Photo by Vance M. Pomerening
LED lighting fixtures will soon be everywhere, as seen here on one of the new TriMet 400 series cars. LEDs are also used in a little fixture that lights the stairs on Type 2 cars. I have also seen an LED fixture at a Max station.
After a little experimentation, I have settled on this new format for the blog. Please note that you can expand photos by clicking on the image, and then clicking on it again when it opens in a different frame.
Photo by Vance M. Pomerening
The new TriMet 400 series cars have a control cab only at one end, hence the cars must run in pairs, with the cabs at the two ends. This results in a spacious, almost lounge like area in the rear of the cars. One seats oneself, and one almost starts looking for a buzzer on the wall, to summon the bartender, as there used to be on “steam road” lounge cars. Alas, the OLCC would never hear of it 
Photo by Vance M. Pomerening
Back when TriMet first proposed adding light rail to the “bus mall,” nattering nabobs of negativism predicted gridlock and doom. The Green and Yellow lines have limited stops on the mall, and as you can see from the photograph, the rail line weaves to the right lane for its stops, avoiding the bus platforms completely. Photo taken Sepember 2, 2009. In the background a Yellow Line train stops at the City Hall station.
With all that is happening on TriMet right now, it is high time to get this blog in gear. Almost ready is the feature article “TriMet’s Sandbox.” More on the new 400 cars, and lots more coming.
Photo by Vance M. Pomerening
It is a little bit ironic to me, that this TriMet setout spur is located so close to the site of the old Portland Terminal Business Car track. This is where Southern Pacific used to park their business car, number 106, the Oregon. This was the personal car of Oregon Div. Superintendent A.W. Kilborn (link.) This car lasted long enough to get painted into Amtrak colors, and then back into silver and red. Alas, if only TriMet stabled Parlor Cars
Photo by Vance M. Pomerening
TriMet began service on the newly refurbed Transit Mall, with the relocation of Yellow Line service, on Sunday, August 30. Green Line service started September 12. During that interval, Yellow line trains were interspersed with Green Line test trains. TriMet even posted a sign at Pioneer Couthouse, advising the public of the test trains. Here we see new Siemens car 416 negotiate the tricky trackage by the old Portland Terminal VC interlocking tower. Train is southbound to PSU.
PDXRAILTRANIST will be back soon with more content. Stay Tuned.
Photo by Vance M. Pomerening
Way ahead of his time was William McKeen, Motive Power Superintendent for Union Pacific during the Harriman era. This was one of the very first applications of the internal combustion engine in railroading. The idea was to produce self propelled railcars to reduce the operating costs of locomotive hauled local and branchline passenger service. Only the front truck was powered. The marine design gasoline engine was not successful in this application, and break downs were common, but this is indeed, an important historical percursor to today’s DMUs like those that operate on TriMet’s WES. The model is from Ken Kidder.
Max Destinations: TrainwatchersJournal.wordpress.com
