Metra proposes raising fares for 4th year in row
- Thread starter Chester Copperpot
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Yeah, the tilting for cornering was definitely different.
Supposedly the line would have a top speed of around 140 to start, but will be capable of 180 once everything is up to snuff. I'd have to double check my notes from their conference though to be 100% on those numbers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH-3FsmU6KQ
So that's what the deal is with the F59PH's. I was wondering where those came from and was hoping they were new replacement engines for some of the older stuff Metra has been running. They are powerful, efficient and can power the cars at notch 1, so they're quiet, unlike the F40PH's.
I was surprised to see how badly the MP36's faired over the years. I remember when they bought them and it wasn't all that long ago. Some of them already look like they're 40 years old with lots of rust.
Something interesting, I noticed that within the past 8 months or so, sometimes they now run the MP36's at notch 1 to power the cars during mild weather, when they never did that before? I always knew they had that capability, but wondered why Metra never utilized it. My train into work this morning was pushed by an MP36 running at notch 1 with 6 cars. I wonder what has changed.
After riding Metra for 27 years, you pick up a few things. I can usually tell by ear what the power level is and also what engine I'm sitting behind even if I haven't seen it.
There are other little things too, such as the tone of the horns and the sound of the air compressors on the engine.
There are other little things too, such as the tone of the horns and the sound of the air compressors on the engine.
Do not agree with accepting rate increases because it's cheaper than driving down town.
Rate increases would be more palatable if reliability, cleanliness, safety and quicker times to destination were being addressed.
Unfortunately all the consumer sees is annual fare increases while the same ancient, dirty junk is still rolling down the tracks.
Rate increases would be more palatable if reliability, cleanliness, safety and quicker times to destination were being addressed.
Unfortunately all the consumer sees is annual fare increases while the same ancient, dirty junk is still rolling down the tracks.
Just to do a rough, back of napkin set of math, lets say the average unit makes 10 "runs" a day. That means 10 trips into the city, and 10 trips out of the city. At an average of each line having around 30 miles (some are more, some are less), doing this 5 times a week, over 50 weeks a year (I'm trying to factor out two weeks simply from holidays and not needing to use the unit constantly), then using the example of METX 137 that I posted above coming on in 1979, that's 38 years, I'm coming up with it having around 5.7 MILLION miles on it.
Now I know this is high because I'm assuming it's run all day, when in fact outside of rush hour, many go back to one of the train sheds at Western Ave for maintenance or back out to Waukegan, Elburn, etc, for rest, so it's not probably that high, but the point is, over 30 - 40 years of constant use, these things have millions of miles on them.
I like the desktops too, but I feel a lot of it was the old timer engineers that just like the old rack style with all controls at the left hand. The older style SD40's/60's and even getting into the older "Geep's", this style allowed them to sit with their backs to the outside wall of the cabs and look out the back window as much as the front window while in operation. Another complaint, and this was with the early desktop setups, was that until both GE and EMD came up with a "wide cab", many complained it rode rough compared to older units.
As to the F59's, since they're being used primarily on the old Milwaukee District lines, where the old F40C's were running before being replaced by the MP36's, I think this was a just a stop-gap to have sufficient backup as they fixed/rebuilt/converted the MP36's. I thought they were stupid to sell the bulk of their F40C's to St. Louis's commuter rail system, because now it bit them in the ass. They are more powerful, but I don't think that they're as efficient in stop/start situations like the F40's were.
The F40's being the "Screamboxes" that they are, is partially due to Metra's insistence at running HEP (Head End Power). Meaning that the prime mover (the locomotive's engine), is also turning a second generator to supply power to the rest of the train. Many other transit companies use a second, seperate diesel engine in there, to turn the auxilliary generator to power the train. Metra refuses to do this because of maintenance costs, and keeping all parts the same since they have sooo many locomotives. So in order to keep sufficient amps to move the train and supply power to the train, it's gotta run near WOT. I think they're governed to around 3,300 rpm, so they're usually running just under that. The newer MP36's, with the advances in computers that run it (the F40 doesn't have any of that nonsense), the software allows it to run at lower notches when not needing maximum power, such as idling and running between stops.
As to why they leave it in notch 1, I wonder if it's because they're doing rehab at Union Station and not running power to the trains from the station. Union Station is unique in that since it can't exhaust the exhaust out of the building like Ogilvie (NW Station to us), they have to shut the train down to idle and then they'd plug the cars into the station to run lighting, HVAC, etc... They can't do this so they have to keep it running at notch 1 to power the train. Another reason that the argument for them to have a separate small diesel in there turning the aux generator makes sense...
