rossiter@cornell.UUCP (David G. Rossiter) (04/03/85)
Steve Bjork mentioned that SP peninula branch commutes will be push-pull. This
has been standard practice on the large Chicago commuter lines (CNW, MILW,
CBQ, CRIP) for at least 20 years. I don't recall any controversy about the
safety in 'push' mode. There are a lot of grade crossings on at least some of
these lines (e.g. MILW in the northwestern suburbs).
On Long Island, the LIRR puts power cars (rebuilt Alco FA1's, with no prime
mover) on the NY (west) end of the trains, with the power (GP38 ?) on the
east end. This way the crew is always in a real locomotive.
Since this is my first posting to this net, allow me to introduce myself. I
enjoy trainwatching here in Commie-rail, I mean Conrail, and D & H - land,
kibitzing the transportation industry, and especially kicking up the cinders
on abandoned railroad beds (something we have a lot of around here). I grew
up in Ithaca, NY during the (glorious) twilight of the Lehigh Valley, and like
most railfans I know around here, my loyalties are now with the Delaware and
Hudson, and the Delaware Otsego system. My brother Winton and I are co-authors
of the pamplet "A History of Railroads in Tompkins County" (NY).
David Rossiter / CS Dep't / Cornell University / Ithaca / NY / 14850 / USA
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rossiter@Cornell.ARPA (ARPAnet) ; rossiter@CRNLCS (BITNET)