M2/M4/M6 (railcar): Difference between revisions
→M4/M6 series: waaaaay too long for an article about something else and uncited. |
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Aside from the technical differences of the New Haven Line (electrification via overhead catenary instead of third rail), the cars are similar to the sister M1A order and, in times of equipment shortages or severe weather, the M2s have run on the Hudson and Harlem lines. Most of the other differences are in the interior and exterior appearance of the cars, such as red striping on the exterior rather than blue, the interior wallpaper having both the [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Connecticut]] state seals and the obvious pantograph and mechanical apparatus on the roof. Both the MTA and ConnDOT purchased [[bar car]]s, but complaints from riders from stations in New York, coupled with arrival of new equipment on the Hudson and Harlem lines, led to the conversion of the ten MTA-owned bar cars to standard coaches. The ten ConnDOT-owned bar cars, which ran on express trains to New Haven, Stamford, South Norwalk and New Canaan, remained in service during weekdays until May 2014. |
Aside from the technical differences of the New Haven Line (electrification via overhead catenary instead of third rail), the cars are similar to the sister M1A order and, in times of equipment shortages or severe weather, the M2s have run on the Hudson and Harlem lines. Most of the other differences are in the interior and exterior appearance of the cars, such as red striping on the exterior rather than blue, the interior wallpaper having both the [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Connecticut]] state seals and the obvious pantograph and mechanical apparatus on the roof. Both the MTA and ConnDOT purchased [[bar car]]s, but complaints from riders from stations in New York, coupled with arrival of new equipment on the Hudson and Harlem lines, led to the conversion of the ten MTA-owned bar cars to standard coaches. The ten ConnDOT-owned bar cars, which ran on express trains to New Haven, Stamford, South Norwalk and New Canaan, remained in service during weekdays until May 2014. |
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==M4/M6 series== |
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[[File:M4s in New Haven Yard.JPG|thumb|left|M4s in the New Haven yard.]] |
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After the LIRR and Hudson/Harlem lines received an updated version of the original Metropolitan series of cars in 1984-86 (the LIRR M3 and Metro North M3A series), plans were announced for a similar undertaking on the New Haven Line. Originally, Budd was to produce these cars but pulled out in the wake of struggles that eventually led to the company's departure from railroad car manufacturing. |
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After Budd stepped away from the order, the rights to the M1/M3 and M2 designs were transferred to the MTA. With these rights, MTA and ConnDOT eventually awarded the order to [[Tokyu Car Corporation|Tokyu Car]] which produced 54 '''M4''' cars (8900-series) in 1987-1988. Nearly identical to the M2s, Tokyu Car initially gave the "Triplex" brand name to the M4 cars to highlight their being a three-car set, as opposed to the married pairs of the M2s. These cars came to be known as "triplets" by railroad personnel. Though retired, one M4 triplet can still be seen at the New Haven Yard from a car driving by on [[Interstate 95 in Connecticut|I-95]]. |
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In 1994, 48 '''M6''' series cars (9000-series) were produced by [[Morrison Knudsen]]. Nearly identical to the M4s, these cars were completed at [[Hornell, New York]] with body shells from [[Mafersa]]. The M6s also featured distinctive chimes that sounded whenever the doors were closed, a feature that did not exist on the M2s or M4s. The M6s also had black framed windows, giving them the illusion of being larger than the windows on the M2s and M4s. The M6s were also commonly referred to as "triplets". |
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==Retirement and replacement== |
==Retirement and replacement== |
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[[File:COSMOPOLITAN SEATING.png|thumb|upright=1.3|left|Seating plan and side profile of the M2 Cosmopolitan railcar shown in a booklet provided to commuters at the time of the car's launch]] |
