Amtrak to run last Metroliner next month

[battalion51]

WASHINGTON - Amtrak will run its last Metroliner on the Northeast Corridor next month. The railroad plans to implement an all-Acela Express schedule effective with the Oct. 30, 2006, timetable. The last day of Metroliner operation will be Friday, Oct. 27.

For the full story check out the Trains.com Newswire (Subscription required).

Now if I recall correctly there were plans back in 2002 or 2005 (can't remember which) right before the Acela fleet was sidelined to phase out the Metroliners. Hopefully that won't recur again.

 

[Anthony]

Metroliner trip on 10/27, anyone?

 

[The Metropolitan]

Metroliner trip on 10/27, anyone?

Why must you tempt me.

The last train, S/B #2301, makes its final boarding in my hometown before making its last trip to DC. I've never ridden a Metroliner before, but prospectively, I could pay $41 for the honor of being the last schmoe to board a Metroliner....

Hmm, this does merit some thought.... B)

 

[AlanB]

Metroliner trip on 10/27, anyone?

Why must you tempt me.

The last train, S/B #2301, makes its final boarding in my hometown before making its last trip to DC. I've never ridden a Metroliner before, but prospectively, I could pay $41 for the honor of being the last schmoe to board a Metroliner....

Hmm, this does merit some thought.... B)

And its worth 100 AGR points too!

 

[user 683]

Metroliner trip on 10/27, anyone?

Why must you tempt me.

The last train, S/B #2301, makes its final boarding in my hometown before making its last trip to DC. I've never ridden a Metroliner before, but prospectively, I could pay $41 for the honor of being the last schmoe to board a Metroliner....

Hmm, this does merit some thought.... B)

Tempting indeed! I've never ridden on the Metroliner either. Sounds like a good excuse for day trip in the NE corridor.

Deimos

 

[Anthony]

I can actually make 2301 into a useful/worthwhile trip, separately... and it's after school's out on the 27th, too.

 

[Guest]

Metroliner trip on 10/27, anyone?

Why must you tempt me.

The last train, S/B #2301, makes its final boarding in my hometown before making its last trip to DC. I've never ridden a Metroliner before, but prospectively, I could pay $41 for the honor of being the last schmoe to board a Metroliner....

Hmm, this does merit some thought.... B)

I might just have to join you on that plaform. <grin>

-Rafi

(also in BAL)

 

[Trogdor]

My only time on a Metroliner was in 2001, when I rode from WAS to BWI on a Metroliner on a Sunday morning. I think the fare difference between that and a Northeast Direct/Acela Regional was around $2 or 3. I don't know if I ever got Amtrak Guest Rewards credit for that trip, though.

October 27 is a Friday, which would normally rule out any such excursion (considering I live about 1000 miles away). However, I do have a day off in October thanks to the company policy of getting a free day off for your birthday, which can be used on any day within that month. So, I suppose I could take that day off, fly out to New York that morning, and ride said Metroliner. After all, I *do* need to rack up a bunch of Amtrak Guest Rewards points, and riding Metroliners (and Acela Expresses) between those points are good ways of doing so.

However, at this point, I need a little bit more "encouraging."

I also need that day off approved.

 

[George Harris]

Actually, these are Metroliners in name only. The REAL Metroliners, the high speed EMU's built by Budd for Pennsy or Penn Central, have long since been de-motored and turned into cab cars or scrapped. They were great running vehicles, but unfortunately the money to build the track appropriate to their speed capabilities was not there. If it had been spent, we would still be leading the pack in rail innovation, instead of handing it to the Japanese and French.

George

 

[The Metropolitan]

And its worth 100 AGR points too!

Boy, have I set myself up as a one trick pony!

Checking my options on getting back, I *might* be game. I'd have to roll out on the "Federal," (66) in order to get back to BAL in enough time to get LR back home, as the last MARC train cuts it too too tight.

Rafi, hmm, why does this look like it could turn out to resemble one of those "Goofy Gopher" cartoons: "No, I INSIST - after YOU!"

I saw the trainset at Union on my DC trip. Curious to wonder just how the cars will be dispersed.

 

[battalion51]

Most likely the cars will be dealt out for use on other trains as Business class cars and allow for more flexibility in car uogrades and reserves for PM.

 

[Guest]

And its worth 100 AGR points too!

Boy, have I set myself up as a one trick pony!

Checking my options on getting back, I *might* be game. I'd have to roll out on the "Federal," (66) in order to get back to BAL in enough time to get LR back home, as the last MARC train cuts it too too tight.

