Passenger Trains > First Comet Car to California

Hey Boys & Girls:

It looks like the first Comet Car for San Joaquin Service is on its way west. Amtrak #5 out of Chicago today has car CDTX #5008 tucked in behind the power ahead of the bag car. Heads up! Amtrak 160 and 18 with 10 cars.

Matt



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/13 13:03 by HoggerMatt.

1st of 14 comet cars + 2 more cabbage cars & 3 rebuilt mp36's.

There are also supposed to be 3 overhauled Horizon Dinette food service cars on their way to California from Beech Grove.

Posted from iPhone

Ricky Courtney
Seattle, WA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/13 13:18 by rickycourtney.

Frontrunner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 1st of 14 comet cars + 2 more cabbage cars & 3
> rebuilt mp36's.

Where would "rebuilt MP36s" come from? I'm not aware that anyone who ever bought them got rid of any.

ThumbsUp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Frontrunner Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 1st of 14 comet cars + 2 more cabbage cars & 3
> > rebuilt mp36's.
>
> Where would "rebuilt MP36s" come from? I'm not
> aware that anyone who ever bought them got rid of
> any.


I would gather he meant F59PH's from GO Transit, since those are the only available used passenger locomotive around currently. There are no used MP36's available anywhere in North America.

I cannot imagine that these cars will be well received vs. the current bi-levels with all their amenities...

it beats standee conditions !
what amenities are lacking in the new cars?

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I cannot imagine that these cars will be well
> received vs. the current bi-levels with all their
> amenities...


Of Course they will give the crap to the "Armpit of California" to free up good bi-level equipment for the folks in the Bay Area. ;)

coach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I cannot imagine that these cars will be well
> received vs. the current bi-levels with all their
> amenities...

I for one am looking forward to these "new" cars. They will have the standard Amtrak short-haul seats that recline. In my opinion that's an improvement over the seats on the current bi-level "California cars" that don't recline.

The Comet IB's are supposed to have been refurbished to have the same or similar features as the current bi-level fleet (except power doors) and the Horizon fleet.

Posted from iPhone

Ricky Courtney
Seattle, WA

The better seating will be a plus. Also, if the interiors are not as bright and glary as
those on the California cars, I'd prefer that, too.

Those oval Jersey Arrow windows look OLD, though.

Lost on the single level consists (obviously) will be the option of riding in a Superliner
coach, the most comfortable way to ride the San Joaquin route, but one that is not on every consist.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/13 15:40 by GenePoon.

The consist will look really interesting if a west coast-based Amcoach ever creeps into the consist.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/13 16:17 by joemvcnj.

Amtrak 5 out of BRL about a half hour late, sounds like train is being held at CP 2502 which is just east of Fairfield, IA for a track to open? Engineer asked if he could get a sandwich in the dining car at Mt. Pleasant and was acknowledged with a yes...

Brian
Burlington, IA

Shall we call this train with an old Jersey Arrow car the California Arrow ?

Is there any reason why they can't have power doors? Being the whole cars are being modified?

Posted from Android

Juan Cornejo
Hacienda Heights, CA

johnnyremixx Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is there any reason why they can't have power
> doors? Being the whole cars are being modified?

The cars actually HAD power side doors. Caltrans had Beech Grove replace them with new manual Dutch doors and new traps.

Posted from iPhone

Ricky Courtney
Seattle, WA

johnnyremixx Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Is there any reason why they can't have power
> doors? Being the whole cars are being modified?
>
> Posted from Android

Train lined doors make great sense if there are high level platforms, or no platforms at all if you simply step into the car like a Superliner or California car. But a string of cars with train lined doors that still use steps and traps at low level platforms just doesn't work well as the traps can't easily be automated.

John Gezelius
Tustin, CA

john1082 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> johnnyremixx Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Is there any reason why they can't have power
> > doors? Being the whole cars are being modified?
>
> >
> > Posted from Android
>
> Train lined doors make great sense if there are
> high level platforms, or no platforms at all if
> you simply step into the car like a Superliner or
> California car. But a string of cars with train
> lined doors that still use steps and traps at low
> level platforms just doesn't work well as the
> traps can't easily be automated.


Metrolink did ok with it, they had a full length auto door with the steps down..

ats90mph Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Metrolink did ok with it, they had a full length
> auto door with the steps down..

But with single level cars equipped with three or four tread steps at the end of the cars, old fashioned style, that still use traps to keep folks from tumbling down the stairs?

John Gezelius
Tustin, CA

Frontrunner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 1st of 14 comet cars + 2 more cabbage cars & 3
> rebuilt mp36's.

Someone (might have been Gene P.) posted a link to the Caltrans website that said EXACTLY what the fleet will be receiving. There was no mention of MP36's, or MP's of any type. The only things I remember being listed (head-end wise) were the cabbage cars. Can anyone verify this?

ats90mph Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Metrolink did ok with it, they had a full length
> auto door with the steps down..

Those Comet I cars were originally built for use only at low platforms. It's my understanding that these Comet IB's were built with traps for use both high and low platforms.

I'm not sure if it would have been possible to retrofit these cars to be used at only low platform stations. Even if it was... doing that may prevent Amtrak from using these cars in the future for other services.

coaststarlight99 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Someone (might have been Gene P.) posted a link to
> the Caltrans website that said EXACTLY what the
> fleet will be receiving. There was no mention of
> MP36's, or MP's of any type. The only things I
> remember being listed (head-end wise) were the
> cabbage cars. Can anyone verify this?

Here's the document you mentioned... http://149.136.20.80/rail/dor/assets/File/August_30.2012/Caltrans_Comet_IB_SJVRC_Presentation_-_08.27.12-B.Tsukamoto.pdf

EDIT: Trim quotes for brevity.

Posted from iPhone

Ricky Courtney
Seattle, WA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/13 22:25 by rickycourtney.