From: pierson@empror.enet.dec.com (dave pierson)
Subject: Re: NEC
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Date: 21 JAN 93 17:09:20    

In article <16B5CF000.M00209@MBVM.Mitre.Org>, M00209@MBVM.Mitre.Org writes...
>In article <1jjf1oINN8vf@iraul1.ira.uka.de>
>S_KOEHLER@iravcl.ira.uka.de (|S| Tobias Koehler) writes:
> 
>>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I have a few questions about the NEC (Amtrak North East Corridor)
>>Boston---Washington.
>>
>I'll start, and I'm sure others will comment as well.
> 
>As a result of the different ownership
>and the difference in electrification dates (the New Haven electrification was
>mostly done about 1905 while the Pennsylvania's in its current form was done in
>the 1930s), there are many technical differences in the two systems which I am
>not qualified to discuss.  They are however sufficiently compatible that
>electric locomotives are run through between Washington and New Haven, and have
>been at least since about 1970.

	Actaully, they were pretty compatible, from 1920ish on.  The power
	didn't run thru because that "wasn't done", at the time.  Earlier, Penn
	Staion was third rail, 600VDC, overrunning third rail, so either
	PRR DD1 e-loks or NH power with thrid rail shoes (also used elsewhere)
	ran into Penn Station.

>>1. What is the maximum speed allowed?

>It varies.  I don't have Employees' Timetables here at the office, but it's
>something like:   90 mph Boston - Providence
>                  80 mph Providence - New Haven
>                  90 mph New Haven - New York
>                 110 mph New York - Washington
	Much of NY-Washington is run at 120 MPH by all trains (i've timed them.)
	and faster by the "metroliners".

>>2. Which electric system do they use? (AC/DC, voltage, frequency)
>>
>AC.  11,000 volts I believe.  60 hz?
	Varies, depending on where one is.  When first electrified thru, it was
	11KVAC/25Hz, catenary, all the way.  About 10 years back, the portion
	from Woodlawn, NY to New Haven, CT was changed to 12KV/60Hz. (commercial
	US power frequency.)  Thru AMTRAK trains run thru a frequency gap just
	before New Rochelle NY.  (From Woodlawn to Grand Central Station, NY,
	now solely commuter operation, is 660VDC Underrunning third rail.  The
	trackage used by NEC trains to enter NY Penn Station is also electrified
	with Pennsylvania RR/Long Island RR 600VDC overruning third rail,
	for use by the Commuter trains Len describes later.  The EMU's to GCT
	run off both types of electrification, with changeover on the move.)

>All Amtrak trains are locomotive-hauled.  Diesel power is exclusively (somebody
>correct me if that isn't true on the Corridor) F40PH (I may have the letters
>in the wrong order) locomotives equipped for head-end power.  In the electric
>zone, most trains are pulled by AEM7s built by GE (?) and essentially copied
>from a Swedish design.
	Think of an RC4...

>         All branches operate 7 days a week.  The route into Grand Central
>         Terminal joins the "Harlem Branch", formerly owned by the New York
>         Central Railroad, at the New York City Line.  From there into the
>         terminal, the power is supplied by a DC third rail (1500 volts?).
		600/660VDC

	(oooops.  too many deletes.  Newark Service....)
>         Frequent service all day and night, seven days a week.  Base service
>         at least hourly.  Additional local service between New York and New
>         Brunswick.  Most service is by electric multiple unit cars in long
>         trains (I've recently seen 14 cars - maybe they run longer), but I
>         think that they fill in in rush hours with some trains of unknown
>         coaches pulled by AEM7s.
		While they look like AEM7s (RC4's), they are a separate, tho
		very similar design, closer to the parent RC4's.  i think
		purchased direct from ABB(?).  (The AEM7s were EMD built.)

thanks
dave pierson			|the facts, as accurately as i can manage,
Digital Equipment Corporation	|the opinions, my own.
40 Old Bolton Rd		|I am the NRA.
Stow, Mass, USA	
01775				pierson@msd26.enet.dec.com
"He has read everything, and, to his credit, written nothing."  A J Raffles
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