Rafi, hmm, why does this look like it could turn out to resemble one of those "Goofy Gopher" cartoons: "No, I INSIST - after YOU!"

I saw the trainset at Union on my DC trip. Curious to wonder just how the cars will be dispersed.

I was thinking about how I would get back as well - that is if I were to make the trip. The schedule indicates regional 66 departs WAS at 1000 PM. I'd be doing a RT from BWI, but was thinking about going to Baltimore for the day (BWI-BAL-WAS-BWI). Then I wouldn't short circuit your goal to be the last passenger to board That is of course providing no one else boards at BWI on the way to WAS.

Deimos

 

[user 683]

oops forgot to log-in prior to last post ....... MARC schedule looks very doable; departing WAS at 1045.

Deimos

 

[frj1983]

You know,

It's times like this when I wished that I lived a little closer to the NEC.

As it is, I'll have to observe the passing of the Metroliner name from my comfy chair.

For those of you taking the journey "bon voyage!"

 

[Anthony]

I would have to take 66 from WAS back to BOS that night if I were to do 2301 :lol:

 

[GP35]

What will happen to the consist? We badly need Sunset going daily even if a few trains uses a freight engine with metroliner coaches.

 

[caravanman]

As a foreign Amtrak enthusiast, I enjoy Amtrak travel, but I am not particularly knowlegable about the train equipment...I am just wondering what the metroliner trains are/look like?

Ed

 

[battalion51]

What will happen to the consist? We badly need Sunset going daily even if a few trains uses a freight engine with metroliner coaches.

That wouldn't exactly work out too well, considering freight engines can't run HEP needed for the train, or that UP & CSX wouldn't give up engines to Amtrak.

 

[Trogdor]

As a foreign Amtrak enthusiast, I enjoy Amtrak travel, but I am not particularly knowlegable about the train equipment...I am just wondering what the metroliner trains are/look like?Ed

Today, a Metroliner looks like any other standard NEC train. An electric locomotive pulling a few Amfleet cars. The coaches do have slightly better legroom than standard Amfleet Is, and "First Class" contain 2+1 seating.

Back in the day, Metroliners were self-powered multiple-unit electric cars with cabs. However, I get the impression that these did not perform too reliably, and they were replaced, during the early Amtrak era, with AEM-7s and the Amfleet coaches you see today.

 

[rmgreenesq]

Metroliner trip on 10/27, anyone?

Why must you tempt me.

The last train, S/B #2301, makes its final boarding in my hometown before making its last trip to DC. I've never ridden a Metroliner before, but prospectively, I could pay $41 for the honor of being the last schmoe to board a Metroliner....

Hmm, this does merit some thought.... B)

I might just have to join you on that plaform. <grin>

-Rafi

(also in BAL)

I just may join you on the platform at NYP.

Rick

 

[Anthony]

It's a little early, but if people actually want to do this... I'll shoot for 2301. As people firm up their plans, perhaps we can get a list of participants going. :lol:

 

[AlanB]

Well for those that might need to consider spending the night in DC after the ride, you may be able to use this list from Kevin Korell's website. It was compilied for the last OTOL fest in the DC area and lists hotels that are near subway stations in the greater DC area. While the rates won't be current, it will give people a starting point to look for lodging, if you don't want to take 66 back home that same day.

 

[GP35]

What will happen to the consist? We badly need Sunset going daily even if a few trains uses a freight engine with metroliner coaches.

That wouldn't exactly work out too well, considering freight engines can't run HEP needed for the train, or that UP & CSX wouldn't give up engines to Amtrak.

lol...I didn't exactly mean just put a freight engine in front of the coaches. There are modified engines if no P-42 is available. Anything, just get daily service. I always thought going back to the power coach was a good idea.

This way any engine could pull without lost of power in the coaches.

 

[battalion51]

In all reality that would be more of a hassle than its worth. With some trains requiring power changes from diesels to electrics it would defeat the purpose. It'd also mean it's another car to have to maintain, and another fuel tank that would need juice at service stops. The best design really is to have a separate HEP generator (like most commuter roads do) on the engine since it can draw off the main fuel tank, and some engines may still have an alternator on the main block for backup, but I'm not sure about that.

 

[AlanB]

Well the whole point of needing a freight engine is moot, since even if by some change Amtrak doesn't have a couple of extra P42's to roll out, they can always pull a couple of the P40's out of mothballs.