They're on the way!
http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/serviceInformation/March09Newsletter.cfm
MARC 11 should already be in Baltimore. I don't know if it's at Riverside or elsewhere. I just can't wait to see these babies in revenue service although I'm going to kinda miss the red noses. I have no idea why they are keeping the Geep 39s.
YES!!! I didnt think it will happen but it did. They got more trains!!! I f only they cam make a better looking passenger car. I hope this will be used on the camben line.
What's wrong with the ones we have? It's not so much about design but about capacity. I ride the Camden Line everyday. I don't mind the Nippon coaches, although the seats need to be replaced, lighting improved, and the PA systems need something as well because it's spotty on different cars. The cars are only about 20+ years old and had a couple of rehabs. I think they are due in for another in the next couple of years. MARC did get 13 of VRE's Kawasakis but only for the Brunswick Line. These cars are only about 10 years old.
Quote from: mrpete on April 14, 2009, 11:00:03 AM
They're on the way!
http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/serviceInformation/March09Newsletter.cfm (http://www.mtamaryland.com/services/marc/serviceInformation/March09Newsletter.cfm)
Thanks for the information. The new locomotives resemble the MP59 used in California and the MP36 used by METRA. Since the Camden and Brunswick lines use diesels exclusively I'm sure they will appear there first. It could have been much worse if they purchased the butt ugly EMD DE30AC that is used on LIRR.
There is worse than the DE30s. Try the PL42AC that NJT purchased from Alstom. Cheap Genesis knock off.
Although EMD presents the F59 on its website it's been years since any have been built. Ironically, MPI's MP36 models are actually remanufactured from scrapped GP40/SD40's. The frames are modified, the engines/alternator/trucks/traction motors overhauled or rebuilt and new control/electronic systems added.
The MARC units were ordered last year as an add-on to Utah Transit's order which is why MARC is receiving them relatively quickly.
As for GE the last passenger units ordered were for Metro North. NJ Transit has a couple but those are on lease from Amtrak. NJT's new dual power (Electric/diesel) locos are coming from Bombardier and will resemble a longer ALP electric with a single cab.
I caught one of these testing i belive on the camben line today. First loco was the new MARC train, second (or middle) was a MARC passenger car, and third/last loco was a CSX Train. It was going so fast so i couldnt get the numbers.
Quote from: DE40LFR on April 19, 2009, 05:45:03 PM
I caught one of these testing i belive on the camben line today. First loco was the new MARC train, second (or middle) was a MARC passenger car, and third/last loco was a CSX Train. It was going so fast so i couldnt get the numbers.
Cool sighting, thanks for the information. It definitely seem to be a test train set up for push-pull operation.
The June edition of TRAINS magazine has a caption and photograph of NO.11 on Page 22. TRAINS reported "MP36PH-3C No. 11 is the first of 26 units to be delivered from MotivePower Inc. for use on MTA's Maryland Rail Commuter system serving Baltimore and Washington, D.C. The units will replace 19 GP40s and some GP39s on MARC's roster."
Man. I love my GP40's. Why get ride of 19 of them. I hope they will still be used.
The GP40s might be going for freight service when the MPs go into revenue service. They won't just place the locs by themselves in service until they'll test them with current equipment. GO did the same with theirs when the MP40s came, but they have different specs. Theirs can power up to 12 cars while the GP40s can only power 8 and the GP39s can only power 4.
From today's Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/commuting/bal-md.marc14aug14,0,5448920.story
Yet again. Another locomotive order and it'll take them about a year to get them in service when they are already a few here. I remember the whole fiasco about the HHP8s when they came in. 36 million dollar mistakes for sure. Those locomotives seem to break down more than any other locomotive on the fleet.
The issue with the new MARC loco's is who pays for the testing. What the article did not mention is an allegation that MDOT is also balking at paying for Amtrak's mandatory 100 mph + certification testing which must be done before the loco's can run on the NEC. Allegedly MDOT is offering to limit top speed to 90 mph which will play havoc with both MARC and Amtrak scheduling. Remember, on the NEC Amtrak is the landlord and MARC is the tenant!