WALLY Cars Ready for Testing

[Saturnalia]

An MDOT test of its commuter rail cars will occur starting this coming weekend. Railcars that have been undergoing rehabilitation will undergo operational testing as they move from Pontiac to Jackson and back. These are the cars that are being refurbished to be usable by the Detroit-to-Ann Arbor and WALLY commuter rail services. The schedule of stops is listed below. This is subject to change and we will offer any revised information as it becomes available.

Please note that members of the public are not invited to board this train. It is strictly a test of the equipment. No trains are yet planned for public boarding, but I thought it would be of interest if you’d like to see the equipment in operation or take some photos. A more comprehensive status report will be coming in the near future.

Schedule
· November 11, 2012 (Sunday)-
GLC will move six refurbished cars (790, 794, 733, 719, 712, 708) to the Durand Yard where the six cars will be set off and picked up by Amtrak using a P-32 locomotive. Amtrak together with a CN pilot will make the move from the Durand Yard to Pontiac via the CN Holly Subdivision.

· November 12, 2012 (Monday)-
Static testing in Pontiac beginning at 8:00 a.m. This will be conducted by Charlie Zak (Amtrak) and Chris Bagwell (GLC).

· November 13, 2012 (Tuesday)-
Field testing from Pontiac to Jackson with cab forward beginning at 8:00 p.m.

Stops will consist of the following:
Pontiac CN MP 25.85
Birmingham CN MP 17.7
Royal Oak CN MP 13.2
Detroit’s New Center CN MP 53.7
Dearborn NS MP 7.7
Airport ( Henry Ruff Road ) NS MP 15.1
Ypsilanti NS MP 29.6
Ann Arbor NS MP 37.4
Dexter NS MP 46.5
Chelsea NS MP 54.1
Jackson NS MP 75.4


· November 14, 2012 (Wednesday)-
Field testing from Jackson to Pontiac with the locomotive forward in the early morning:

Stops will consist of the following:
Jackson NS MP 75.4
Chelsea NS MP 54.1
Dexter NS MP 46.5
Ann Arbor NS MP37.4
Ypsilanti NS MP 29.6
Airport ( Henry Ruff Road ) NS MP 15.1
Dearborn NS MP 7.7
Detroit’s New Center CN MP53.7
Royal Oak CN MP 13.2
Birmingham CN MP 17.7
Pontiac CN MP 25.85

Special Instructions
· Trains will run at normal operating speeds. There will not be any 70 mph to 0 mph, 60 mph to 0 mph, or 50 mph to 0 mph brake testing.

· There will be no deadman or emergency braking tests performed.

FINALLY!

[J T]

Do they have that sweet floating dock/boarding platform ready for testing, too?

[railohio]

Source?

[atrainguy60]

Do they have that sweet floating dock/boarding platform ready for testing, too?

[Saturnalia]

Source?

[Name Omitted]
Special Assistant for Strategic Planning
Ann Arbor Transportation Authority


I got it as an email.

[KenB]

Do you have a feeling of when train will get out of Durand? Morning? Afternoon? Evening?, Night? Be a nice catch on the Holly at Holly.

[Ypsi]

Finally I get to film a passenger train that is not amtrak

I assume they will run it as an Amtrak train.

[Saturnalia]

Finally I get to film a passenger train that is not amtrak

I assume they will run it as an Amtrak train.

No Passengers, no AMTK symbol. Just something to annoy the NS dispatchers....and maybe the Wolverines.

[Ypsi]

Where did you hear what kind of number it is? Because I'm pretty sure the only 2 options are freight symbol or Amtrak symbol, and if you are a "freight train" you need to run at freight speeds (i.e. 45-50mph or so) basically what I'm saying is an amtrak sumbol makes the most sence from what I understand

[StupidFlee​t]

Finally I get to film a passenger train that is not amtrak

I assume they will run it as an Amtrak train.

No Passengers, no AMTK symbol. Just something to annoy the NS dispatchers....and maybe the Wolverines.

Sources?

[MagnumForce]

Equipment dictates train speed, not symbol.

[Buster Manning]

And here I thought it was idiot truck drivers who determined the 60 to 0 speed

[Saturnalia]

And here I thought it was idiot truck drivers who determined the 60 to 0 speed

Right on.

Finally I get to film a passenger train that is not amtrak

I assume they will run it as an Amtrak train.

No Passengers, no AMTK symbol. Just something to annoy the NS dispatchers....and maybe the Wolverines.

Sources?

No source here, just common sense. Amtrak isn't going to name these #357 or #356 are they? Probably not, because they are not affiliated with Amtrak, but rather MDOT. NS, IDK.

[Ypsi]

They would run it as an Amtrak because it is an passenger train, with an Amtrak engine and probably will have an Amtrak crew. (Not saying that they are going to do that, from what I have observed in the past that is what I believe is most likely)

Im pretty sure that when te PRR E8s went to Chicago they ran as like Amtrak 997 or something... Just an example of a train that's not Amtrak with a "Amtrak" symbol

[iKJames]

Where are those 6 cars sitting right now? Since I'd love to catch them going up to Durand.

[Ypsi]

Where are those 6 cars sitting right now? Since I'd love to catch them going up to Durand.

Should be stored at GLCs yard in Owosso...

[CSX_CO]

Im pretty sure that when te PRR E8s went to Chicago they ran as like Amtrak 997 or something... Just an example of a train that's not Amtrak with a "Amtrak" symbol

A lot of the time the train's symbol dictates which departments budget the costs come out of. So, on CSX, Q200 series would come out of 'automotive' budgets even if they haul freight (Q218/219, Q233/234, etc.). Q000 would be intermodal, etc. That's why Z moves and W moves are billable to outside parties on CSX a lot of the time.

So, some of it might come down to who pays for the move.

Practice Safe CSX

[iKJames]

Thanks, now the next question: What time is the move expected to occur? Just asking since I'll have about a 2 hour drive to get up there.

[PerRock]

So I would asume that it'll be in the Ann Arbor area around 10:30ish, maybe a tad later? I guess that means photos will be dark.

peter

[Ypsi]

So I would asume that it'll be in the Ann Arbor area around 10:30ish, maybe a tad later? I guess that means photos will be dark.

peter

if MQT's source is correct it says that they will be stopping at all of those locations, they will stop at AA station (i believe that that is the mp 37.4) so maybe a chance for a better picture