I found this quite an informative video on MBTA cab cars! Now, I know that all the single-level coaches on the MBTA will be replaced by bi-level coaches. In the meantime though, I like the horns and bells on the single-level cab cars! Thanks for the video!
I am glad that some of the 1600-series control cars are still in service. I figured that, by now, they would have all been gone. As soon as they have all been retired, I will probably not make anymore videos of the Commuter Rail. And I miss the Commuter Rail consists from, say, fifteen years ago. Back then, every train on the North Side consisted of all single-level coaches. Now, every train on the North Side has at least one double-decker coach, which does not look right.
I miss older consist two. Just liked how random the south side sets looked. I do like the K cars north however, and my friend claims we might get a rotem cab car soon.
@@MbtaVideoClips Since you mentioned the Kawasaki control cars, have you noticed that they look almost identical to how they looked before they were overhauled? Their interiors appear to be exactly the same, plus, they still have their original cab controls. I know that they were given new horns and bells, but were any of their other features changed? And I was not aware that the North Side might get some Rotem control cars soon. My understanding was that the Rotem control cars would be used exclusively on the South Side.
The interiors have minor changes, mainly screens and just general refurbishment. The cab controls although similar have a different side panel layout (such as the bell and horn now being a button and being moved to the side panel). Secondly, the plan is to move all K cars north, but they simply don't have enough K cars to meet requirements. The T needs 22 sets for the North side (plus spares) but the K cars only account for 24. Two spares are not enough, especially when K cars go OOS (ex. when they hit a car and need a new plow), so a couple rotems are required north.@@alx-vn8gs
(idk why my reply didnt work, take 2) the K cars have other stuff like ADA screens, some seats I believe were changed, and the cab controls WERE changed (from what I noticed: a screen was installed above the front window and the side panel button and switch layout was changed, noteable buttons include the change of the horn from a lever to a button + 19B horn sequence button.@@alx-vn8gs. Also the plan is for K cars to go north, but they aren't enough to meet the peak requirements of 22 sets + spares. 2 spares isn't enough especially when cab cars go OOS (ex. hitting a car and needing repair), so a few rotems are needed in addition to the K cars.
@@MbtaVideoClips Sorry, when I mentioned the "cab controls," I was referring specifically to the throttles and brake valves, which I do not believe were replaced. And I have noticed the screens that are above the front windows, plus, I noticed the buttons which are used to sound the horns. I did not know that some of the seats in the Kawasaki control cars were replaced. They appear to be the same seats that these cars had back in 2006, which was when I first rode in one of these cars.
Its crazy to see any trains with single levels or GPs at all for me. I commute on the NEC line, and apart from a few sporatic trains, its almost entirely bilevel, usually HSP, sometimes an F40. That F40PH2 with the full single level consist was an awesome catch. Love the new intro too!
Is there a reason why the trains seemingly have a random mix of the double decker cars and single level cars throughout the train? Is there a pattern or it is just cause they are slowly phasing out the single level ones?
Great question! Im not sure if its an official system, but on the south side the T tries to have all bilevel sets because of ridership, and on the northside most sets consist of 1-2 biclevels and a single level.
Why do they configure the trainsets with the random mix of double and single cars? Back in the day on the south side it was 1 or 2 single cars by the locomotive then the rest doubles.. plus a few sets with doubles in the middle.
Ive gotten this question alot on this video, and im not quite sure why. Im not sure if its an official system, but on the south side the T tries to have all bilevel sets because of ridership, and on the northside most sets consist of 1-2 biclevels and a single level.
This doesn’t answer your question at all but another interesting thing I’d like to know is if there’s a system for deciding which cars are closed off when the train is heading in the non-peak direction. I reverse commute and there’s usually only 2 cars they’re actually using. I wonder if this has any relation to how they decide the order/number of cars.
To Answer your question, back in the day, the bilevels didn't have bathrooms. Only 2005+ did the newer bilevels get them. That was the need for the flats up front.
I would also add that when doubles were first introduced, they were having a problem with the train exhaust being pulled into the car so they had to space them away from the engine using single cars.
I’ve seen many videos showing cab car led trains going at high speed and doing so on curves. What I have a hard time understanding is how pushing 7 or more cars at high speed is a good idea. Am I wrong to think that the knuckle coupler and associated gear is meant to be in pull mode not push. Given that pushing at high speed is a norm, can someone explain why high speed pushing is OK? Why is it OK to push at all pull speeds?