[[File:COSMOPOLITAN SEATING.png|thumb|upright=1.3|left|Seating plan and side profile of the M2 Cosmopolitan railcar shown in a booklet provided to commuters at the time of the car's launch]] |
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By the start of the 21st century, the original Cosmopolitans began to reach the end of their expected service lives, with the oldest M2s having traveled over 1 million miles in all types of weather. It was then that the cars saw some of their most intense usage as the combination of increasing ridership and financial difficulties delayed the MTA and ConnDOT's abilities to fund replacement cars. |
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With the replacement of Rowland by Governor [[M. Jodi Rell]] in 2004, the process for a replacement series was expedited. After an earlier deal in principle with [[Bombardier Transportation]] fell through, [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company|Kawasaki Heavy Industries]] was awarded a contract in July 2006 to produce the [[M8 (railcar)|M8]] series, which began to enter service in March 2011. The 405 cars are based on the [[M-7 (railcar)|M7/M7A]] series much as the M2s were based on the M1 series, though with some interior improvements and a different front end. |
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The M2, M4, and M6 trains were replaced, retired, and scrapped between 2012 and July 2016. In May 2014, Metro-North retired the bar cars, with the last one departing Grand Central Terminal on May 9. Since then, there have been several proposals to reintroduce bar cars by retrofitting the new M8 fleet.<ref>http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/newM8.html</ref> In November 2016, it was announced that the last 36 M2s would also be replaced by additional M8 cars beginning in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | last=Cummings | first=Bill | title=Metro-North buying 60 new rail cars, 10 bar cars | website=Connecticut Post | date=November 17, 2016 | url=https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Metro-North-buying-60-new-rail-cars-10-bar-cars-10619181.php | access-date=October 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Press Release - Metro-North - MTA Metro-North Railroad to Receive Up to 94 Additional M8 Cars for the New Haven Line | website=MTA | date=November 16, 2016 | url=http://www.mta.info/press-release/metro-north/mta-metro-north-railroad-receive-94-additional-m8-cars-new-haven-line | access-date=October 25, 2018}}</ref> |
The M2, M4, and M6 trains were replaced, retired, and scrapped between 2012 and July 2016. In May 2014, Metro-North retired the bar cars, with the last one departing Grand Central Terminal on May 9. Since then, there have been several proposals to reintroduce bar cars by retrofitting the new M8 fleet. By July 17, 2015, all M4s and M6s were retired, though 36 M2s remained in the reserve fleet and still see occasional service. Otherwise all current service is provided by the M8 fleet.<ref>http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/newM8.html</ref> In November 2016, it was announced that the last 36 M2s would also be replaced by additional M8 cars beginning in 2019.<ref>{{cite web | last=Cummings | first=Bill | title=Metro-North buying 60 new rail cars, 10 bar cars | website=Connecticut Post | date=November 17, 2016 | url=https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Metro-North-buying-60-new-rail-cars-10-bar-cars-10619181.php | access-date=October 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Press Release - Metro-North - MTA Metro-North Railroad to Receive Up to 94 Additional M8 Cars for the New Haven Line | website=MTA | date=November 16, 2016 | url=http://www.mta.info/press-release/metro-north/mta-metro-north-railroad-receive-94-additional-m8-cars-new-haven-line | access-date=October 25, 2018}}</ref> |
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Two M6 cars were donated to MTA K9 Police Training Center and Connecticut Air National Guard in [[Stormville, New York]], near [[East Fishkill, New York|East Fishkill]]. These are the only surviving M6s. |
Two M6 cars were donated to MTA K9 Police Training Center and Connecticut Air National Guard in [[Stormville, New York]], near [[East Fishkill, New York|East Fishkill]]. These are the only surviving M6s. |
