Train of the Week

Here are some photos from one of my trips in 2009... you may click on the slideshow to open the album in a new window/tab. Regular content will resume on next Friday. Thank you for visiting!

Here are some photos from one of my trips back in 2008... you may click on the slideshow to open the album in a new window/tab. Regular content will resume on Friday 5 November. Thank you for visiting!

The Series 700T is a high-speed electric multiple unit used by the Taiwan High Speed Rail based on the Shinkansen Series 700 EMU in Japan. It was built by Hitachi, Kawasaki, and Nippon Sharyō. It began revenue service in 2007 on the first and only high-speed railway in Taiwan between Taipei and Zuoying (Kaohsiung). Unlike other Japanese high-speed trains, the 700T does not feature an aggressive aerodynamic nose design. This is to maximise seating capacity of the trains and it is also due to the fact that the Taiwan HSR infrastructure is built to European standards which feature larger tunnels (here is some background of the Taiwan HSR and the Eurotrain which was to operate on the TSHR instead of the 700T). Interior of the Standard Car Interior of the Business Car The standard consist of the 700T includes 3 units formed of 3 powered and 1 non-powered cars. Pantographs are located on cars 4 and 9. The 700T has a total of 36 AC traction motors each outputting 285 kW (382 hp), ma...

The Bombardier Regina is a passenger electric-multiple-unit originally designed for local and regional train services. The standard consist of the Regina consists of 2 to 3 cars. It is used by SJ and many private and regional railways and its several variants are designated X50 to X54. The top speed of the Swedish Regina is 180-200 km/h (112-125 mph). SJ Regina X52 8- and 16-car high-platform-only versions of the Regina were later introduced in China as the CRH1A/B (CRH stands for China Railway High-speed) and have been in service since 2007. These trains have a top speed of 220-250 km/h (137-155 mph). In late 2007, SJ ordered 20 additional sets of 4-car Regina trainsets, designated X55, for inter-city services connecting Stockholm with Värmland and Dalarna, with an option for another 20 sets. China Railways Regina CRH1A Below is one of the Bombardier commercials aired during the 2008 Summer Olympics featuring the CRH1. The Regina was also used as the test train for the Gr...

The F40PH is a 3,000-3,200 hp (2.2-2.4 MW), 4 axle, HEP (head end power) equipped passenger locomotive developed based on the GP40 in the 1970s for Amtrak . It was built between 1976 and 1992. It is one of the most widely used passenger locomotives in North America. A number of variants of this locomotive have been operated by a variety of passenger railroads including Toronto’s GO Transit . This post will concentrate on the F40PH-2 purchased by Via Rail Canada in 1986. Today Via Rail Canada has the second largest fleet of 54 units of F40PH series locomotives in North America, next to Metra commuter railroad of Chicago, IL. These units were built by General Motors Diesel in London, ON between 1986 and 1989. They are equipped with the EMD 16-654E3C prime movers and have a top speed of 95 mph (153 km/h). In order to continuously provide HEP to the train, the prime mover of the F40PH is designed to idle at 900 rpm (designed max operating rpm), giving the locomotive a distinctive...