This. Also after the many years riding the UP West line, I got to know every inch of track, every set of switches that we'd routinely go through, that I could completely zonk out and never miss West Chicago on the way home. For example, at the time, the 5:09 express ended at WeGo. The stop before WeGo was Wheaton. After leaving Wheaton, you'd get up to 55mph through Winfield, then just as you come into WeGo, you'd slow to a crawl, and then cross three sets of switches to go from the south set of rails, across the middle set, to the north set. So you just get used to speed, timing, clunking through the switches, ride, swaying of the cars, etc...
I wish I could, unfortunately we had to sign so much paperwork with them that I can't post anything really.
Once we start building them I might be able to get some pictures from our end, but I can't post anything from their end.
If people see the cost of this wire though they might think differently over the rates going up.
We just got done with some circuit breaker panels for another train manufacturer too, all 2000v insulated wire, the insulation has to go through all sorts of tests and pass all kinds of smoke ratings and everything that it's insane.
Once we start building them I might be able to get some pictures from our end, but I can't post anything from their end.
If people see the cost of this wire though they might think differently over the rates going up.
We just got done with some circuit breaker panels for another train manufacturer too, all 2000v insulated wire, the insulation has to go through all sorts of tests and pass all kinds of smoke ratings and everything that it's insane.
So my train nerdery...
Usually every year around the holidays, I set up my HO scale trains in the basement. I made it a modular setup to be able to R&R when I want to. Anywho, when I first built it, I only had one track. Later I added a second, smaller loop. The second smaller loop is what I run the Metra ones on and the bigger 1st loop is what I run the freight on.
My Metra locomotives (#157 Village of Palatine and #163 City of Elmhurst). Not pictured is my newest addition... #137 City of West Chicago Yup, I gots it in HO scale.
Here is the overall layout, I let the kids set up the christmas village, but you can see the two track setup. At some point I will make further improvements to the setup and add the green grass
My rigs;
Usually every year around the holidays, I set up my HO scale trains in the basement. I made it a modular setup to be able to R&R when I want to. Anywho, when I first built it, I only had one track. Later I added a second, smaller loop. The second smaller loop is what I run the Metra ones on and the bigger 1st loop is what I run the freight on.
My Metra locomotives (#157 Village of Palatine and #163 City of Elmhurst). Not pictured is my newest addition... #137 City of West Chicago Yup, I gots it in HO scale.
Here is the overall layout, I let the kids set up the christmas village, but you can see the two track setup. At some point I will make further improvements to the setup and add the green grass
My rigs;
That is awesome. Especially finding train models done up in local livery. Pretty sweet.So my train nerdery...
Usually every year around the holidays, I set up my HO scale trains in the basement. I made it a modular setup to be able to R&R when I want to. Anywho, when I first built it, I only had one track. Later I added a second, smaller loop. The second smaller loop is what I run the Metra ones on and the bigger 1st loop is what I run the freight on.
My Metra locomotives (#157 Village of Palatine and #163 City of Elmhurst). Not pictured is my newest addition... #137 City of West Chicago Yup, I gots it in HO scale.
Here is the overall layout, I let the kids set up the christmas village, but you can see the two track setup. At some point I will make further improvements to the setup and add the green grass
My rigs;
.
Don't know anything about running a train service, but I do know for a fact, those mechanics working on the trains are robbing them blind!!!!
I met one racing at US 41 and he told us stories that should piss off every tax payer in the country!!!
They fill their lunch boxes with grade 8 hardware weekly.
He used to give away hardware all the time trying to be a big shot
They steal tools regularly.
They sleep on their shift and cover for each other regularly.
Now I'm sure most, at least I hope so, are decent hard working dudes that never steal anything.
The ones that are POS thief's, are costing them a fortune
.
Don't know anything about running a train service, but I do know for a fact, those mechanics working on the trains are robbing them blind!!!!
I met one racing at US 41 and he told us stories that should piss off every tax payer in the country!!!
They fill their lunch boxes with grade 8 hardware weekly.
He used to give away hardware all the time trying to be a big shot
They steal tools regularly.
They sleep on their shift and cover for each other regularly.
Now I'm sure most, at least I hope so, are decent hard working dudes that never steal anything.
The ones that are POS thief's, are costing them a fortune
.
going through the back of those older metra units to turn the generator off when pulling into union station always reminded me of that engine room scene from Titanic. You can barely breathe and it feels like it's about 120 degrees in there. I'm a freight engineer but not passenger service certified so my knowledge of the specifics on those metra units is pretty limited.
I was going to say it sounds like any other job Ive ever been at.
Always someone going to take advantage in any way they can.
Not to mention deafening... Of course I'm sure you're wearing ear protection, but still...
I think in another thread somewhere you may have posted that you were on freight. I'd love to hear some stories.
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