Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Posted (6 years 7 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 2529 times:
All taken by me. All pictures were taken along the Olive Subdivision. Although there are several Metrolink lines in the greater SoCal area, this particular line is special. Not just because it's the closest line to me, but because this is part of the route of the Orange County-Inland Empire line, which claims to be the first and only suburb-to-suburb rail service in the US. It originates and terminates in suburban areas and is the only Metrolink line that does NOT pass through Union Station in downtown Los Angeles.
AirCop From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (6 years 7 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 2510 times:
Thanks for the pictures. Those trains are the way to commute. The commute trains from San Jose to San Francisco were great, get on board, comfortable seat, read the paper, etc, no stress.
Clogman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (6 years 7 months 4 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 2442 times:
Great pictures there Matt.
But I'm curious about 1 thing tho.. Whats the fastest a train like that can run? It looks pretty heavy and I could imagine that a big train like that could derail if they were going to fast in a curve.
Nicksair From United States of America, joined Aug 2002, 484 posts, RR: 50 Reply 5, posted (6 years 7 months 4 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 2437 times:
Quoting Clogman (Reply 4): Whats the fastest a train like that can run?
Those trains are designed to go up to 100-110mph but due to tracks and grade crossings.. they usually go between 55 to 90 mph.
Quoting VHVXB (Reply 2): whats the seating capacity for each carriage?
Seating capacity for those cars are between 80 to 90 seats.. some have more without the cab car.. and some are lost with it inside. Crush loads are up to 120-130.
If you guys have any more questions, just feel free to ask.. i know Metrolink pretty well and its counterparts around California and the west.
Also since Matt posted Amtrak pictures before i should metion that over my 12 years of riding Amtrak, i have done over 300 round-trips between San Diego, and the Los Angeles Area (Orange County, LA proper, San Fernando Valley)
Nick
Sorry for the edit's i was tired when writing this.
[Edited 2006-09-28 10:14:34]
VHVXB From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 5517 posts, RR: 20 Reply 7, posted (6 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2420 times:
Quoting Nicksair (Reply 5): Seating capacity for those cars are between 80 to 90 seats.. some have more without the cab car.. and some are lost with it inside. Crush loads are up to 120-130.
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 8, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2403 times:
Speaking of the cool Metrolink trains and grade crossings, there is no shortage of THAT mix here. So here ya go.
Clogman From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2397 times:
Quoting Nicksair (Reply 5): Those trains are designed to go up to 100-110mph but due to tracks and grade crossings.. they usually go between 55 to 90 mph.
Thanks for the info. I cant imagine a huge train like that go with 110mph. But it could be cool to see.
Speedbirdie From United Kingdom, joined May 2006, 899 posts, RR: 56 Reply 11, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2379 times:
Damn I cant wait to go to LAX...
You guys have some sweet trains over there. Why do we have pissy little things? One thing I loved about being in Canada was the big ass trains you have.
The UK sucks..
Who is but the form following the function of what, and what I am, is a Woman in a mask..
Quoting Speedbirdie (Reply 11): You guys have some sweet trains over there. Why do we have pissy little things? One thing I loved about being in Canada was the big ass trains you have.
I find UK trains perfectly fine for long trips as long as you are in First. Our country is so crowded for the size that it's no wonder they are always so pact, at least in Standard class. The USA has the luxury of being as empty as Kaz's brain in comparison.
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 15, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2365 times:
Damn I cant wait to go to LAX...
You guys have some sweet trains over there.
Well don't go to LAX hoping to see those trains. Metrolink doesn't run anywhere near LAX. You will need to take a ride into OC, Union Station, the Valley, or the San Gabriel Valley to see them. There is a set of train tracks to the east of LAX, but no Metrolink. And I believe freight service was abandoned. There is, however, a light rail line down the median of the 105 freeway. But those are those namby-pamby Euro-esque trolley cars and are basically just busses on rails powered by an overhead wire.
Now if any of you want to fly into SNA to see trains, let me know and I'll be more than glad to show you the Metrolink and Amtrak hot spots including San Clemente Beach, where the tracks (and trains) are literally on the sand.
