Colorado Railcar DMU

The Colorado Railcar DMU is a Diesel Multiple Unit train that was manufactured by Colorado Railcar from 2002-2008. The DMU was offered in single-level and bi-level versions. The DMU was discontinued after Colorado Railcar shut down in 2008.
== History ==
=== Original Demonstrator ===
The first DMU demonstrator(numbered 2002) was built in 2002.http://www.trainweb.org/ultradomes/crm/2002.html The DMU was built to meet FRA's 49 CFR Part 238 compression load requirements, Which made it the first modern FRA compliant DMU in the United States. The DMU toured the US Between 2002-2004 to demonstrate the DMU to potential future operators. The DMU would be acquired by Florida's Tri Rail in 2004. In 2005, the DMU was repainted for Tri Rail but was never used in service.
=== Revenue DMU Orders ===
In 2005, the first bi-level DMU would be built for Tri Rail as part of an order for 4 DMU units that would be built form 2005-2007.http://www.trainweb.org/ultradomes/trcx/703.htmlhttp://www.trainweb.org/ultradomes/trcx/706.html TriMet in Portland ordered 3 DMUs and 1 cab car for use on its WES commuter rail line that were built from 2007-2008. Alaska Railroad ordered 1 bi-level DMU that was built in 2008.https://www.alaskarails.org/fp/passenger/751/index.html
=== Failed Orders ===
Amtrak and the State of Vermont considered the purchase of DMU trainsets for use on the New Haven–St. Albans stretch of the Vermonter. The new cars would purportedly have saved $4.25 million over three years, being four times more fuel efficient than a locomotive-hauled train. In 2008, the Vermont state legislature approved the purchase of five cars from Colorado Railcar, but the company closed while the decision was awaiting approval.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermonter_(train)#Vermonter
== Details ==
The DMU is powered by 2 Detroit Diesel engines with a combined horsepower of 1200. Each DMU is capable of traveling up to 100 mph. The DMU is 85 ft long with a height of 14 ft 10in(19 ft 6in for the bi-level DMU). The DMU has 92 seats(190 for the bi-level). DMUs can be ether single ended or double ended. The single level DMU has a streamlined cab at one end, and a flat cab on the other end(if the DMU is double ended). Bi-level DMUs are all flat cab units, but can have the roof of DMU slanted. DMUs can be fitted with dome widows or standard windows.http://www.multimodalways.org/docs/railroads/RREquip/Railcar/CO%20Railcar%20Lit%202003.pdf
== Operators ==
Operator 	Numbers 	Quantity	model 	notes
Colorado Railcar 	2002 	1 	single level	Renumbered to 702, Currently stored at Pueblo, Colorado
Tri Rail 	703-706 	4 	bi-level 	Removed from service in 2012, 1 trainset was sent to Sunrail in 2014 for testing, all units removed from Tri Rail property in 2023.
WES commuter rail 	1001-1003	3 	Single level	Double ended units, all Currently in service
Alaska Railroad 	751 	1 	bi-level 	Used on the Glacier Discovery, currently in service
French Lick Scenic	704, 706 	2 	bi-level 	Ex Tri Rail, acquired in 2024
== Successor ==
In 2009 US Railcar took over Colorado Railcar after they shut down. They intend to continue producing DMUs for the US market, but haven't received any orders as of 2022.
==References==
Category:Diesel trainsets
Category:Alaska Railroad Locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Passenger locomotives
Category:United States