Hi all,
I’m looking to do some reading up on any companies that manufacture a commuter car that has its own diesel power. Kinda like a subway train car, or a LRT car, but does not need a loco pulling it.
If you these are still being manufactured in N. America, can you post web links please!! Thanks in advance.
Uhh, you are asking about model trainss??? I believe KATO makes an N Scale RDC car, try posting this on the MR forums.
Like a new budd car?
http://www.coloradorailcar.com/
I believe that this is the only company in the United States still working on a new self-propelled deisel passenger car. From what the website says, it looks like a good product. I believe Florida Tri-Rail is leasing their demonstrator to test this spring for a long-term test. They did a test run with it earlier and liked what they saw.
Like a new budd car?
http://www.coloradorailcar.com/
I believe that this is the only company in the United States still working on a new self-propelled deisel passenger car. From what the website says, it looks like a good product. I believe Florida Tri-Rail is leasing their demonstrator to test this spring for a long-term test. They did a test run with it earlier and liked what they saw.
Nope…I am asking about real live passenger stuff.
Siemens makes the DMU that will be running in North San Diego County.
http://www.gonctd.com/oerail/oerailf.html
Dan
This is exactly what I am looking for…thank you!!! [:)]
Ohh, sorry about that[:(] I believe there is one at the railroad museam in Duluth, coborn35 would know more about it.
Ohh, sorry about that[:(]
Does Colorado Railcar have any cars in service anywhere?
Hey Dan, where in north SD are they going to use those Siemens cars?
Nevermind, found it on the link[:I]
The Sprinter is going to run from Oceanside to Escondido, pretty much paralleling Hwy 78. With the exception of a little jaunt to the south to serve CA State San Marcos, it uses the BNSF Escondido branch for the ROW. In the past year, they’ve just about ripped out all of the old track and relaid new. They’re in the process of working on station areas, passing sidings and pedestrian walls to keep the locals off the ROW. BNSF only runs one train a day, and it’s late at night anyway. Unfortunately it’s still not going to work for me…I’d have to take the Sprinter to O-Side, the Coaster downtown, either the bus or ferry to Coronado and then walk two miles to where I work on base…I’d get there in time to go home.
Dan
Back about a year or so some of the Colorodo Rail Car units were test run on the EJ&E here in the Chicago area to see how they would work on a proposed new commuter line running on that railroad in a “belt” around Chicago and connecting with most of the heavy Metra rail corridors.
Closer to your home, The River Road Service recently started in New Jersey. These are self-propelled passenger cars that run between Camden and Trenton. They run on a non-electrified freight train route and look similar to the Budd cars pictured here.
NJ Transit call the Camden-Trenton route ‘the River Line’. They’re 3 section articulated units, mid section is the power, and connecting passageway, 2 end sections are mid level loading doors and seats, with high level seats and operating area above the trucks.
They’re lightweight, consequently NJ transit segregates freight trains. Passenger service is mostly 6am-9pm, freight service 9pm-6am.
The Colorado Rail Car was in Ft Worth and other surroundin cities about a yr agoand was giving demo rides for the TRE,It was a very simple and well proven design …Happy hunting
You might find this interesting. This company in Moncton, NB rebuilds Budd Cars. I understand they have several sitting on the back tracks waiting for rebuild orders. http://www.industrial-rail.com/index.html
There is a federally funded demonstration in Florida on Tri-Rail, with a single deck DMU, a double deck DMU and a matching double deck trailer car. Before this, the DMU demonstrator ran in service on Tri-Rail hauling two standard double deck cars. This is all on the Colorado Railcar website.
Peter
I had a thread on these a while back that could be of some use to you. Unfortunately my searches came up empty-handed but I belive it was called “New Passenger Cars?” or something to that effect. I’ll post the link if I find it.
Ok, I found the thread: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=42965&REPLY_ID=455999#455999
Back in the late 1970s Fiat sent a self-propelled rail car over for test; it demonstrated on the Rock Island for several months, and I know not where else. Since the Rock’s equipment cycles didn’t have a spot for a one-car train - most of the light cycles had to make one or more trips where two of the bi-levels were pretty well loaded - it didn’t prove to be feasible.
It ran OK, though.
Old Timer
FIAT
F-inal
A-ttempt at
I-talian
T-echnology
[;)][:o)][:p][:D]