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| Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. (95144) | |
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| (95144) | |
Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by Transit Jeff on Sat Apr 26 02:20:12 2008 Hi guys,I ventured up to Philadelphia on Friday, April 25th to take trackless trolley rides on the new coaches. First, I went to the Frankford Transportation Center in mid-afternoon to see if any were running on Rt. 66. After having a look at the overhead and problems that I've heard about, I spoke to the Rt. 66 "loader" who informed me that no trackless trolleys were out on the line. He informed me that only one coach had run in the A. M. that day. I then went to the Arrott Street Terminal and waited approx 35 minutes for New Flyer trackless # 802 to show up on Rt. 59. I saw nothing but Diesel buses on the Rt. 75 during my brief stay at Arrott. I boarded coach # 802 via the center door with a "loader" checking passes, etc. It was very warm, in the mid-80's, and the coach was an "ice box" with the air-conditioning going full tilt. I sat on the back seat to get a feel for the ride and the reactions of the public. I was actually freezing from the A C and glad I had a light jacket on. I could have used gloves! I noted that the last window on the door side has already been vandalized with scratchiti. There is no sound of the trolley poles or vibrations in the roof, like in the old days. The coaches are very well insulated for that type of noise. It was impossible to tell if we had cleared switches, breakers, etc., just by listening for it. I noticed the operator checking his mirror to see if he cleared special work in the overhead. The coach has great pick up and acceleration and operates very smoothly and quietly. There is no jerkiness at all, as in the days of the A.M. Generals. I made one very interesting observation. When the thermostat for the A C is satisfied, the blowers stop completely. If the coach is stopped for a traffic light or in a passenger stop, there is absolute dead silence. The passengers seemed to be alarmed and thought the coach had died. But, in fact, it hadn't and when the operator depressed the power pedal, we took off like a bat out of hell. This amaized the passengers who I think felt they were on an ordinary bus,up until that point. Then there were smiles, laughter and several comments. The dead silence is interrupted now and then by the soft whir of the compressor. But when that stops, there's dead silence again when the coach is not in motion or the blowers aren't on. The body is extreamly tight, no rattles and the suspension is quite smooth. But let's see how long that lasts! The operator put his heavy work gloves on at Bells Corner loop and pulled down the trolley poles to inspect the carbons in the trolley shoes. He told me that they are wearing very fast because of rough spots in the long unused overhead. I asked him why the back of the coach was so filthy and he said it was from the carbons. The operator said there have been many complaints from passengers about how cold the A C is. And the operators dislike the mirrors and the slow operation of the center exit door. But I must say, we were moving right along on the overhead and were hitting close to 40 MPH in several spots. While riding along I noticed several Philly gas stations selling regular for $ 3.57 a gallon. The operator switched on the Diesel engine to show me how easy it was to do so and how quiet it sounded. He said that it is possible to move off a breaker if you happen to stop under one. That, the semi-automatic trolley poles and the off-wire capability is a great asset. Transit Jeff |
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| (95146) | |
Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by The Port of Authority on Sat Apr 26 03:46:33 2008, in response to Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys., posted by Transit Jeff on Sat Apr 26 02:20:12 2008. Thanks for the detailed observations. I can't wait for all 38 trolleybuses (or trackless trolleys) to arrive. |
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| (95152) | |
Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by The Flxible Neofan on Sat Apr 26 09:26:42 2008, in response to Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys., posted by Transit Jeff on Sat Apr 26 02:20:12 2008. Wow, sounds like a nice ride. The dead silence at a stop reminds me of the PCC IIs.About the diesel, I wonder if the coaches have a battery as well. Glad you enjoyed the ride. I can't wait to ride them, but since my peak hour availability is limited, I'll focus on getting my final rides on the Neos. I just heard 3421 was just retired, which is stunning since I had such a nice ride on it just last month. And I just saw it parked last week... |
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| (95261) | |
Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by RiverLINE3501 on Sat Apr 26 22:46:24 2008, in response to Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys., posted by Transit Jeff on Sat Apr 26 02:20:12 2008. I happened to have the honor of sharing my ride with Jeff and have the following pics from the ride [both NB and SB on the 59]:802 arriving at Arrot Terminal:  [Blurriness caused by trying to zoom in the picture] 802 leaving Castor and Cottman:  802 going back NB:  As far as my opinion of the ride, I have the same conclusions as Jeff did. this is a wonderful piece of machinery, this is WAYYYY better than the AM Generals when they were new. The only thing I dislikes about the coach is the FUGLY front doors. Maybe a 1 piece door windo could alleviate the unsightly look of the front door [but this is a MINOR quibble about the vehicles!] |
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| (95549) | |
Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by Olog-hai on Tue Apr 29 15:27:07 2008, in response to Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys., posted by Transit Jeff on Sat Apr 26 02:20:12 2008. "Power pedal"?? |
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| (95557) | |
Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by orange blossom special on Tue Apr 29 16:35:33 2008, in response to Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys., posted by Transit Jeff on Sat Apr 26 02:20:12 2008. That's what I like about electric buses.The A/C system sounds weird. I can count on one hand the number of times I've ever been on a SEPTA where the fans were off. |
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| (153934) | |
Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Wed Jun 17 07:42:15 2009, in response to Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys., posted by orange blossom special on Tue Apr 29 16:35:33 2008. For the next two weeks (It started late Monday) , buses are running on the 75. This is to allow the wire work to be completed at Wayne Junction. They reversed the loop there.When this is done the trackless will return with it's usual delays around the Arrott Terminal mess. (The step reconstruction project) |
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| (170022) | |
Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Oct 26 09:49:09 2009, in response to Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys., posted by Transit Jeff on Sat Apr 26 02:20:12 2008. At around 10AM , this morning,10/26/09, the Bells Corner trackless loop wires are coming down, to install the new restroom. The trackless detour on EPU with be L. Hoffnagle, R. Loretto, R. Fox Chase Rd., R. Castor Ave. Layover in front of the school. I expect this detour to be posted soon.59-2003 got the poles hooked in the wires at the Bleigh St. switch and pulled down a span wire. Repairs are on the way. Coaches are making it through the area with the broken span wire. |
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| (170050) | |
Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys. |
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Posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Oct 26 15:25:55 2009, in response to Re: Some observations about SEPTA's new trackless trolleys., posted by TransitChuckG on Mon Oct 26 09:49:09 2009. They were going to try to bus the 59 for this construction, but Frankford does not have enough buses. So they will only bus the one late run on the 59.So we'll have more than a month of pulling poles and re-poling at Bell's Corner for our trackless operators, and winter is coming. The new restroom is on the way, it has not arrived at Bell's Corner, yet. |
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