XPost: uk.railway   
      
   On 15.12.17 8:51, Graeme Wall wrote:   
   > On 15/12/2017 00:45, hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk wrote:   
   >> We have in the past spoken on this newsgroup about various solutions   
   >> to replace the Island Line' 38ts, such as further cascading older LUL   
   >> stock or even something new like the Class 132.   
   >>   
   >> It seems that the problem is that many of these discussions look at   
   >> the domestic market for replacements. And it so far doesn't appear   
   >> that there are many feasible solutions.   
   >>   
   >> What if DfT, TOC or whichever body responsible for addressing such   
   >> issues took a different approach and acquired cascaded equipment from   
   >> abroad?   
   >>   
   >> One option might be to look across the Pond to New York City's   
   >> Metropolitan Transportation Authority and see if they have anything   
   >> from the Subway that would be easy to make compatible for the Island   
   >> Line.   
   >>   
   >> I was actually thinking of the R-62/R-62A, which runs on the Subway's   
   >> A division (IRT). They entered revenue service in the 1980s, they run   
   >> well and they have had a good service record.   
   >>   
   >> The R-62/R-62A also have stainless steel bodies, fiberglass caps,   
   >> tripcocks, over-riding shoes, plus they runs off a similar DC voltage   
   >> and can easily achieve the 45 mile track speed.   
   >>   
   >> There are differences that interested parties would need to keep in   
   >> mind, naturally; The helm is on the cab's right side and the controls   
   >> have a different configuration than what you normally see here, with   
   >> controller and brake valve respectively on the left and right.   
   >>   
   >> I don't think that this really poses a problem, however, as they would   
   >> run on an isolate and not interact with anything else, thus avoiding   
   >> potential conflicts.   
   >>   
   >> The R-62/R-62A's platform height of 1.11 metres also might pose a   
   >> challenge under the Island Line's current set up, though I understand   
   >> that they need to relay the entire ROW in any event.   
   >>   
   >> The key question, of course, is whether such trains will get through   
   >> the tunnel unscathed. I don't know the tunnel's gauge, though the   
   >> R-62/R-62A have a respective length, width and height or 15.56m,   
   >> 2,621mm and 3,624mm.   
   >>   
   >> (I would certainly not recommend any rolling stock from the Subway's   
   >> B1-B2 (BMT/IND) divisions as they are wider and longer.)   
   >>   
   >> Another alternative to the R-62/R-62A would be the PA4s on PATH, which   
   >> run between New York City and northern New Jersey. Those trains went   
   >> into service in the mid- to late-80s and are shorter height- as well   
   >> as length-wise, due to narrower gauges in their tunnels.   
   >>   
   >> The PA4 also has stainless steel bodies and over-riding shoes.   
   >>   
   >> It's also worth noting that PATH trains conform to FRA standards,   
   >> whereas NYC Subway trains do not.   
   >>   
   >> The main problem with the PA4, however, is that PATH decommissioned   
   >> them between 2009 and 2011 in favour of the PA5s. I would imagine that   
   >> they sold some for scrap, but I wonder if they kept and mothballed   
   >> some of them. If the latter, then would there be enough for the Island   
   >> Line? Are those trains just stabled in the corner of some yard,   
   >> neglected and exposed to the elements, or are they under conservation   
   >> of some sort?   
   >>   
   >> PATH might even be willing to let the PA4s go for a modest fee, maybe   
   >> to even include FOB   
   >>   
   >> I wonder if the MTA would be willing to sell any R-62/R-62A, however,   
   >> since the authority appear to actually like them. Cost could become an   
   >> issue in that case.   
   >   
   >   
   > Too big, almost certainly.   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   See my reply to Recliner.   
      
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