mosher@mprvaxa (01/01/84)
I had the opportunity to ride on VIA's new LRC train last fall and here are some observations. The locomotive is the wildest and best looking locomotive I have ever seen. It looks to be doing 100 standing still. Long, low and beautiful. The engine idles at a high rpm, I assume this is for the electric heat for the cars. The engine does not sound anything like the old ALCO 251 pinging and ponging. I asked the engine crew how the units were running, one said that every trip is a risk. Seems that the electrics are not up to par. The cars are pleasant but nothing special from the appointments point of view. I was in the car next to the engine. It was amazingly quiet. I could hear no exhaust noise but could detect the increase in turbo speed on acceleration. The acceleration is excellent for a passenger train. The old ALCO smoking problem seems to be present as I watched plenty of black smoke trail past the window on acceleration. The cars do lean on curves but you have to watch the horizon very carefully too detect anything from inside. At the end of the trip I happened to be sitting in a bar with some other passengers and I asked them their comments on the train. All negative. Seems that the meal service has become worse since last year, and one of the crew was rude to other passengers. I do not think that they even knew that they were on new equipment, and the fact that the train left and arrived on time meant nothing.