Railroad Forums 

  • Poll - Electric equipment w/raised pantographs on weekends

  • Discussion relating to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Philadelphia Metro Area). Official web site can be found here: www.septa.com. Also including discussion related to the PATCO Speedline rapid transit operated by Delaware River Port Authority. Official web site can be found here: http://www.ridepatco.org/.
Discussion relating to Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (Philadelphia Metro Area). Official web site can be found here: www.septa.com. Also including discussion related to the PATCO Speedline rapid transit operated by Delaware River Port Authority. Official web site can be found here: http://www.ridepatco.org/.

Moderator: AlexC

AEM7's on weekends in the burbs - have you noticed pantographs up or down

Pans up, power flowing to an idle locomotive and train
2
40%
Pans down, SEPTA saving kV and $$$
3
60%
 #58458  by RDGAndrew
 
I'd like to see how many people have seen a push-pull set with an AEM-7 laying over in the 'burbs on a weekend with the pantograph up and the lights and blowers on. I noted this in the EMU vs. Push-Pull forum, but now my curiosity is piqued. I saw one in Trenton 2 weeks ago, and I've also seen 'em in Warminster. Silverliners count too, I guess, but with them it's harder to tell which ones are really out of service for the whole weekend. Also, any electrical experts out there who could estimate how much juice one of these consists draws over a weekend? (I understand there may be issues with restarting units in cold weather, but my observations were both 70+ degree days.) Depending on the outcome of this poll, it could be good anecdotal evidence to cite at a service cut hearing later this month.