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  • 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

 #1505327  by MACTRAXX
 
Everyone:

Rough morning on the Media-Elwyn Line yesterday (April 8th) when a car was struck by a Center City-bound train at a grade crossing in Lansdowne.
The report was that three vehicles went around downed gates after an Elwyn train passed - the third was the one hit by the train.

Most if not all of our Forum members realize that IF ITS A TIE YOU LOSE!!!...Getting the word out to impatient motorists in a hurry is the key here...

One question I have is: Do the Silverliner MUs equipped with cameras have a forward facing camera out one of the front windows that may have caught
this accident on video? From news reports yesterday on both channels 3 and 6 a nearby outside camera has some recorded video.
From the news reports the Engineer literally had split-seconds to react in this case. Fortunately no one on board the train was hurt...

https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2019/ ... lansdowne/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.delcotimes.com/news/media-el ... a944f.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
(subject to paywall limits)
MACTRAXX
 #1505401  by glennk419
 
No NHSL service this morning due to signal power issues. Per news reports, no alternate shuttle bus service but regional rail is cross honoring.
 #1505868  by rcthompson04
 
glennk419 wrote:No NHSL service this morning due to signal power issues. Per news reports, no alternate shuttle bus service but regional rail is cross honoring.
Replaced by shuttle buses between Township Line Road and 69th Street due to signal problems. Cross honoring in effect again too.
 #1516527  by rcthompson04
 
MACTRAXX wrote: Fri Aug 09, 2019 10:55 am The Wednesday August 7 severe weather outbreak in the Philadelphia region caused major SEPTA service problems:

www.septa.org/service/rail/2019-august-storm.html

MACTRAXX
It is always interesting the day after one of these meltdowns as there seems to be misplaced equipment leading to shorter or longer trains.
 #1516808  by NorthPennLimited
 
Tomorrow’s evening commute should be interesting. The news is reporting widespread flash flooding (2-4” of rain) lightning, and heavy winds.

Not a good weather forecast for an electrified RR.
 #1521201  by mcgrath618
 
Had a friend on a Paoli bound train tell me that she left 30th late, got to Zoo, then proceeded to back up to 30th because the crew “forgot paperwork.”

What paperwork? Is this a new, inexperienced, stupid crew?
 #1521304  by rcthompson04
 
mcgrath618 wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2019 8:48 pm Had a friend on a Paoli bound train tell me that she left 30th late, got to Zoo, then proceeded to back up to 30th because the crew “forgot paperwork.”

What paperwork? Is this a new, inexperienced, stupid crew?
It sounds like an excuse for something else.

I had an engineer on an afternoon outbound run recently asking the conductor what cars fit on the platforms where as he had never ran the line with more than 4 cars.
 #1524055  by mcgrath618
 
rcthompson04 wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2019 7:59 pm I never understand why SEPTA/Amtrak cannot tell people what is going on in these situations. The service is getting so unreliable they need to seriously invest in rescue diesels to be on standby at all times:

https://6abc.com/travel/septa-passenger ... e/5667174/
I was considering this idea the other night. Just lease some old U Boats. All you need is HEP, PTC, and a motor. Who cares how fast it goes.
 #1524098  by MACTRAXX
 
MCG and Everyone:

I found out about the Paoli Line problems from a report on 6ABC and wonder what the cause was for this
major service disruption on Saturday 11/2. Expect a special notice from SEPTA with an explanation in the
coming days...

It is a good idea to have a "protect" locomotive on duty at times such as yesterday's situation. The idea to
use diesel locomotives to tow trains is easier said than done unfortunately - the locomotives used have to
be compatible in some regard with compromise couplers and be able to adequately clear the overhead wire
specifically the low catenary between 30th Street and Suburban Stations.

For example the LIRR modified two SW1001 locomotives for "protect" duty - they can be found during rush
hours on weekdays at Harold Interlocking outside the East River Tunnels to be used if necessary. They are
equipped with an MU control stand along with the regular throttles to tow trains when needed.

Back in 1993 during Railworks SEPTA leased Amtrak F40PH #413 - a former GO Transit commuter unit - to
operate through service to 30th Street from Lansdale/Doylestown or West Trenton which ran that summer.
During a test run on the incline between 30th Street and Suburban Stations the locomotive "shot the line"
under the low wire knocking out the catenary. SEPTA then decided not to use any Amtrak F40s and ended
up reversing a "swap" in which at least one of SEPTA's AEM7 units would go to Amtrak for the four month
Railworks period. SEPTA ended up getting three U34CH locomotives from NJT instead - two for the through
services and the third for work train service in a lease swap for AEM7 motors...MACTRAXX
 #1524143  by rcthompson04
 
MACTRAXX wrote: Sun Nov 03, 2019 12:04 pm MCG and Everyone:

I found out about the Paoli Line problems from a report on 6ABC and wonder what the cause was for this
major service disruption on Saturday 11/2. Expect a special notice from SEPTA with an explanation in the
coming days...

It is a good idea to have a "protect" locomotive on duty at times such as yesterday's situation. The idea to
use diesel locomotives to tow trains is easier said than done unfortunately - the locomotives used have to
be compatible in some regard with compromise couplers and be able to adequately clear the overhead wire
specifically the low catenary between 30th Street and Suburban Stations.

For example the LIRR modified two SW1001 locomotives for "protect" duty - they can be found during rush
hours on weekdays at Harold Interlocking outside the East River Tunnels to be used if necessary. They are
equipped with an MU control stand along with the regular throttles to tow trains when needed.

Back in 1993 during Railworks SEPTA leased Amtrak F40PH #413 - a former GO Transit commuter unit - to
operate through service to 30th Street from Lansdale/Doylestown or West Trenton which ran that summer.
During a test run on the incline between 30th Street and Suburban Stations the locomotive "shot the line"
under the low wire knocking out the catenary. SEPTA then decided not to use any Amtrak F40s and ended
up reversing a "swap" in which at least one of SEPTA's AEM7 units would go to Amtrak for the four month
Railworks period. SEPTA ended up getting three U34CH locomotives from NJT instead - two for the through
services and the third for work train service in a lease swap for AEM7 motors...MACTRAXX
Would it have to be fancy enough to run to Suburban? I think an argument could be made to have 2 locomotives set up to push or pull EMUs at 20-30 mph stationed on each side of the system with the goal to get a disabled train to the nearest station for shuttle buses or to 30th Street (Penn side) or Fern Rock or Temple (Reading side). Being able to deadhead from side to side would be nice though. Train all the engineers to operate and have ready to go at any time.
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