From 07/20/1976 at Princeton Junction, NJ, Amtrak makes do with a sticker to cover the PC logo on this Metroliner. Of 61 built for the PRR/PC, only one Metroliner survives, safe at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
A number of other ex-Metroliner cars still exist, having been converted to cab-control cars. However, there seems to be a plan afoot to replace those cars with (depowered) HHP locos, which would afford better crash protection to the engineer.
Well I finally saw my first ALC-42 on yesterday's late-running Silver Star at Columbia, SC. along with another first, a B32-8WH. The weather was overcast and with family at the house, I didn't want to go far, but I ducked out to snag this shot.
First of all. Great image. But I got questions. Look at the upper left corner, already a dent. I hate when that happens. But I can't get past that snow plow, or really crash plow. Take close look at it, look at those gaping voids on the lower edge plow corners, and look what is behind those voids and consider all that hardware that's gonna get wiped out, its a lot of stuff. Why the void in coverage, the loco right behind it has coverage on the lower corners of the plow. Am I right, in seeing that one side of the plow seems much lower and less square with the rails than the other? Both seem much higher than the 4" min to 6" max FRA requirements to me. Please advise or comment.
Definitely a dent and already rusty scrape up high there. Not sure that is actually a plow, more like the pilot. Looking at some pics of other units, they have the same gaps at the sides but there is something missing across the front below the coupler. Looks like this unit has already be abused a bit. Still a great shot by Hardcoaler!
It appears the plow is also a bit bent back on the engineer side? The cut out ends have me wondering if they think it might catch the edge of a platform, or something...?
It is a shame to see these new units already showing damage. I'll bet they see heck in many neighborhoods where throwing rocks is a full time sport.
Or is that actually not a plow, just a pilot? I see bolts across the bottom, which I wonder of those hold a plow or more metal?
