by MEC407
From Kevin Burkholder, re-posted with permission:
FRA T-217 Track Geometry Car New England Tour 2010
The Federal Railroad Administration's track geometry car - T-217 (DOTX 217) - will be touring much of New England through early July. Since April 1, the previously self-propelled cars have been mandated to be locomotive-hauled for a variety of reasons - mostly cost-effectiveness and safety related. Each host railroad is required to supply a single locomotive for the "self-contained" car.
The following dates and routes are completely subject to change without prior notice. This schedule reflects a planned routing of the DOTX 217 (FRA T-217) track geometry car over the various routes as explained below. Weather and other unforeseen circumstances may preclude testing on a given day and set the schedule back from the forecast. I have only provided the schedule through early June, as changes may be made before then. All of the following is updated information.
May 13 - ST
Portland, ME to Northern Maine Jct., ME via Lewiston/Oakland/Waterville
And Burnham Jct., ME
Tie up in Northern Maine Jct., ME for scheduled maintenance from
May 14-May 23
May 24 - ST/EMRY (NBSR)
Northern Maine Jct., ME to Mattawamkeag, ME (ST)
Mattawamkeag, ME to Vanceboro, ME (EMRY/NBSR)
Tie up in Vanceboro, ME for night
May 25 - EMRY
Vanceboro, ME to Brownville, ME
Tie up and deliver to MMA in Brownville, ME
May 26 - MMA
Brownville Jct., ME to Squa Pan, ME via Millinocket and Oakfield, ME
Tie up in Squa Pan for night
May 27 - MMA
Squa Pan, ME to Van Buren, ME via Quimby and Fort Kent, ME
Tie up in Van Buren, ME for night
May 28 - MMA
Van Buren, ME to Squa Pan, ME via Fort Kent, ME
Squa Pan, ME to Presque Isle, ME
Tie up for holiday weekend at Presque Isle, ME
June 1 - MMA
Presque Isle, ME to Brownville Jct., ME via Squa Pan/Oakfield, ME
Tie up at Brownville Jct., ME
June 2 - MMA
Brownville Jct., ME to Skinner, ME via Greenville, ME and return to
Brownville Jct., ME
Tie up for night at Brownville Jct., ME
June 3 - MMA
Brownville Jct., ME to Searsport, ME via Northern Maine Jct., ME and
Return to Northern Maine Jct., ME
Tie up for night at Northern Maine Jct., ME
June 4 - ST
Northern Maine Jct., ME to Augusta, ME via Waterville, ME and return
to Waterville, ME
Tie up for night at Waterville, ME
Some interesting reading on the cars and their purpose - referred to as ATIP by the FRA...
http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/PubAff ... 0FINAL.pdf
The ATIP Program details, including their 'fleet' of cars...
http://atip.fra.dot.gov/
And this particular car - DOTX 217...
http://atip.fra.dot.gov/public/about/DOTX_217.pdf
FRA T-217 Track Geometry Car New England Tour 2010
The Federal Railroad Administration's track geometry car - T-217 (DOTX 217) - will be touring much of New England through early July. Since April 1, the previously self-propelled cars have been mandated to be locomotive-hauled for a variety of reasons - mostly cost-effectiveness and safety related. Each host railroad is required to supply a single locomotive for the "self-contained" car.
The following dates and routes are completely subject to change without prior notice. This schedule reflects a planned routing of the DOTX 217 (FRA T-217) track geometry car over the various routes as explained below. Weather and other unforeseen circumstances may preclude testing on a given day and set the schedule back from the forecast. I have only provided the schedule through early June, as changes may be made before then. All of the following is updated information.
May 13 - ST
Portland, ME to Northern Maine Jct., ME via Lewiston/Oakland/Waterville
And Burnham Jct., ME
Tie up in Northern Maine Jct., ME for scheduled maintenance from
May 14-May 23
May 24 - ST/EMRY (NBSR)
Northern Maine Jct., ME to Mattawamkeag, ME (ST)
Mattawamkeag, ME to Vanceboro, ME (EMRY/NBSR)
Tie up in Vanceboro, ME for night
May 25 - EMRY
Vanceboro, ME to Brownville, ME
Tie up and deliver to MMA in Brownville, ME
May 26 - MMA
Brownville Jct., ME to Squa Pan, ME via Millinocket and Oakfield, ME
Tie up in Squa Pan for night
May 27 - MMA
Squa Pan, ME to Van Buren, ME via Quimby and Fort Kent, ME
Tie up in Van Buren, ME for night
May 28 - MMA
Van Buren, ME to Squa Pan, ME via Fort Kent, ME
Squa Pan, ME to Presque Isle, ME
Tie up for holiday weekend at Presque Isle, ME
June 1 - MMA
Presque Isle, ME to Brownville Jct., ME via Squa Pan/Oakfield, ME
Tie up at Brownville Jct., ME
June 2 - MMA
Brownville Jct., ME to Skinner, ME via Greenville, ME and return to
Brownville Jct., ME
Tie up for night at Brownville Jct., ME
June 3 - MMA
Brownville Jct., ME to Searsport, ME via Northern Maine Jct., ME and
Return to Northern Maine Jct., ME
Tie up for night at Northern Maine Jct., ME
June 4 - ST
Northern Maine Jct., ME to Augusta, ME via Waterville, ME and return
to Waterville, ME
Tie up for night at Waterville, ME
Some interesting reading on the cars and their purpose - referred to as ATIP by the FRA...
http://www.fra.dot.gov/downloads/PubAff ... 0FINAL.pdf
The ATIP Program details, including their 'fleet' of cars...
http://atip.fra.dot.gov/
And this particular car - DOTX 217...
http://atip.fra.dot.gov/public/about/DOTX_217.pdf
MEC407
Moderator:
Pan Am Railways — Boston & Maine/Maine Central — Delaware & Hudson
Central Maine & Quebec/Montreal, Maine & Atlantic/Bangor & Aroostook
Providence & Worcester — New England — GE Locomotives
Moderator:
Pan Am Railways — Boston & Maine/Maine Central — Delaware & Hudson
Central Maine & Quebec/Montreal, Maine & Atlantic/Bangor & Aroostook
Providence & Worcester — New England — GE Locomotives