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Revision as of 13:32, 21 December 2018
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2018) |
| M2/M4/M6 | |
|---|---|
 An MTA-owned Budd M2 car at New Haven-Union Station, August 2006. | |
| In service | April 1973-present |
| Manufacturer | Budd Company/General Electric/Canadian Vickers/Avco(M2) Tokyu Car Corporation(M4) Morrison Knudsen(M6) |
| Built at | Erie, Pennsylvania (GE Shops) |
| Family name | Budd Metropolitan |
| Replaced | Kawasaki Heavy Industries M Series rail car |
| Constructed | M2: 1973-1977 M4: 1987-1988 M6: 1993-1995 |
| Entered service | M2: April 1973 M4: late 1987 M6: 1994 |
| Number built | M2: 244 M4: 54 M6: 48 |
| Number in service | 16 (M2 only) |
| Number preserved | M6: 2 |
| Number scrapped | M2: 228 M4: 54 M6: 46 |
| Formation | M2: Married pair M4/M6: Triplet |
| Fleet numbers | M2: 8400-8471, 8500-8571, 8650-8669, 8700-8749, 8800-8849 M4: 8900-8935, 8951-8985 M6: 9000-9031, 9051-9081 |
| Operators | Penn Central Conrail Metro-North Railroad |
| Lines served | New Haven Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless Steel |
| Train length | 170 ft (51.82 m) - 1,020 ft (310.90 m) |
| Car length | 85 ft 1+1⁄2 in (25,946 mm) |
| Width | 10 ft 8 in (3,250 mm) (max) |
| Height | 13 ft (3,962 mm) (rail to roof) 14 ft 9 in (4,500 mm) (rail to top of resistor grid shrouding) |
| Floor height | 4 ft 3+1⁄16 in (1,297 mm) |
| Platform height | 4 ft (1,219 mm) |
| Doors | Quarter point, double leaf automatic |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) (design) 80 mph (130 km/h) (service) |
| Weight | 126,500 lb (57,379 kg) (empty) 142,250 lb (64,524 kg) (full) |
| Axle load | 35,600 lb (16,148 kg) |
| Traction system |
|
| Traction motors | 4x 162 hp (121 kW) GE 1259 DC motors |
| Power output | 648 hp (483 kW) @ 25 mph (40 km/h) |
| Tractive effort | 10,000 lbf (44.5 kN) @ 0 mph (0 km/h) 14,200 lbf (63.2 kN) @ 10 mph (16 km/h) 5,565 lbf (24.8 kN) @ 50 mph (80 km/h) 3,878 lbf (17.3 kN) @ 80 mph (130 km/h) 1,900 lbf (8.45 kN) @ 100 mph (160 km/h)[1] |
| Transmission | Electric |
| Acceleration | 1.5 mph/s (2.4 km/(h⋅s)) - 2 mph/s (3.2 km/(h⋅s)) (Starting) |
| Deceleration | 3.2 mph/s (5.1 km/(h⋅s)) (Emergency) |
| Power supply | (?) |
| HVAC | electric heat, air conditioning |
| Electric system(s) | 11-13.5 kV 25 Hz AC (Catenary) 11-13.5 kV 60 Hz AC Catenary 660 V DC Third rail |
| Current collector(s) | Contact shoe, Pantograph |
| Bogies | GSI 70 |
| Braking system(s) | Pneumatic, dynamic |
| Coupling system | WABCO Model N-2 |
| Multiple working | Yes |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The M2 is a series of 244 electric multiple unit cars produced for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Connecticut Department of Transportation that ran on the New Haven Line (then part of Penn Central, now part of Metro North). Built primarily by General Electric in a consortium with the Budd Company, Canadian Vickers and Avco between 1972 and 1977, the cars were initially branded as Cosmopolitans. Final assembly of the M2 cars using Budd or Vickers bodies was completed at GE's Transportation Division in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Both the model and brand name followed the pattern set up by the M1/M1A series (the Metropolitans) in use on the Long Island Rail Road (M1) and on Metro-North's Hudson and Harlem lines (M1A). In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the M2 design was licensed by the MTA and ConnDOT to two other companies to produce follow-up series. Tokyu Car produced 54 M4 cars in 1987-1988, and Morrison-Knudsen produced 46 M6 cars in 1993-1995.
All cars were equipped with GE 1259 DC motors with a rated output of 162 horsepower (121 kW) on all axles.
M2 series
The M2 Cosmopolitan series (#'s 8400-8849) replaced EMU cars dating from the early 1920s to 1954, including the Pullman 4400-series. These were originally manufactured for, and inherited from, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad.[2] As with the cousin M1 series, the M2s accompanied an overhaul of the long-neglected main line and the New Canaan Branch in which longer, high level platforms were introduced along with other infrastructure improvements. The first M2s were accepted for service in April 1973. 144 base order cars were built in 1972-1974, followed by a 100-car option in 1975.
