I have been hearing on the radio that ALL ACELA trains have been canceled until further notice. I have been hearing this for the past three days. Dose anyone know anything about this? I know this realy isnt preservation but it railroad related.

-Eric

Brake gear problems, apparently. Then I read somewhere on a different list that AMTRAK managed to get one train-set back in operation.

Trains magazine's website reports that the equipment is sidelined while Amtrak and Bombardier replace disc brake rotors found to have cracks in them. Metroliner service is filling in for some of the trains. Bombardier says it does not have enough of the German made parts on hand to finish the job.
mw

Could these parts have been repaired in a steam-era backshop? How?

Tom Cornillie

Have heard trains OOS until summer, then a gradual re-introduction at that. Also heard that defect was found by FRA inspector, not AMTK.

Joshua

Here is an article from the Wilmington News Journal on this topic.

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjourn ... dunti.html

I haven't learned all of the details of the brake disc cracks, but as far as brake disc cracks, in general, there has never been a "repair procedure" for cracks. It's remove and replace. I believe the Acela discs came from Germany and it will take some time to manufacture and ship replacements -- and that would be for identical replacements. Nobody stocks 300+ brake discs, on the shelf, without a firm order. No telling how long a fixed or upgraded disc would take to design, test and produce. THere are some impressive G-forces involved at 150 mph.

G.F.Payne
Baltimore