BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.....once the PRR installed AC catenary, and abandoned the use of DC third rail, the DD-1's were no longer needed, and, as mentioned earlier, some went over to the LIRR, where, for many years, they hauled non-electrified trains between Jamaica and Penn Station.

The tiny "pantographs" that the DD-1's were equipped with were originally used at Penn Station at the major interlockings, where heavy girderwork supported overhead third rail, to allow trains to proceed through diverging routes without losing power (due to third rail gaps)

The NYC's electrics also utilized small pantographs, when negotiating interlocking at GCT.

When the PRR electrified its main lines, it also extended the catenary to the Exchange Place ferry terminal at Jersey City.......

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's two examples of the "mini pans" used on NYC electrics........

www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc100s.jpg

www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/NYC235WKA.jpg

(courtesy: Fallen Flags Raailroads)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.....one thing I've always wondered about over the years, regarding AMTRAK rolling stock, is why baggage versions of the AMFLEET car were never built.

Recall, also, the original METROLINER trains (the MU's); these were the first cars to use the tubular design later adopted by theAMTRAK for the AMFLEET cars.

It would have been interesting, had AMTRAK not given up on MU trainsets for METROLINER services, to see what later trainsets might have looked like.

It is interesting how, in later years the "high speed" MU concept was abandoned by AMTRAK, replaced by conventional equipment......

"NYO"

[traildriver]

Unfortunately, the tubular design was not conducive to baggage cars, making it difficult to have large cargo doors.

The Metroliner was the 'template' for later Amfleet I and II designs, as well as the SPV2000 rail diesel car.
But there were earlier examples using partial tubular design...
The Keystone was one...
http://streamlinermemories.info/?p=2276
The Pioneer III was another...later evolving into the Silverliner's...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_III_(railcar) and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budd_Silverliner

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

traildriver:

We had discussed this before; for some reason, when a Wikipedia link has "( )" in it, it will not "hotlink".

Anyway, thanks for bringing up the "KEYSTONE", I had totally had forgotten about this train.

Recall, also, the sleek "AEROTRAIN", which looked like it had 4104's in the consist!

I have several vintage toys of this unique train; it certainly caught one's eye, back in the day!

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

www.american-rails.com/aero.html

(courtesy: americanrails)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Passenger handout for the "AEROTRAIN".......

www.rr-fallenflags.org/prr/prr-aero.html

(courtesy: Fallen Flags Railroads)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"AEROTRAIN" at Greenburg, PA, 1957........

www.rr-fallenflags.org/prr/prr-aerotrain-a.jpg

(courtesy: Fallen Flags Railroads)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a beautiful vintage postcard view of the "AEROTRAIN"......

www.rr-fallenflags.org/prr/prr-aerotrain.jpg

(courtesy:Fallen Flags Railroads)

[traildriver]

If you bring up the Aerotrain, you might also recall its Pullman-Standard built rival, the "Train-X" or "X-plorer. New York Central tested both of them...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xplorer_(New_York_Central_Railroad_train)

The Train-X was powered by an unusual Baldwin diesel-hydraulic locomotive...
The New Haven also had a version, but with added third rail power...
http://yardlimit.railfan.net/baldwindiesels/rp210/

[traildriver]

Of course, when discussing lightweight, experimental passenger train history, homage must be paid to the Burlington Pioneer Zephyr, and Union Pacific M-10000...both derived from even earlier rail "motor-cars"....

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From: "BALTIMORE & OHIO RAILROAD" (Reynolds/Oroszi)......

"......only one B&O service would receive entire new sets of lightweight streamline equipment at one time; the all-coach "COLUMBIAN" received all-new equipment in 1949......"

"......this included the first-and for many years-only dome cars in service on an Eastern railroad. Clearances on the Eastern roads were not conducive to dome operation, but the new B&O domes were built to low-clearance specifications. For safety reasons, passengers were not allowed to sit in the dome area under catenary in the DC area......"

".....these cars were also equipped with spotlights on the roofs, to illuminate the nighttime countryside......"

"NYO"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's an unusual photo at Toledo, taken in 1969; here, we see a B&O dome (note roof spotlight) in a consist that is otherwise all head-end cars (talk about an elaborate "milk run"!)

www.rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo-dc5550dca.jpg

(courtesy: Fallen Flags Railroads)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

See also:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strata-Dome *

*(AMTRAK used these interesting cars for some years; thankfully, four out of the five built still survive today!)