 |
Re: SMART Likely to approve "Heavy Rail" for commuter train
Author: BOB2
Date: 07-15-2009 - 19:28
Yes, you can buy or lease, and refurbish or rebuild 60+ year old Budd RDC's and run them.
In my career, several agencies have gone down this path, spending from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars rebuilding and refurbishing 60+ year old technology, and trying to keep it in working order, for usually another 4 or 5 years. Then you have to spend again, and spend LA County decided, as early as the 70's, to take this route, and bought some obsolete coaches for a LOSSAN commute set, that then took them years to get rid of. Some of you old timers will remember the Baxter Ward train?
In general, buying or leasing RDC's, or other aging equipment, hasn't been a very good experience for most of those agencies (or the taxpayers), who've almost all had to eventually buy modern commute equipment to replace them.
The RDC's are fine for a nice slow tourist service, as wonderful old museum relics that bring back fond memories, and they last a lot longer that way, too. The Canadians have done a good job of maintaining some sets for rural services. I believe a few are still in use here and there, like the Alaska local(?).
For new service like this you can and should buy newer, better built, safer, state of the art equipment, that will last another 30+ years in heavy daily use, and that have service, parts, and warranties available. A Colorado Railcar type self propelled "trainable" car, or locomotive hauled modern commute equipment that is FRA compliant and meets that criteria.
In my career, several agencies have gone down this path, spending from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars rebuilding and refurbishing 60+ year old technology, and trying to keep it in working order, for usually another 4 or 5 years. Then you have to spend again, and spend LA County decided, as early as the 70's, to take this route, and bought some obsolete coaches for a LOSSAN commute set, that then took them years to get rid of. Some of you old timers will remember the Baxter Ward train?
In general, buying or leasing RDC's, or other aging equipment, hasn't been a very good experience for most of those agencies (or the taxpayers), who've almost all had to eventually buy modern commute equipment to replace them.
The RDC's are fine for a nice slow tourist service, as wonderful old museum relics that bring back fond memories, and they last a lot longer that way, too. The Canadians have done a good job of maintaining some sets for rural services. I believe a few are still in use here and there, like the Alaska local(?).
For new service like this you can and should buy newer, better built, safer, state of the art equipment, that will last another 30+ years in heavy daily use, and that have service, parts, and warranties available. A Colorado Railcar type self propelled "trainable" car, or locomotive hauled modern commute equipment that is FRA compliant and meets that criteria.
