No problem everyone, and thank you carnej1. That information is relevant to the thread. I was merely concerned that more posts were going to be dragged up, since two had been. I’m sure that I have done this to someone myself, and probably will again.
That is certainly an element of this, which is multifaceted. Part of the problem was that new ACS-64s would not arrive until sometime in 2018, well after the HHP-8 maintainence contract expires in (I think) July 2016. Chargers will be available sooner, won’t rely on Amtrak for fuel, and will be able to operate on all lines. I just wonder if they will be able to make current schedules…
Anyone who can get a complete copy of the MARC - charger contract could look at it and see if there is an option to convert some or all of the order from chargers to ACS-64s ?
Into this little conundrum one has to interject VRE. VRE, until several years ago, was operated and maintained by Amtrak personnel. VRE made the decision to put the operation and maintenance of their operation up for bid. Keolis won the bid and Amtrak’s nose went out of joint when they weren’t selected. From that point on Amtrak has done their best to monkey wrench things pertaining to VRE and MARC. When MARC decided to put their operations and maintenance up for bid as opposed to the services previously performed by Amtrak and CSX, Keolis was the initial selection, until a ‘trail’ was played up that Keolis was subsidary of the French National Railways which were ‘decreed’ to have been ‘willing’ collaborator with the Nazi’s during the occupation of France duing WW II. After that political drama played itself out, Bombardier Transportation was selected to operate and maintain MARC’s system. Needless to say, Amtrak, with its nose still out of joint, priced any services that they may have been requested to provide ‘through the roof’; with that, MARC decided to go diesel a
BTW - John, the TRAXX locomotives are back on Green Cargo in Sweden, having received modifications and software upgrades by Bombardier.
[quote user=“BaltACD”]
NorthWest
Buslist
I believe MARC’s decision is more related to Amtrak’s termination of the maintenance agreement on MARC’s fleet as those locomotive models will no longer be present in Amtrak’s fleet.That is certainly an element of this, which is multifaceted. Part of the problem was that new ACS-64s would not arrive until sometime in 2018, well after the HHP-8 maintainence contract expires in (I think) July 2016. Chargers will be available sooner, won’t rely on Amtrak for fuel, and will be able to operate on all lines. I just wonder if they will be able to make current schedules…
Into this little conundrum one has to interject VRE. VRE, until several years ago, was operated and maintained by Amtrak personnel. VRE made the decision to put the operation and maintenance of their operation up for bid. Keolis won the bid and Amtrak’s nose went out of joint when they weren’t selected. From that point on Amtrak has done their best to monkey wrench things pertaining to VRE and MARC. When MARC decided to put their operations and maintenance up for bid as opposed to the services previously performed by Amtrak and CSX, Keolis was the initial selection, until a ‘trail’ was played up that Keolis was subsidary of the French National Railways which were ‘decreed’ to have been ‘willing’ collaborator with the Nazi’s during the occupation of France duing WW II. After that political drama played itself out, Bombardier Transportation was selected to operate and maintain MARC’s system. Needless to say, Amtrak, with its nose stil
True, they are now used in Southern Sweden mainly, as the wheelslip problems are smaller there. Just my guessing, but they could add some weight to these neatly green Burlington Northern inspired locos. That is what they did to a six Rc4s to make them Rms years ago, with excellent results. Engineers still love driving Rm!
The software to lessen wheelslip might be akin to the one used on LOK2000s of NSB (Norway) and of VR (Finland): with less power used the wheelslip issue is smaller. Unfortunately you are likely to run behind of the schedule then, and risk stalling. For this they installed a new new button to override the computer and wheelslip control. So the locomotive will not stall, but the wheels and rails take the toll.
For those not familiar with the issue, here is the original intended use for TRAXX F140 AC2, something that was not possible, so triple Rc4+Rm+Rc4 run these trains today. Picture by Hannu.
And of course the wheelslip/wheelwear issue in not for Bombardier only, it appears with all the manufacturers locomotives when the power that can be used in relation to weigth rises. Some European manufacturers seem to cope with minimizing the slip better than others.
[quote user=“Buslist”]
BaltACD
NorthWest
Buslist
I believe MARC’s decision is more related to Amtrak’s termination of the maintenance agreement on MARC’s fleet as those locomotive models will no longer be present in Amtrak’s fleet.That is certainly an element of this, which is multifaceted. Part of the problem was that new ACS-64s would not arrive until sometime in 2018, well after the HHP-8 maintainence contract expires in (I think) July 2016. Chargers will be available sooner, won’t rely on Amtrak for fuel, and will be able to operate on all lines. I just wonder if they will be able to make current schedules…
Into this little conundrum one has to interject VRE. VRE, until several years ago, was operated and maintained by Amtrak personnel. VRE made the decision to put the operation and maintenance of their operation up for bid. Keolis won the bid and Amtrak’s nose went out of joint when they weren’t selected. From that point on Amtrak has done their best to monkey wrench things pertaining to VRE and MARC. When MARC decided to put their operations and maintenance up for bid as opposed to the services previously performed by Amtrak and CSX, Keolis was the initial selection, until a ‘trail’ was played up that Keolis was subsidary of the French National Railways which were ‘decreed’ to have been ‘willing’ collaborator with the Nazi’s during the occupation of France duing WW II. After that political drama played itself out, Bombardier Transportation was selected to operate and maintain MARC’s system. Needless to say,
Really? I think Congress should impose fines on Amtrak for giving priority to their own trains over other trains using their rails [^o)]