49 replies to this topic

[sechs]

What is "loading gauge"?

Ostensibly, it's the maximum height that a car can be.

[The Davy Crockett]

How about something like this? http://www.flickr.co...ics/2385391014/

[manchacrr]

This might work. It is the panorama car that VIA Rail now uses on some of their long distance trains:

[railiner]

What is the maximum height possible for a car in NYP?

peter

I believe it is 14 feet, 6 inches. Even the so-called 'low profile domes' used by B&O/C&O back in the '50's and '60's were too tall to come up the NEC....

[jis]

What is the maximum height possible for a car in NYP?

peter

14'6" but with beveled top end corners like you see in the NJT MLVs.

[jis]

This might work. It is the panorama car that VIA Rail now uses on some of their long distance trains:

Yes, a VIA Panorama Car would work as far as car height is concerned. I don't know if there will be any safety issues due to the presence of catenary.

[jis]

What is "loading gauge"?

Ostensibly, it's the maximum height that a car can be.

Loading gauge is the 3D template within which the car must fit in order for it to not interfer with any trackside structure or any passing train. So it is more than just the height, though height is certainly a factor.

[OlympianHiawatha]

This might work. It is the panorama car that VIA Rail now uses on some of their long distance trains:

Yes, a VIA Panorama Car would work as far as car height is concerned. I don't know if there will be any safety issues due to the presence of catenary.

Based on the pic, the cat shouldn't pose any problem since the Panorama Car appears to be a bit lower than the car next to it. Reconfigure the Coach seating with a Lounge configuration and you may well have a winner.

[Swadian Hardcore]

This might work. It is the panorama car that VIA Rail now uses on some of their long distance trains:

Yes, a VIA Panorama Car would work as far as car height is concerned. I don't know if there will be any safety issues due to the presence of catenary.

Based on the pic, the cat shouldn't pose any problem since the Panorama Car appears to be a bit lower than the car next to it. Reconfigure the Coach seating with a Lounge configuration and you may well have a winner.

That looks very much like the SAL Solarium. Who built it? Colorado Railcar, Bombadier, Alstom, or others?

[PerRock]

Looks like a CRC build.

peter

[PRR 60]

I'm reasonably certain that Amtrak would not want a glass-topped car operating under 11kV catenary. They prefer to have grounded metal between high voltage and passengers.

[Dutchrailnut]

hmm they make insulators out of glass ?? coincidence ??

[The Davy Crockett]

I've said it before, (so why not say it again ) , add/drop dome cars to the rear of the Eastern LD consists when engines are switched at WAS.

ATTN: Marketing - They could be called The Capitol Domes.

[The Davy Crockett]

Are those lightning rods on the top?

Now those would be a big hit on the NEC!

[AlanB]

Looks like a CRC build.

peter

Correct, the now defunct Colorado Railcar built that lounge.

[Swadian Hardcore]

Looks like a CRC build.

peter

Correct, the now defunct Colorado Railcar built that lounge.

It's not a lounge. It carries revenue passengers.

[The Chief]

Well, assuming the cash could be found, a remake of the old SAL Solarium cars would fit that bill.

Hollywood Beach

Opiatephoto is spot-on suggesting the platform/style of the SAL's Hollywood Beach, Miami Beach, and Palm Beach. SAL's Silver Meteor carried them NYC-Miami. Heck Amtrak even had the cars in the early daze. Here's a photo of Hollywood Beach in Amtrak livery running beneath the catenary lines.


These Sun Lounges, which ran into New York, were configured as Sleeper Lounges with five double bedrooms. If manufactured today, a number of options exists. Bedrooms. Or kitchen/serving area. Or more table and booths. etc. Compared to the VIA Panorama Car, the Sun Lounge model of the 21st century would be closer to the SSL, if you want the Lounge.

As a Western Lines guy, I never saw or rode in a Sun Lounge. But a couple of years ago when I saw a photo of a SAL Sun Lounge, and started researching pics and data, I was intrigued at how neat they were, for back East with the clearance limitations. Amtrak dumped them apparently. What foresight.

. . . <<edit: add photo to AU post>>> . . .

Edited by The Chief, 10 March 2012 - 06:41 PM.

[Swadian Hardcore]

Well, assuming the cash could be found, a remake of the old SAL Solarium cars would fit that bill.

Hollywood Beach

Opiatephoto is spot-on suggesting the platform/style of the SAL's Hollywood Beach, Miami Beach, and Palm Beach. SAL's Silver Meteor carried them NYC-Miami. Heck Amtrak even had the cars in the early daze. Here's a photo of Hollywood Beach in Amtrak livery running beneath the catenary lines.


These Sun Lounges, which ran into New York, were configured as Sleeper Lounges with five double bedrooms. If manufactured today, a number of options exists. Bedrooms. Or kitchen/serving area. Or more table and booths. etc. Compared to the VIA Panorama Car, the Sun Lounge model of the 21st century would be closer to the SSL, if you want the Lounge.

As a Western Lines guy, I never saw or rode in a Sun Lounge. But a couple of years ago when I saw a photo of a SAL Sun Lounge, and started researching pics and data, I was intrigued at how neat they were, for back East with the clearance limitations. Amtrak dumped them apparently. What foresight.

. . . <<edit: add photo to AU post>>> . . .

When did Amtrak dump/sell them? Anybody know what trains they were used on with Amtrak?

[PRR 60]

hmm they make insulators out of glass ?? coincidence ??

That is exactly the problem. In the event the catenary gets snagged and pulled down by a moving train, you want the first thing it hits to be solid, conductive and grounded. The roof of a conventional car meets those requirements. A glass roof does not. A broken 25kV or 11kV catenary makes a pretty big flash when it hits grounded metal. If it hits a conventional, metal car roof, the fault occurs fast, goes directly to ground, and the passengers are protected by the solid roof. But, if it hits a glass roof, it may search for a solid ground, perhaps break the glass in the process, then make a huge flash when it finally hits a grounded part. You don't want a pane of glass, maybe broken by the impact of the hard, bronze trolley wire, to be the only protection between passengers and that flash.

Edited by PRR 60, 10 March 2012 - 08:28 PM.

[PerRock]

Simple solution: don't make the whole roof windows. If you divided the roof up in 3rds (width wise) have windows on the outer two thirds & metal on the inner 3rd. Similar to an SSL (and I believe most dome cars). Cable snags & it would most likely hit the metal part, ok granted there is still a chance of it hitting the glass, but it'd be a fairly low chance. And with structual beams between the windows it's even less surface area of glass for the cable to short on.

peter

Edited by PerRock, 10 March 2012 - 10:40 PM.