chuljin
Lead Service Attendant
OK, so a recent post by jackal reminded me of a few interrelated questions I've been itching to ask for a while.
Note that each question relates to the previous one, and the first relates to jackal's post, but overall they wander a little.
Note that each question relates to the previous one, and the first relates to jackal's post, but overall they wander a little.
- Whooz mentioned that he wasn't sure whether Metrolink's newly-leased cars would be touching the rails when delivered (i.e. would they be pulled or put on a flatcar), and jackal posited that they're rated to be delivered in the former way. What about light-rail cars? I've seen pictures, videos, &c. of light-rail cars arriving on flatcars, then placed by crane or whatever. Even though (I would guess) they can't carry passengers on mainlines, can they be so delivered, empty? Or would they just shake themselves apart? Every day I pass by the Gold Line yards north of LAX, and I noticed this single-track connection (just to the left of, and partially shadowed by, the Gold Line bridge over the LA 'River') (also shown here) between the Gold Line and the Metrolink mainline tracks...is this perhaps how they were delivered? Does this track serve any other purpose (I also notice it has the rust of disuse)?
- Speaking of non-revenue connections: The regional connector (an excellent idea, IMHO) aside, is there any non-revenue but powered connection between the Gold Line and Blue/Green Lines? There's at least none shown on the track map linked to above. Are they even electrically compatible (I guess they'd have to be, otherwise the regional connector would be a moot point)? Couplers, etc.?
- Speaking specifically of the kinds of passenger cars rated to run on 'the big tracks': How much variation is there among all (in the US, anyways) passenger cars in the type of couplers, HEP cables, and intercar diaphram size and height (distance from the ground)? I recently read a trip report here on AU that mentioned that BBCs were attached (for delivery) to some Amtrak train (but presumably unoccupied). I know Superliner/Surfliner/California upper level, and single-level, are at least two heights, but I'm not sure about BBCs...it looks almost like a 1.5th floor, but that could be an optical illusion (the 1st floor is quite low), and they'd probably object if I went out onto the tracks with a tape measure. My question (though it would obviously never happen) is could you have a bizarre train consisting of a Superliner, a Transition, a Comet, a BBC, a Viewliner, a Pullman, 10031, etc. and: 1) be able to walk safely from car to car throughout the train; 2) have lights and air in all the cars? Just a wierd curiosity I've had for a while.