Cab cars have long existed on London to Norwich intercity sets, they are not new. Nor are “driving van trailers” as on InterCity 225 sets, though most intercity trains are multiple units these days.
The cab car at the headend should be much quieter for the motor man than operating from the locomotive as the headend with that diesel engine throbbing away behind him on the way back.
Cab cars are interesting. Aren’t they? I’ll never forget when I was little, waiting for a Red Line Subway to pick me up, an MBTA Commuter train bypassed my station with a cab car in the lead and a locomotive pushing. Honestly the locomotive scared me. It was loud like a truck. It all makes sense. The engineer controls the locomotive in the back from the cab car control room.
how does the US rolling stock manage to look so dated and dilapidated? especially when compared to Japanese and European rolling stock. cargo locomotive, powering the train I guess doesn't help matters.
New England is a naturally filthy environment. Soil, ice, rain, salt, tree leaves, asphalt, air pollution and human trash collect and slowly dissolve on the ground leaving a potpourri of filth to stir around with the elements each day. Extreme weather from season to season makes this problem impossible to control. Moving vehicles of all varieties are magnets.
![Amtrak Northeast Regional #173 Full Ride From Boston South Station to New Haven [8-11-20]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6Ld3Zcn0OBY/mqdefault.jpg)
The reeedville switcher is a…
Next time…next time…
Tyler Mac yeah
@@BostonByRailsgreat
Cool canyon shot!
He’s back! The legend is back! Nice video Boston!
Down in Connecticut, where I live we got some of Boston MBTA single level cars and cab cars for our commuter trains
Yes! Check out my recent video I made about those cars, they were recently returned to the MBTA
@@BostonByRails surprisingly we still got some of them as we sent back some
I found this quite an informative video on MBTA cab cars! Now, I know that all the single-level coaches on the MBTA will be replaced by bi-level coaches. In the meantime though, I like the horns and bells on the single-level cab cars!
Thanks for the video!
Glad you enjoyed!
10 minutes, wow, great vid!
Another upload by the legend
Tytu
Yay he uploaded
Wow you’re video’s really have improved since the last time I watched you. Great work my G 🗣️🔥🔥
Thanks man!! Im curious, do you remember when the last time was??
@@BostonByRails 2021 I believe
@WHALEpurkaAshizz woah! Yep, ive gotten much better since then haha
I’m from San Francisco and Caltrain is my local commuter rail system and they use cab cars too
I am glad that some of the 1600-series control cars are still in service. I figured that, by now, they would have all been gone. As soon as they have all been retired, I will probably not make anymore videos of the Commuter Rail. And I miss the Commuter Rail consists from, say, fifteen years ago. Back then, every train on the North Side consisted of all single-level coaches. Now, every train on the North Side has at least one double-decker coach, which does not look right.
I miss older consist two. Just liked how random the south side sets looked. I do like the K cars north however, and my friend claims we might get a rotem cab car soon.
@@MbtaVideoClips Since you mentioned the Kawasaki control cars, have you noticed that they look almost identical to how they looked before they were overhauled? Their interiors appear to be exactly the same, plus, they still have their original cab controls. I know that they were given new horns and bells, but were any of their other features changed?
And I was not aware that the North Side might get some Rotem control cars soon. My understanding was that the Rotem control cars would be used exclusively on the South Side.
The interiors have minor changes, mainly screens and just general refurbishment. The cab controls although similar have a different side panel layout (such as the bell and horn now being a button and being moved to the side panel). Secondly, the plan is to move all K cars north, but they simply don't have enough K cars to meet requirements. The T needs 22 sets for the North side (plus spares) but the K cars only account for 24. Two spares are not enough, especially when K cars go OOS (ex. when they hit a car and need a new plow), so a couple rotems are required north.@@alx-vn8gs
(idk why my reply didnt work, take 2) the K cars have other stuff like ADA screens, some seats I believe were changed, and the cab controls WERE changed (from what I noticed: a screen was installed above the front window and the side panel button and switch layout was changed, noteable buttons include the change of the horn from a lever to a button + 19B horn sequence button.@@alx-vn8gs. Also the plan is for K cars to go north, but they aren't enough to meet the peak requirements of 22 sets + spares. 2 spares isn't enough especially when cab cars go OOS (ex. hitting a car and needing repair), so a few rotems are needed in addition to the K cars.