Aside from the technical differences of the New Haven Line (electrification via overhead catenary instead of third rail), the cars are similar to the sister M1A order and, in times of equipment shortages or severe weather, the M2s have run on the Hudson and Harlem lines. Most of the other differences are in the interior and exterior appearance of the cars, such as red striping on the exterior rather than blue, the interior wallpaper having both the New York and Connecticut state seals and the obvious pantograph and mechanical apparatus on the roof. Both the MTA and ConnDOT purchased bar cars, but complaints from riders from stations in New York, coupled with arrival of new equipment on the Hudson and Harlem lines, led to the conversion of the ten MTA-owned bar cars to standard coaches. The ten ConnDOT-owned bar cars, which ran on express trains to New Haven, Stamford, South Norwalk and New Canaan, remained in service during weekdays until May 2014.
M4/M6 series
After the LIRR and Hudson/Harlem lines received an updated version of the original Metropolitan series of cars in 1984-86 (the LIRR M3 and Metro North M3A series), plans were announced for a similar undertaking on the New Haven Line. Originally, Budd was to produce these cars but pulled out in the wake of struggles that eventually led to the company's departure from railroad car manufacturing.
After Budd stepped away from the order, the rights to the M1/M3 and M2 designs were transferred to the MTA. With these rights, MTA and ConnDOT eventually awarded the order to Tokyu Car which produced 54 M4 cars (8900-series) in 1987-1988. Nearly identical to the M2s, Tokyu Car initially gave the "Triplex" brand name to the M4 cars to highlight their being a three-car set, as opposed to the married pairs of the M2s. These cars came to be known as "triplets" by railroad personnel. Though retired, one M4 triplet can still be seen at the New Haven Yard from a car driving by on I-95.
In 1994, 48 M6 series cars (9000-series) were produced by Morrison Knudsen. Nearly identical to the M4s, these cars were completed at Hornell, New York with body shells from Mafersa. The M6s also featured distinctive chimes that sounded whenever the doors were closed, a feature that did not exist on the M2s or M4s. The M6s also had black framed windows, giving them the illusion of being larger than the windows on the M2s and M4s. The M6s were also commonly referred to as "triplets".
Retirement and replacement
By the start of the 21st century, the original Cosmopolitans began to reach the end of their expected service lives, with the oldest M2s having traveled over 1 million miles in all types of weather. It was then that the cars saw some of their most intense usage as the combination of increasing ridership and financial difficulties delayed the MTA and ConnDOT's abilities to fund replacement cars.
With the replacement of Rowland by Governor M. Jodi Rell in 2004, the process for a replacement series was expedited. After an earlier deal in principle with Bombardier Transportation fell through, Kawasaki Heavy Industries was awarded a contract in July 2006 to produce the M8 series, which began to enter service in March 2011. The 405 cars are based on the M7/M7A series much as the M2s were based on the M1 series, though with some interior improvements and a different front end.
The M2, M4, and M6 trains were replaced, retired, and scrapped between 2012 and July 2016. In May 2014, Metro-North retired the bar cars, with the last one departing Grand Central Terminal on May 9. Since then, there have been several proposals to reintroduce bar cars by retrofitting the new M8 fleet. By July 17, 2015, all M4s and M6s were retired, though 36 M2s remained in the reserve fleet and still see occasional service. Otherwise all current service is provided by the M8 fleet.[3] In November 2016, it was announced that the last 36 M2s would also be replaced by additional M8 cars beginning in 2019.[4][5]
Two M6 cars were donated to MTA K9 Police Training Center and Connecticut Air National Guard in Stormville, New York, near East Fishkill. These are the only surviving M6s.
See also
References
- ^ Page 30
- ^ "From Green MUs to M2s On The New Haven Line," by Anthony Fitzherbert (World Rail Photos)
- ^ http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/newM8.html
- ^ Cummings, Bill (November 17, 2016). "Metro-North buying 60 new rail cars, 10 bar cars". Connecticut Post. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
- ^ "Press Release - Metro-North - MTA Metro-North Railroad to Receive Up to 94 Additional M8 Cars for the New Haven Line". MTA. November 16, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
Rolling stock manufactured by the Budd Company | ||
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| Streamliners |  | |
| Multiple units | ||
| Passenger stock | ||
