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Amtrak Acela High Speed testing on the NEC
Author: Mitch
Date: 10-08-2012 - 19:30
On Tuesday, September 25th (between 10:30 PM Monday night and 2:30 AM Tuesday morning), Amtrak conducted high speed rail test trials on the NEC between New Brunswick, NJ and Trenton. The highest speeds were achieved by Princeton Junction, NJ where the CURRENT record from 1967 still remains.
The tests went in a series of incremental steps (so I've heard) starting out at 135 mph (current speed along this portion of the Corridor) and worked their way up to the neighborhood of 160+ mph. The FRA requires running speeds of 5 mph higher then anticipated in service speeds which are expected to be 160 mph in a few years time after rebuilding and replacing of the catenary supports and wires. Considering the fact that 170 mph seems to be the upper limit of this current crop of Acela's, I could imagine a second set of Acela's - Acela II coming along that could handle this speed with ease. Hey - maybe if the CAHSR project starts moving, they can combine their order with Amtrak's. Maybe the first set of Acela's can be freed for service on the Keystone Corridor... wishful thinking, perhaps.
Quite a few of the papers around the country got their facts wrong and stated that Amtrak was out to break the current speed record for a production built train set in the US which actually stands as mentioned at 170.8 mph and was set way back on Dec 20th, 1967 by the United Aircraft Turbo Train built by Sikorsky and Pullman. Sadly, many papers are quoting the current unidentified record at 165 mph...
Here's a photo from that night - unconfirmed sources state the speed reached was 160 mph though 169.2 mph on a follow up test between Wilmington, DE and Perryville, MD. Further tests were scheduled - including runs in RI and MA. Wonder if the record from my favorite Turbotrain will be matched or beaten after nearly 45 years?
Acela run expected to match U.S. rail speed record of 165 mph
[articles.baltimoresun.com]
Acela High Speed Test Run
The Speed Record Plaque at Princeton Junction Station
The UA Turbo - 1967 170.8 mph Record Holder
/Mitch
PS - Yes, the NYC Jet Powered RDC was recorded as 184 mph but never carried paying passengers nor was it ever likely expected to (at least not with the jet engines attached!)
NYC Jet Engined RDC
The tests went in a series of incremental steps (so I've heard) starting out at 135 mph (current speed along this portion of the Corridor) and worked their way up to the neighborhood of 160+ mph. The FRA requires running speeds of 5 mph higher then anticipated in service speeds which are expected to be 160 mph in a few years time after rebuilding and replacing of the catenary supports and wires. Considering the fact that 170 mph seems to be the upper limit of this current crop of Acela's, I could imagine a second set of Acela's - Acela II coming along that could handle this speed with ease. Hey - maybe if the CAHSR project starts moving, they can combine their order with Amtrak's. Maybe the first set of Acela's can be freed for service on the Keystone Corridor... wishful thinking, perhaps.
Quite a few of the papers around the country got their facts wrong and stated that Amtrak was out to break the current speed record for a production built train set in the US which actually stands as mentioned at 170.8 mph and was set way back on Dec 20th, 1967 by the United Aircraft Turbo Train built by Sikorsky and Pullman. Sadly, many papers are quoting the current unidentified record at 165 mph...
Here's a photo from that night - unconfirmed sources state the speed reached was 160 mph though 169.2 mph on a follow up test between Wilmington, DE and Perryville, MD. Further tests were scheduled - including runs in RI and MA. Wonder if the record from my favorite Turbotrain will be matched or beaten after nearly 45 years?
Acela run expected to match U.S. rail speed record of 165 mph
[articles.baltimoresun.com]
Acela High Speed Test Run
The Speed Record Plaque at Princeton Junction Station
The UA Turbo - 1967 170.8 mph Record Holder
/Mitch
PS - Yes, the NYC Jet Powered RDC was recorded as 184 mph but never carried paying passengers nor was it ever likely expected to (at least not with the jet engines attached!)
NYC Jet Engined RDC
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 Amtrak Acela High Speed testing on the NEC |
Mitch | 10-08-2012 - 19:30 |
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Re: Amtrak Acela High Speed testing on the NEC
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Use a radar gun next time! | 10-09-2012 - 10:41 |
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Re: Amtrak Acela High Speed testing on the NEC
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Wrong link above - corrected now | 10-09-2012 - 11:11 |
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Re: Amtrak Acela High Speed testing on the NEC
|
Mitch | 10-09-2012 - 13:17 |