@@MbtaVideoClips Sorry, when I mentioned the "cab controls," I was referring specifically to the throttles and brake valves, which I do not believe were replaced. And I have noticed the screens that are above the front windows, plus, I noticed the buttons which are used to sound the horns. I did not know that some of the seats in the Kawasaki control cars were replaced. They appear to be the same seats that these cars had back in 2006, which was when I first rode in one of these cars.
Its crazy to see any trains with single levels or GPs at all for me. I commute on the NEC line, and apart from a few sporatic trains, its almost entirely bilevel, usually HSP, sometimes an F40. That F40PH2 with the full single level consist was an awesome catch. Love the new intro too!
Nice Video Bro!!
Is there a reason why the trains seemingly have a random mix of the double decker cars and single level cars throughout the train? Is there a pattern or it is just cause they are slowly phasing out the single level ones?
Great question! Im not sure if its an official system, but on the south side the T tries to have all bilevel sets because of ridership, and on the northside most sets consist of 1-2 biclevels and a single level.
There is also a turnaround at Whitman station.
I've rode in a converted single level cab car before, its pretty cool. You can tell because they are a 4 digit car number and start with 1.
holy crap the clearance on that bridge in 2:44 is crazy
I hope to see these come back down to the Hartford line
I railfan almost exclusively the north side, and I still can’t imagine it without the comets. I’ve got my fair share of good shots though
i love the vids.
Thanks!
Why do they configure the trainsets with the random mix of double and single cars?
Back in the day on the south side it was 1 or 2 single cars by the locomotive then the rest doubles.. plus a few sets with doubles in the middle.
Ive gotten this question alot on this video, and im not quite sure why. Im not sure if its an official system, but on the south side the T tries to have all bilevel sets because of ridership, and on the northside most sets consist of 1-2 biclevels and a single level.
This doesn’t answer your question at all but another interesting thing I’d like to know is if there’s a system for deciding which cars are closed off when the train is heading in the non-peak direction. I reverse commute and there’s usually only 2 cars they’re actually using. I wonder if this has any relation to how they decide the order/number of cars.
To Answer your question, back in the day, the bilevels didn't have bathrooms. Only 2005+ did the newer bilevels get them. That was the need for the flats up front.
I would also add that when doubles were first introduced, they were having a problem with the train exhaust being pulled into the car so they had to space them away from the engine using single cars.
@@randybrewer8308 That is a fact that not many people know. I forgot to add that. Thank you for adding on 😁
I’ve seen many videos showing cab car led trains going at high speed and doing so on curves. What I have a hard time understanding is how pushing 7 or more cars at high speed is a good idea. Am I wrong to think that the knuckle coupler and associated gear is meant to be in pull mode not push. Given that pushing at high speed is a norm, can someone explain why high speed pushing is OK? Why is it OK to push at all pull speeds?
Im gunna be honest, im not sure of the answer to this one! That might be a question dor a railroader
1:39 except the cape flyer (usually)
4:56 pretty sure there's a decommissioned cab car in the consist
Saw another one at 8:39
On second glance, I'm pretty sure there's one at 6:10 and definitely one at 7:46
And 9:38 too
Cab cars have long existed on London to Norwich intercity sets, they are not new. Nor are “driving van trailers” as on InterCity 225 sets, though most intercity trains are multiple units these days.
what about 1648 and 1710
It’s a control car !
The single level cars are certainly running out of time. Especially the MBB cars.
MBBs are all gone already.
The cab car at the headend should be much quieter for the motor man than operating from the locomotive as the headend with that diesel engine throbbing away behind him on the way back.
Cab cars are interesting. Aren’t they? I’ll never forget when I was little, waiting for a Red Line Subway to pick me up, an MBTA Commuter train bypassed my station with a cab car in the lead and a locomotive pushing. Honestly the locomotive scared me. It was loud like a truck. It all makes sense. The engineer controls the locomotive in the back from the cab car control room.
0:19 graffiti if it was actually good
The audio is a bit too quiet, the commentary especially.
how does the US rolling stock manage to look so dated and dilapidated? especially when compared to Japanese and European rolling stock. cargo locomotive, powering the train I guess doesn't help matters.
because we don’t invest in our trains enough here.
Hell, in the MBTA's case we even dump road building debt on their shoulders
@@ArtyI LMAOOO we do😭😭😭😭
New England is a naturally filthy environment. Soil, ice, rain, salt, tree leaves, asphalt, air pollution and human trash collect and slowly dissolve on the ground leaving a potpourri of filth to stir around with the elements each day. Extreme weather from season to season makes this problem impossible to control. Moving vehicles of all varieties are magnets.