It would seem that the Colorado Rail Car dmu's would in some sense be a contemporary version of the Budd rdc. I just can't see the merit of adding such complexity unless there is a fuel and labor savings that is downright incredible.

I am beginning to think this whole dmu deal is a gratuitous attempt to placate Marin County, in particular Larkspur and San Rafael. Larkspur doesn't want to be a tourist train transfer point and San Rafael doesn't want long trains blocking downtown arterials. And I do not believe there is a way to acceptably engineer a heavy rail grade separation in downtown San Rafael.

If you read the Marin Independent Journal you will soon discover that Larkspur's greatest worry is that the train station will legally require them to build more low income housing. Perish the thought. They would have to put up with trains, tourists, and the hoi polloi!