Saw this on the news yesterday... looks interesting (let the discussion of when Lionel will make a new Acela begin 
).
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Maybe MTH will make it, and we'll actually be able to run it without pieces falling off.
Except for filling in a few gaps in my collection, I am done buying trains.
I would make an exception, however, for the Acela. If either Lionel/MTH/3rd Rail were to offer the Acela, I would pre-order it if it were scale size and did NOT have the fancy features like tilt and opening doors that the first Lionel set had.
Jim
Scott, start saving your money!
gunrunnerjohn posted:Maybe MTH will make it, and we'll actually be able to run it without pieces falling off.
Yeah, but the DCS will never find it or it won't be on the track
For the uninformed:
The current Acela tilts, has WI-FI, craft beer on draft, and I am not impressed that they will knock off 15 mins on the DC to Boston run...big deal.😜
Craig, the current Acela only does that time when it's on time, that's less than 75% of the time.
gunrunnerjohn posted:Craig, the current Acela only does that time when it's on time, that's less than 75% of the time.
John,
I am sure, but I was hoping for something much faster.
Faster would require extensive track work, that ain't happening, at least in my lifetime!
gunrunnerjohn posted:Faster would require extensive track work, that ain't happening, at least in my lifetime!
Yeah, it needs track work...now.
I rode the Acela from Baltimore to Providence last summer, it was going really fast North of NYC, moving around a lot, seemed like it was really pushing the envelope, kind of scary, like being on a galloping horse.
They must have gotten the inspiration for its styling by studying a wedge snow plow. Butt-ugly.
I'm happy that I grew up in an age when design engineers weren't afraid to have a locomotive look like a locomotive.
I think maybe the engineers were thinking about the 150 MPH speeds and aerodynamic efficiency when they were designing it. It's purpose built, it's not artwork.
Attachments
GRJ, I used to commute between Washington & Boston on Amtrak Acela Express, and it was usually right on time.
While the current Acela does tilt, the tracks in New England are too close to permit the full tilting capability to be used, according to reports when it first started running
The traffic and curved trackage in New England are the reasons significantly higher speeds are not possible. There are only two tracks between New Haven and Boston, and they are also occupied by slower Amtrak Regional Trains, MBTA commuter trains out of Boston, Metro-North commuter trains out of New York City, and Shoreline-East trains in Connecticut.
MELGAR
gunrunnerjohn posted:I think maybe the engineers were thinking about the 150 MPH speeds and aerodynamic efficiency when they were designing it. It's purpose built, it's not artwork.
If the trainsets are built as above, then they will look better than the current Ugcela!
Wonderful...for people who have a employer picking up the "double cost" of the ticket. I'm currently in Boston via the regular train. It was interesting to see, at the Philadelphia station, that the Acela was arriving 20 minutes late. Yes, there is a drawback to the regular train. They are sometimes very full, so you may have to tell a sprawler or a sleeper you need the seat. Not a problem at a major "departure station". I just can't see paying double the cost to save 30 minutes. BTW, we usually fly first class. The benefits are many.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I think maybe the engineers were thinking about the 150 MPH speeds and aerodynamic efficiency when they were designing it. It's purpose built, it's not artwork.
Doesn't change the fact that it is hideous. I wouldn't cross the street to look at it. It looks like a worm on steroids. The clownish paint scheme doesn't do it any favors either.
gunrunnerjohn posted:I think maybe the engineers were thinking about the 150 MPH speeds and aerodynamic efficiency when they were designing it. It's purpose built, it's not artwork.
Well, they can go back to school, because there are much prettier high speed trains running all over the civilized world that are engineered for speeds Amtrak will never see.
Perhaps they envisioned Nike or Puma advertising wraps completing the sneaker look. I am going to coin the new nickname for this train, "The Sneaker." It looks like a tennis shoe and will occasionally sneak up to 150 mph on a few miles of track.
Im glad to see any rail passenger investment we can get. Hopefully it is reliable out of the box. True high speed it only pretends to be. I have experienced China's national high speed rail system, nothing comes close.
Joe Hohmann posted:Wonderful...for people who have a employer picking up the "double cost" of the ticket. I'm currently in Boston via the regular train. It was interesting to see, at the Philadelphia station, that the Acela was arriving 20 minutes late. Yes, there is a drawback to the regular train. They are sometimes very full, so you may have to tell a sprawler or a sleeper you need the seat. Not a problem at a major "departure station". I just can't see paying double the cost to save 30 minutes. BTW, we usually fly first class. The benefits are many.
You are correct in the sense that most Acela riders use it for work. I use it on average twice a month to go to NY from Washington. The scheduled time difference between Acela and normal NE corridor during the week is not significant. But if using it for work when you need to be on time, my experience with the Acela is excellent. Moreover, if there are delays they have track priority and will be routed around trains. Lastly, it is a nicer clientele. Whether all those things are worth the cost differential is a personal decision.
VistaDomeScott posted:gunrunnerjohn posted:I think maybe the engineers were thinking about the 150 MPH speeds and aerodynamic efficiency when they were designing it. It's purpose built, it's not artwork.
Well, they can go back to school, because there are much prettier high speed trains running all over the civilized world that are engineered for speeds Amtrak will never see.
Perhaps they envisioned Nike or Puma advertising wraps completing the sneaker look. I am going to coin the new nickname for this train, "The Sneaker." It looks like a tennis shoe and will occasionally sneak up to 150 mph on a few miles of track.
Im glad to see any rail passenger investment we can get. Hopefully it is reliable out of the box. True high speed it only pretends to be. I have experienced China's national high speed rail system, nothing comes close.
Never been on China's high speed rail system, but I have taken several trips on Germany's Deutsche Bahn Intercity Express (ICE). Always on-time, comfortable, clean, and convenient.
Jim
