CNJGeep wrote:MACTRAXX wrote:Each pair (and some of the A3 singles) had restrooms-which was a major factor.
The singles all lost their restrooms in the 1990s rebuild. This doesn't stop NJT from putting single cars on. The last few years have seen three married pairs and two single cars on at least one of the two sets.
MACTRAXX wrote:Amtrak has also
leased SEPTA P/P equipment primarily for either PHL-HAR or as standby - at least two of the cab
cars DO have a working restroom - that is kept locked and not available to the public.
They did not spare a set in 2017, and I don't remember them doing it in 2016 either.
As for restrooms, I can tell you with certitude that no cab car has a toilet. 2401 and 2408 don't even have the cabinet anymore, and the remainder only have a hand dryer and a sink (with no running water.) The last time those cars had toilets was when they went to Altoona, and they were installed and removed before and after the event, respectively. SEPTA does not have any facilities to drain toilet tanks.
CNJ: Thanks for some update clarifications...The A3 singles (the odd numbers were the ones that
had restrooms am I correct?) had lavatories removed during their 1990s era overhaul.
I recall that in some recent years Amtrak has kept a SEPTA P/P train on standby at 30th Street
over the Thanksgiving holiday. 2015 or before probably as a "just in case" train to use only if it
is needed. I remember how it would be placed on the lower level - Track 10 (or 11 alongside)
or just sitting in Penn Coach Yard waiting for a call that if all went well would not come...
One of SEPTA's best-kept secrets were the two working toilets some years back - and no longer.
There was no point even having them in the cab cars if they could not take care of them. I recall
that the other cab cars had fixtures in states of disarray in the restroom and as noted were always
kept locked up and off limits to riders. My memories of those restrooms were primarily back from
the 1990s decade into the early 2000s when I lived in the area and rode regularly. MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS