Colorado Railcar DMU Status

thaitransit wrote:The Colorado DMUs have got to be the strangest designed DMU/railcar I have ever seen. It appears to have been based on a locomotive frame as the front of it is somewhat similar.

It also seems very over built i.e. heavy framework for something that is meant to be a lightweight commuter DMU for rural and suburban commuter trains.

Its design means only 2 units can be operated together due to a lack of car end doors at both ends of the units. This would mean extra powered trailer units would be needed for 3 or more car operation.

A flat fronted unit with the driver sitting to one side and centre inter unit door would have been better and much more flexible.

Similar design to this unit would have been better.



OR

ATTENTION: Effective December 23, 2008 Colorado Railcar Manufacturing ceased it's business operations. Colorado Railcar Manufacturing has a major liquidity problem, and it's lenders have a secured position in the assets of the company. The company is in the process of liquidation. The company has no employees effective December 31st, 2008.


Larry E. Salci
President & CEO

wigwagfan wrote:One of the selling points of the CRC DMU is that the mechanical systems are derived from bus systems. TriMet can use its existing pool of bus mechanics with little additional training - the engines/transmissions are virtually the same as those on TriMet's bus fleet.

mxdata wrote:I wonder what happened to the guy from Miami who put up the glowing report about Colorado Railcar on the previous page of discussions? Is he still working for them or is he out of work now?

MX

thaitransit wrote:The Colorado DMUs have got to be the strangest designed DMU/railcar I have ever seen. It appears to have been based on a locomotive frame as the front of it is somewhat similar. Negative; it was never built at all whatsoever with a locomotive frame in mind at all.
It also seems very over built i.e. heavy framework for something that is meant to be a lightweight commuter DMU for rural and suburban commuter trains. Keep in mind that FRA mandated the 1,000,000 lb collisions / compressioin standards.
Its design means only 2 units can be operated together due to a lack of car end doors at both ends of the units. This would mean extra powered trailer units would be needed for 3 or more car operation. Again, your statemnet is incorrect. Each DMU has two end doors and the cab can be partitioned off from passengers passing through the one end of the vehcile, hence you can run as long a DMU consist as you want.
A flat fronted unit with the driver sitting to one side and centre inter unit door would have been better and much more flexible. There are already single level CRM DMU's that have the cab centered in the middle, however as you can imagine you can't pass through the end of teh vehcile.
Similar design to this unit would have been better. No it wouldn't for the simple fact that it coudl not withstand an impact (i.e hitting a cemnet truck at a road crossing).



OR

Otto Vondrak wrote:You know, when Dallas was looking for DMUs, they did the right thing and put some proven technology to work: fully rebuilt and reconditioned Budd RDC's!! Budd RDC's DO NOT meet the new FRA standards, read the reg's !

What was Colorado Railcar's original claim to fame? They could turn SP gallery cars into double-deck luxury coaches? Sounds like a solid business plan. No claim to fame here, just one entrepreneaur beliwving he and a few good engineers and staff can build a fully compliant vehicle....I'm sorry but what has Bombardier, Siemens or any other vehicle manufacturer done for that matter or ever come up with to even come close to what CRM has accomplished mind you ? Take alook at Bombardiers VLocity DSMU's ......85 decibels of noise in the cab, wil passengers be given ear muffs before riding ?
-otto-

mxdata wrote:Very interesting reading, thanks for posting those.

I notice that their website is now down to just one page, four pictures, with two e-mail links. All the formerly posted information about the product line, the links to the brochures, and the listings of company personnel, seem to have been taken down.

The agencies that are operating their products should have an interesting time seeking parts and technical support over the remaining operating life of the vehicles. Maybe they can hire some of the "experts" that used to chant the worship of DMU's to show them the way. That is, if they can find them now. As a matter of fact they did hire some of the experts ! Do you know how many parts there needed for a CRM DMU as opposed to a conventional locomotive and or coach car ? There's is no comparison, a conventional EMD locomotive has way to many parts to count not to mention the cost involved ouch !, one of the two propulsion systems on a CRM DMU uses 12 Lutze modules and a Lutze microprocessor, look at what a EMD uses. No doubt mxdat must be a liberal arts major !! LOL I'll match up a CRM DMU against ANY like set that's out there and guratanteed the DMU will outshine them all in every aspect !
MX

Matt Johnson wrote:Any word on how testing is going with the Trimet DMU's? Also, how are Miami's bilevel DMU sets holding up?

hemihead wrote:

Otto Vondrak wrote:You know, when Dallas was looking for DMUs, they did the right thing and put some proven technology to work: fully rebuilt and reconditioned Budd RDC's!! Budd RDC's DO NOT meet the new FRA standards, read the reg's !

What was Colorado Railcar's original claim to fame? They could turn SP gallery cars into double-deck luxury coaches? Sounds like a solid business plan. No claim to fame here, just one entrepreneaur beliwving he and a few good engineers and staff can build a fully compliant vehicle....I'm sorry but what has Bombardier, Siemens or any other vehicle manufacturer done for that matter or ever come up with to even come close to what CRM has accomplished mind you ? Take alook at Bombardiers VLocity DSMU's ......85 decibels of noise in the cab, wil passengers be given ear muffs before riding ?
-otto-

thaitransit wrote:The Velocity DMU's made by Bombardier Dandenong Australia are the best trains in Victoria they are also the most comfortable and not as noisy as that 4 year old article makes out. Extra sound proofing must have been added as they are very quiet inside when I went for a ride on one at 160kph or 100MPH in 2006.

These DMU's are the most reliable trains ever to operate in Victoria. With no cases of breakdowns in service since introduction in 2006. Unlike American interurban commuter trains Vline operates a reasonable service using these Velocity DMUs every single day of the week year round.

The only thing that is holding back DMUs in the USA is the unreasonable regulation for excessively heavy frames. That not even worlds best practice Europe would consider and they have the safest railways in the world. If the rail industry lobby's the US central gov to overturn this regulation and introduce a European style rail safety law. or better yet do what SRT in Thailand do self regulate and pick what trains are best for them and not retire the old stock but add new trains to increase the number of services.