How old are the MU’s used on Metro-North services? The ones used today look pretty similar to the ones seen in pictures from about 20 years ago. If they’re still using units from the late '70s or so, what did they use previously?
As mentioned elsewhere, I visited the New York-New Jersey area in 1982 and the Hudson and Harlem lines used M-1A MU cars at that time with some ex-NYC equipment from the early to mid 1960’s filling in during rush hour.
Are you asking about MU’d loc’s or cars?
MNCR (now it’s tagged MNR) operates three distinct lines, New Haven, Harlem and Hudson which terminate at GCT. MNCR is strongly affiliated with LIRR and has some limited service in New Jersey, they terminate at Penn Station. The first observation for cars is the body color band, Red, Blue, Green and Yellow (for LIRR) in the same order of line listing above. Aside from ‘couples’ (2-car sets) or ‘triplets’ (3-car sets) the next observation is that only the New Haven (red) cars have pantographs in addition to 3rd rail shoes. Harlem, Hudson and LI operate on 3rd rail only.
With regards to the New Haven line, the first M-2’s (while spec’d in '62) started to arrive for service in 1972 to replace the 4400 fleet (circa mid 50’s) Metro-North was formed in 1983. M-3’s (triplets) were added later and newer M-4 couples came in the late 80’s. Many of these sets were hit hard this past winter with freezing doors and the like and taken out of service for repairs. MTA (MNR operator) and the State of Connecticut are presently discussing purchasing additional sets for the NH line. As with any public transportation service, funds to replace and upgrade equipment are usually not under the same control as the operators.
While they are not on the main line as often as they once were, there are still a number of NH EMDFL9’s rumbling around, most commonly in MN or NH colors.