unkown train at Union Station Wash DC

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

I was in DC last week, arriving on the MARC. Sitting next to my train was a very streamlined single unit car / engine, marron in color, dark glass windows and the logo “RTA” and the symbol of the state of Florida, and the federal Dept of Transportation emblem on the side.

I searched the South Florida Regional transportation Authority website but could find no mention ofr pictures of this unit. What is it?

Thanks for your help.

2

Might have been a track ispection car, but was most likely just a business car…

Not 100% sure though.

3

Sounds like Colorado Rail Car’s DMU.This is a diesel powered railcar,like the old RDC.It recently tested on Tri Rail,Miami’s commuter rail system.They put in an order for these cars,but I don’t know how many.

4

RTA usally means Regional Transportation Authority, so I’m guessing it was probably a commuter train from one of the Florida big cities, probably in DC with some high ranking Florida Dignitary who didn’t want to fly.

Edit: it seems that Tri-Rail recently became the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, and is the RTA in question. Read all about it here: http://www.sfrpc.com/rta.htm so that may be it’s new paint scheme and was probably on display in DC for some display for grant money.

Jay

5

Wily

Go to http://www.coloradorailcar.com and click on news. The DMU that has been in service (and has been purchased by SFRTA), is scheduled to be on display in several PA cities this week or next. Bet that is what you saw enroute.

6

That’s a pretty ugly thing, glad it’s not coming anywhere near here. [:p]

Jay

7

Hey Jay-Someday that might be your ride to Chicago-At least it would be a way out of town.

8

Yup that’s what it was - Colorado Railcar’s DMU

Thanks.

Wily

9

i saw that thing a while back in the Los Angeles area pulling Metrolink cars. it is definately making the rounds.

10

And to think, that all of that started with the purchase of all of SP’s Peninsula Gallery cars by Tom Radar. He then shipped them to Tillamook, Oregon, and started converting them into Alaska Railroad touring cars. Then he moved the whole works to Denver.

11

Note that a rebuilt RDC can be had from a Canadian firm as this car’s competition. Do you think an RDC looks better than this railcar? Dave

12

I’d say that an RDC looks 10 times better than one of these DMU’s! I’d go for one any day!

13

Those RDC’s are almost as ugly, but at least they look more like a normal Subway/urban car.

Jay