Discussion:
future of Amtrak Clocker service
(too old to reply)
Dave
2004-03-06 19:01:23 UTC
Permalink
The peak hour clockers seem to be operated with a NJT locomotive, but
Amtrak Amfleet cars. Sometimes it's all NJT equipment (loco and
coaches). A conductor said that Amtrak is trying to get NJT to take
it over completely, operating from PHL to NYC with NJT equipment.
Right now the only NJT service out of PHL is the A.C. line. Is it
looking like NJT will just run their own equipment on this service?
Mark Cahill
2004-03-06 20:59:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dave
The peak hour clockers seem to be operated with a NJT locomotive, but
Amtrak Amfleet cars. Sometimes it's all NJT equipment (loco and
coaches). A conductor said that Amtrak is trying to get NJT to take
it over completely, operating from PHL to NYC with NJT equipment.
Right now the only NJT service out of PHL is the A.C. line. Is it
looking like NJT will just run their own equipment on this service?
Probably.

Morrisville Yard officially opened as of 400PM Friday March 5. Undoutbtedly,
once Amtrak transfers operations of the clockers to NJT, these trains will
originate at Morrisville Yard (not 30th St as they do now) and will use NJT
equipment exclusively.

No service to Philly is likely. From previous discussions, the consensus is
that states cannot provide service outside their states (exceptions: AC line
to 30th St, R7 line to Trenton, R3 line to West Trenton). These stations are
the 1st stations in the adjacent states and are located very close to the
state borders.

As far as I know, Amtrak operates the clockers under contract with NJT. For
several years, the rumors have been that NJT was going to take over the
clockers. Probably the reason they contracted with Amtrak was that NJT did
not have the equipment to operate them. Apparently, now they do.

Mark
Michael Finfer
2004-03-06 22:06:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mark Cahill
Post by Dave
The peak hour clockers seem to be operated with a NJT locomotive, but
Amtrak Amfleet cars. Sometimes it's all NJT equipment (loco and
coaches). A conductor said that Amtrak is trying to get NJT to take
it over completely, operating from PHL to NYC with NJT equipment.
Right now the only NJT service out of PHL is the A.C. line. Is it
looking like NJT will just run their own equipment on this service?
Probably.
Definitely. NJT signed an agreement with Amtrak to completely take over
the Clockers in 3 or 4 (can't remember the date now) years. In the
interim, NJT is providing Amtrak with ALP-46's to power the trains.
Once NJT takes over, the trains will operate with ALP-46's and new low
profile bilevel equipment now on order, and the trains will operate to
and from Morrisville yard. There will be no Clocker service to
Philadelphia.

Interestingly, I saw a notice in Penn Station last weekend that Amtrak
had canceled a Clocker for an entire week in February due to an
equipment shortage, and NJT covered the service by adding a trip to
Trenton while that train did not run.

Michael Finfer
Bridgewater, NJ
Dave
2004-03-07 13:44:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by Michael Finfer
Once NJT takes over, the trains will operate with ALP-46's and new low
profile bilevel equipment now on order, and the trains will operate to
and from Morrisville yard. There will be no Clocker service to
Philadelphia.
Bi-level cars?? As in passengers seated upstairs and downstairs? How
cool! Definitely a way to address the growing passenger volume.
Philip Nasadowski
2004-03-07 18:46:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Dave
Bi-level cars?? As in passengers seated upstairs and downstairs? How
cool! Definitely a way to address the growing passenger volume.
Yes, for the extra 10 passengers they carry over regular ones. They'll
also be much heavier, which means shorter trains. The LIRR's are so
heavy (150,000 lbs) that they can't maintain schedules unless they use 2
locos on an 8 car train.
Clark F. Morris, Jr.
2004-03-07 21:26:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Philip Nasadowski
Post by Dave
Bi-level cars?? As in passengers seated upstairs and downstairs? How
cool! Definitely a way to address the growing passenger volume.
Yes, for the extra 10 passengers they carry over regular ones. They'll
also be much heavier, which means shorter trains. The LIRR's are so
heavy (150,000 lbs) that they can't maintain schedules unless they use 2
locos on an 8 car train.
Since the DM30's are about 3000 horsepower per locomotive, that would
only be 1200 horsepower more than a train of 8 M-1's or the same
horsepower as a train of 10 M-1's carrying 80 more passengers (140 per
double decker vs. 120 per M-1).

Loading...