Has anyone noticed Rohr 1024-1025 lately?

[SchuminWeb]

Has anyone noticed Rohr 1024-1025 lately?  I spotted them at Brentwood today, and by the looks of them, they have been idled for a while, and won't be in revenue service any time soon.

For one, this pair still has the old numbers-on-plates style that all Rohrs had up until last year.  This would indicate to me that the cars have likely been idle since at least last summer, when the numbers were replaced.  Then additionally, this pair was missing the cab side windows, as well as the cab bulkhead doors.

Pretty strange, if you ask me.  I've put in a query to WMATA about the cars, and so we'll see what I find out, I suppose.

[Sand Box John]

Based on your description, it is likely the pair has been removed from service because of metal fatigue, WMATA has been patching the stress cracks that have developed at the lower corners of the door openings nearest the ends of the of cars for some years now.

Sad thing is, 1024 - 25 is one of the pairs I would like to see preserved because for some reason those car numbers stick in my head. May have been one of the pairs that was used in the WMATA promotional propaganda film "Metro Here And Now", or may have been one of the pairs I road aboard on opening day, 03 27 1976.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

Do you think Metro will preserve a pair or two?  I'd love for them to do a farewell fan trip with a 6 car train, photo ops, runbys, etc. 

[Sand Box John]

WMATAGMOAGH
Do you think Metro will preserve a pair or two?  I'd love for them to do a farewell fan trip with a 6 car train, photo ops, runbys, etc.

This post at railroad.net suggests WMATA intends to preserve few pairs:
Re: Metro's oldest rail cars will be rolling out of service
by jayo Sun Jan 30, 2011 6:25 pm

I would like to see a farewell run, reserved ticket seating, that would run over at least half of the system, starting at Rhode Island Avenue and utilize the three non revenue tracks to change between lines. Proceeds would go to paying for their on property preservation or transportation to an off property preservation location.

I can think of only a few locations that are convenient to a station that would allow ticket holders to take pictures of a photo runby.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

What locations are you thinking of?  The way it works on fantrips in New York (and Chicago from what I've been told, I've never been on one) is that the fantrip train lets a revenue train or two ahead of it to let the photographers get to where they want to be, and then either the train waits somewhere else for everyone to catch up or picks them up along the way.  For example, the hypothetical Rohr set could let people choose between riding and photographing at Shady Grove.  A revenue train would leave Shady Grove with photographers, who would be told they can go to any station between Shady Grove and Medical Center.  The Rohrs would then follow sometime after that revenue train, run down to Medical Center non-stop, run back to Shady Grove (or Twinbrook perhaps, to save time) non stop, and then make all station stops back to Medical Center to pick up the photographers before heading onward.

[Sand Box John]

WMATAGMOAGH
What locations are you thinking of?  The way it works on fantrips in New York (and Chicago from what I've been told, I've never been on one) is that the fantrip train lets a revenue train or two ahead of it to let the photographers get to where they want to be, and then either the train waits somewhere else for everyone to catch up or picks them up along the way.  For example, the hypothetical Rohr set could let people choose between riding and photographing at Shady Grove.  A revenue train would leave Shady Grove with photographers, who would be told they can go to any station between Shady Grove and Medical Center.  The Rohrs would then follow sometime after that revenue train, run down to Medical Center non-stop, run back to Shady Grove (or Twinbrook perhaps, to save time) non stop, and then make all station stops back to Medical Center to pick up the photographers before heading onward.

To me a photo runby locations are not on station platforms but at locations adjacent to the right of way between or adjacent to stations.

Locations convenient to stations:
Collage Park, parking garage
Grosvenor, bus terminal
Huntington, parking garages
Prince George's Plaza, parking garage

Other photo runby location not in any particular order:
Duke Street Alexandira, VA
Largo, parking garage
New Carrollton, parking garage
Cameron Parke Place Alexandira, VA, parking garage
Franconia Road
Suitland Parkway west of Naylor Road
Porthole north of Arlington Cemetery
Haycock Road, overpass, Falls Church, VA
New York Avenue NE, overpass
Swann Road, Suitland MD
Berwyn Road Collage Park, MD, pedestrian bridge. 

The above is not a comprehensive list of adjacent to the right of way picture taking locations.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

I was thinking of Grosvenor when I made my example.  I think in my scenario, you would have enough time to get down to Grosvenor and be in position for the 2 runbys before needing to return to the platform to reboard the special train.  The intermediate points you suggest would be harder, I guess one would have to pick between chasing and riding the train. 

[WayneNYC]

What locations are you thinking of?  The way it works on fantrips in New York (and Chicago from what I've been told, I've never been on one) is that the fantrip train lets a revenue train or two ahead of it to let the photographers get to where they want to be, and then either the train waits somewhere else for everyone to catch up or picks them up along the way.

Oren, you're correct.  They do this often on NYC fantrips.  Also, some of those guys are simply chasing (and not riding) for good photo ops.   

[NewFlyer9736BCT]

I just passed by Brentwood yard today and saw 1024/1025. your description is right, I wonder what's keeping them there other than the missing windows on the cab side...

[WayneNYC]

I just passed by Brentwood yard today and saw 1024/1025. you're description is right, I wonder what's keeping them there other than the missing windows on the cab side...

If those cars have been retired, they could be using them as part donors.

[Tritransit Area]

Wow, John, thanks for the list of good photo locations for the Metrorail system.  I really should try and get some "ROW" shots of these trains outside of stations.  The Metrorail pictures in my album leave much to be desired, sadly.

[WMATAGMOAGH]

John and I talked about doing a WMATA "Outside of the System Photo Ops" World Tour once, maybe we need to make it happen sometime...

[Flxible]

Do you think Metro will preserve a pair or two?  I'd love for them to do a farewell fan trip with a 6 car train, photo ops, runbys, etc.

That would be nice.  The Rohr cars are still my all-time Metro favorites.  I would also like to see them do a farewell trip on a Flx or two whenever they decide to dispose of them from the RR fleet- which personally I hope they never do.   

[SchuminWeb]

And I got a reply from Metro.  Here it is:

Dear Mr. Schumin:

Thank you for contacting Metro.  We apologize for the delinquent response to your inquiry.  We have been inundated with rail service correspondence.  We recommend contacting us via telephone when urgent information is shared or needed.

Railcars 1024 & 1025 remain out of service.  They are having extensive work done before they are returned to revenue service.

To speak to a Rail Transportation Customer Service Representative for Comments, Complaints or Suggestions, please call 301-562-4605 weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. You can leave a message at all other times or complete the comment form located on our website at www.wmata.com.

If you ever need to speak with a Customer Information Agent for assistance with general questions, please call 202-637-7000; 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Web site is also a valuable resource for customers to find out more details about trip planning, bus and rail fares, service disruptions and other information.

Sincerely,

Jeannie Greene-Barr
Rail Customer Service

Case # 612784

"Safety is our number one priority"

As usual, 99% fluff, 1% answer.  But I'm guessing based on this that the cars are not being used as parts cars for the rest of the fleet, and they currently are not outside at Brentwood.