IDOT and Summitomo under the "The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009"

What federal funding program helped pay for the Metra and South Shore cars and what federal stipulations were part of that funding?

 

longliveSP Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> DutchDragon Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > longliveSP Wrote:
> > ----------------------------------------
> > >
> > > Are higher capacity commuter rail cars
> suitable
> > > for regional passenger service?
> >
> > Yes.
>
> That is your opinion. Would the passengers of the
> trains for which the Bi-Level cars under the
> contract between the states and Summitmo were
> destined for agree with you?
>
> [*]San Joaquin's
> [*]Borealis
> [*]Hiawatha
> [*]Illinois Service trains
> [*]Michigan Service Trains
> [*]Missouri River Runner

Nobody cares what the passengers think. Case in point: Amtrak Midwest Venture cars.

DutchDragon Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> longliveSP Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > DutchDragon Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > longliveSP Wrote:
> > > ----------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Are higher capacity commuter rail cars
> > suitable
> > > > for regional passenger service?
> > >
> > > Yes.
> >
> > That is your opinion. Would the passengers of
> the
> > trains for which the Bi-Level cars under the
> > contract between the states and Summitmo were
> > destined for agree with you?
> >
> >

• San Joaquin's
  > >
• Borealis
  > >
• Hiawatha
  > >
• Illinois Service trains
  > >
• Michigan Service Trains
  > >
• Missouri River Runner
  >
  > Nobody cares what the passengers think. Case in
  > point: Amtrak Midwest Venture cars

In other words, you do not care nor do you understand what occured and how those state owned Venture cars came to be.