M8's and Shore Line East

The Amtrak website shows 1646 will continue to run and 1668 will not replace it.

The SLE M8’s were branded SLE?

Jeff Smith wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 6:12 am The SLE M8’s were branded SLE?

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw-JF5Pru1x ... BiNWFlZA==

Yep. Did it around the same time they got the announcements working.

Any update on work on that bridge in East Haven that knocks off the third rail shoes?

Update on Stamford through service:
https://youtu.be/NGJsvQDU8vs?si=WMPwldiTa3tcbbj6&t=5590

But this particular train as restoring it is something we would like to work on with Metro-North so I'd like to leave it as further discussions with Metro-North are on going and hopefully we will report out later this fall."

If anyone is interested in writing comments in regards to restoring Shore Line East service...
https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimon ... m_code=TRA

It's too bad it's getting cut. I wonder if they could hog out a channel for the 3rd rail shoes to clear that tight bridge and be able to offer through service? Are the M-8s truly captive, or are they cycled through as they get maintenance and the 3rd rail shoes added/removed? The CTRail thing looks like a giant magnet or sticker or something.... What should be happening is building the other side of the Madison station so that they could increase service from the current cap with Amtrak due to not finishing the platform double-side project.

They're emblazoned with the CTRail logo, so I'd say they're captive to east of New Haven (or Stamford, if they ever get around to resuming service there. They could reinstall the shoes, of course, and resume pool service, but then they'd be limited to Old Saybrook. One would assume if they could have modified the "offending" bridge, they would have.

Jeff Smith wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 10:09 am They're emblazoned with the CTRail logo, so I'd say they're captive to east of New Haven (or Stamford, if they ever get around to resuming service there. They could reinstall the shoes, of course, and resume pool service, but then they'd be limited to Old Saybrook. One would assume if they could have modified the "offending" bridge, they would have.

1. The logos are magnets
2. It seems like extra cars from New Haven line would be used for through service
3. The offending bridge is in East Haven so that limits all through service.

It's amazing that trains have been whizzing by that bridge with mere inches of clearance for over a century and now they find out that it doesn't clear third rail shoes. They should do a structural analysis to see if they can notch it out or something.

How did New Haven FL9s get past this East Haven bridge obstruction - were their 3rd rail shoes lifted when not in use?

According to Rapido's research, the FL9s were equipped with retractable shoes.

They were used in December 1990 for Toys For Tots “Santa Trains”/shoppers specials between New Haven and Old Saybrook; I’ve seen a few photos of the specials at Branford and OSB on Flickr or somewhere else and it’s documented in “Diesels To Park Avenue” in the ConnDOT chapter.

Was the bridge in question known to be modified between 1990 and the mid 2010s when the M8s first underwent testing? Many of the rail overpasses were rebuilt or had other work performed on them during the electrification project (just as many of the road overpasses were rebuilt to accommodate the overhead wires).