BMIFlyer From UK - England, joined Feb 2004, 8810 posts, RR: 62 Reply 16, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2363 times:
Quoting Matt D (Reply 15): Now if any of you want to fly into SNA to see trains, let me know and I'll be more than glad to show you the Metrolink and Amtrak hot spots including San Clemente Beach, where the tracks (and trains) are literally on the sand.
Would that be the same area that the "Sunset Limited" runs through the huge windfarm south of LA??
Some nice scenery out there when I did my train trip
Matt D From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, RR: 51 Reply 17, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2351 times:
Would that be the same area that the "Sunset Limited" runs through the huge windfarm south of LA??
No. You are thinking of the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley areas that are in the desert areas well to the east of the LA area.
BMIFlyer From UK - England, joined Feb 2004, 8810 posts, RR: 62 Reply 18, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2348 times:
Quoting Matt D (Reply 17): No. You are thinking of the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley areas that are in the desert areas well to the east of the LA area.
Aaron747 From Japan, joined Aug 2003, 7635 posts, RR: 28 Reply 19, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2302 times:
Seriously...I grew up railfanning in California and then later in various travels around the states and Europe, grew to love them even more.
Of course, since moving to Japan, my rail quality of life has increased tenfold. I will never be able to get excited about trains in the US ever again.
and my area is one of the least saturated of all Japanese metropolises...
of course this is nothing compared to Tokyo
If you need someone to blame / throw a rock in the air / you'll hit someone guilty
Saxdiva From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 2382 posts, RR: 46 Reply 23, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2242 times:
Quoting Matt D (Reply 15): Now if any of you want to fly into SNA to see trains, let me know and I'll be more than glad to show you the Metrolink and Amtrak hot spots including San Clemente Beach, where the tracks (and trains) are literally on the sand.
I should point out that if you fly into BUR, you can cross the street and hop onto Metrolink (and Amtrak, I believe) at the airport station. I've tried using Metrolink to get to and from work, but my irregular schedule makes it bit of a challenge--when will the MTA realize that not everyone works 7:30am-4:00pm?
BA From United States of America, joined May 2000, 11135 posts, RR: 61 Reply 24, posted (6 years 7 months 3 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2238 times:
I love trains, but I just can't seem to get an appreciation for passenger rail in North America. It's just too freight-like and well...ugly. The exception being the Acela Express and the HHP-8 electric locomotives used by Amtrak in the Northeast Corridor.
I love the sleek aerodynamic mostly electric trains that are used in Europe. Whenever I'm in Europe, I always ride trains there. My favorite rail system by far is the Swiss Federal Railways, SBB CFF FFS.
I just wish there was greater use of electrified rail networks in the USA. I understand it is not practical on long intercontinental stretches, but it is perfectly practical on commuter rail lines like Metrolink.
I'm talking about sleek electrified commuter trains like this, the Siemens/Stadler-built RABe514 double-deck Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) used by SBB CFF FFS in the Zürich S-Bahn network. It entered service earlier this year.
When it comes to single-deck commuter trains, I think the Stadler FLIRT Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) is beautiful. It's used by SBB CFF FFS in several S-Bahn systems in Switzerland including Basel which uses dual-voltage models to cross into France.
Having said all that, I do love freight rail in North America however. There's nothing like seeing a 1-mile long freight train being hauled by a couple GE Dash 9 diesel locomotives.
European freight trains may be a lot faster, but I still think it is more exciting to see huge 1-mile long trains pulled by multiple locomotives moving along.
I did take the Amtrak California Zephyr a few weeks ago from Denver to Glenwood Springs and it was alright. The scenery was absolutely spectacular however.
It was my first trip on Amtrak.
Just my .
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
25 Saxdiva: Metrolink uses rights-of-way leased from freight companies, so they share tracks with freight trains. We do have light rail here in SoCal, but the co
26 VHVXB: Nice pics. Who manufactures those trains? EDI
27 BA: I had a feeling this was the case. Here in Denver, they want to build a rail line from Denver Union Station in downtown to the airport and it would u
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 9502 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Australia, joined Apr 2006, 5517 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 9112 posts, 
From UK - England, joined Feb 2004, 8810 posts, 
From Japan, joined Aug 2003, 7635 posts, 
.
Printer friendly format 
