Passenger Trains > ACELA without Roof Shroudes

On today\'s (6/3/02) southbound ACELA X2157, both units (#2019 and 2014) had their shrouds along the top of the roofs removed revealing all the intricate details, such as main switch, pantograph support as well on the right side plenty of cables and pipes. Does anyone know the reason for this, maybe getting too hot under the collar?

ThomasE

Poor maintenance. Laziness, it\'s all catching up the the hi-speed group. (non-amtrak)krokodil wrote:

> On today\\\'s (6/3/02) southbound ACELA X2157, both units
> (#2019 and 2014) had their shrouds along the top of the roofs
> removed revealing all the intricate details, such as main
> switch, pantograph support as well on the right side plenty of
> cables and pipes. Does anyone know the reason for this, maybe
> getting too hot under the collar?
>
> ThomasE
>
> [%sig%]

Because of this preceding post, I went to New Carrollton to watch this "shieldless" trainset. Boy, power cars 2019 (head) and 2014 (end) did not have anything to hide their electrical compenents.

I watch some of the power cars like 2009, 2031, 2032, 2019 (used to be) and 2010, etc. with no pantograph shroud on the left side of the power car. Today\'s 2157 was indeed eye-opening.

Chaohwa

I\'m not sure if this is deferred maint. During endurance testing in 2000, they were running without the roof shields.

Anybody out there can confirm if this is meant to put the electric components to the harshest of conditions?

The roof fairing (shroud) is decrative. The bomber\'s original design was structuraly deficient and the fairings were torn off the first trainset during testing when it got over 125 mph. The remaining shreds were removed and both test trainsets ran without them for the duration. Bomb beefed up the attachments, but didn\'t change the design. The new stronger bolts apparently just lengthened the time before they fail.

Since they have no operational usefullness, the Bomber maintainers (MSC) probably remove the shreds and dispatch the train.

I worked that same set this evening as Train No. 2112.

Wow.....and we paid how much for that stuff?

Today, 2020 and 2009 did the honors, looks like the decorative shrouds are being systematically removed (and going the way many decorative items have gone over the years??). At least the HHP-8 are still fully shrouded.

ThomasE

> Today, 2020 and 2009 did the honors, looks like
> the decorative shrouds are being systematically
> removed (and going the way many decorative items
> have gone over the years??). At least the HHP-8
> are still fully shrouded.

Now two trainsets have no-fairing roofs. I will not be surprised if 2030-2031, 2032-2034, and even 2010-2015 have the same treatments.

Yesterday I saw Train #2170 (2004-2018) have their fairings on.

Chaohwa

MW4man wrote:

> The roof fairing (shroud) is decrative. The bomber\\\'s

> Since they have no operational usefullness, the Bomber
> maintainers (MSC) probably remove the shreds and dispatch the
> train.

But don\'t they serve an aerodynamic role?? All of those roof components create additional drag, and the fairings serve to deflect the windstream over them.
I seriously don\'t think they\'re purely decorative at all.....

The shrouds are likely used to quiet the pantograph noise. The shape and size are a factor and likely Bombardier is experimenting to find the right material/shape/size combination.

More info:

http://www.arasvo.com/wind.htm

cheers,

Daniel

> The shrouds are likely used to quiet the pantograph noise.
> The shape and size are a factor and likely Bombardier is
> experimenting to find the right material/shape/size
> combination.
>
> More info:
>
> http://www.arasvo.com/wind.htm

Not at Acela "speeds".

If they cared about train noise they\'d go after
wheel/rail and brake noise first, as the Swiss
have done and are doing.

Pantograph noise is only a factor at high speeds
(not an issue for any Amtrak service) and once
the larger issues are addressed.

My _guess_ is that the Amtrak locomotive shrouds
are coming off because its costing money they
don\'t have to keep these cosmetic items (which
do enhance the appearance of the product in my opinion)
in place.

BTW If you want to see a _real_ panto shroud, check
out http://www.h2.dion.ne.jp/~dajf/byunbyun/pics/955panto.jpg

PS anybody have a picture of the naked Acela locos?

Although this picture was taken two years ago by Stan Feldman, it is a good reference to see what an Acela power car looks like when its fairings is gone.

http://trainweb.com/railpix/ampix/acela2004s1aa1-fjct-4-20-00.jpg

Chaohwa

Here is the list of AE power cars without roof shrouds:

Trainset 5: both 2009 and 2020
Trainset 8: both 2014 and 2019
Trainset 9: 2039 only
Trainset 13: 2027 only

If anyone has other observations, please feel free to post here.

Chaohwa

If I see any on the shop floor I will let everyone know. IF I see anything offical about the missing shrouds, I will post it.

I think it looks cool when the electrical components are shown. They\'re not a hazard if exposed anyway.

I don\'t think there is any reason for all of us to flip out or have concern of this. It was probably a smart move done by maintenance by putting trains #1, not roof shroudes.

Say guys were working on these locomotives, but then it was called upon unexpectadely to provide reliable service. They\'ve got 2 options;

1) Put the shrouds back on, screw them in, spend a hour doing this.

2) Go, customers are #1.

Same thing happens with the MAX light rail in Portland. I always try to get all the photos I can when the upper-skirts are open. Though, it didn\'t look nice to have one car (#223) running around with one side missing upper-skirts after a pantograph incident.

You could see the electrical components, but scrapes and ugly appearances on the side. That lasted for about 10 months...

~Chris