From: stephen@sprunk.org

On 13-Apr-15 10:07, Adam H. Kerman wrote:
> Stephen Sprunk  wrote:
>> BBD bilevel cars (i.e. nearly all commuter trains outside the Rust
>> Belt) have a built-in, full-width step below the door at half the
>> height difference; no step boxes are required.  Why Amtrak LD
>> trains don't have such (which would remove the need for those step
>> boxes--and a dozen or so crew members per train) is mystifying.
>
> This was an innovation from streetcars. The reason folding stepwells
> are impractical is what you just wrote: Rust. You could have them in
> California.

The steps are fixed, and none of the ones I've seen exhibit any signs of
rust; the coloring makes them look anodized (virtually rust-proof), and
there are plenty of alloys that don't rust anyway--such the the one used
for the _bodies_ of those same cars.

Steps are more challenging because the cheapest way of protecting metal
(i.e. paint) won't work, but there are other options.

MATA's vintage streetcars have folding wooden steps; that works too,
though we have to replace them every few years due to water/rot.  Metal
would be a much better choice, but MATA can't do that since the entire
point of our operation is the authentic vintage look.  (Some parts
aren't vintage, such as self-lapping brakes for improved safety, but few
passengers would know the difference.)

> Now, I'd just put up with the maintenance tasks,

Indeed; replacing a step every 10-20 years would cost, what, a _week's_
worth of wages for a step-box operator?  It's a no-brainer.

> but you know that maintenance is anathema to passenger service.

Amtrak doesn't seem to have any trouble keeping their rolling stock in
good condition; it's new equipment, overhauls and collision repair that
they have problems with due to lack of capital funding.

S

--
Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking

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