Does anyone know where I could find information that describes how HEP is to be wired up in a car, hardware required, how to calculate how much load you will have on a particular car, and the procedure for hooking up and breaking down the HEP in a train. I'm looking for a manual or website that explains the basic theory of how it works and illustrates some of the details. Not planning to do any HEP wiring myself anytime soon, but would like to learn more specifics on exactly how it works and is set up. Any leads would be appreciated. Thanks.

You can contact Amtrak private passenger cars
divison. Or possible contact N.J transit passenger
car divison. But try Amtrak first.

> Does anyone know where I could find
> information that describes how HEP is to be
> wired up in a car, hardware required, how to
> calculate how much load you will have on a
> particular car, and the procedure for
> hooking up and breaking down the HEP in a
> train. I'm looking for a manual or website
> that explains the basic theory of how it
> works and illustrates some of the details.
> Not planning to do any HEP wiring myself
> anytime soon, but would like to learn more
> specifics on exactly how it works and is set
> up. Any leads would be appreciated. Thanks.


tinofaginas@hotmail.com

You might try the American Association of Private Railcar Owners (AAPRCO). Their publication, Private Varnish, often has articles on technical subjects. For example, Issue 21 back in 1988 had an article titled "Connecting Head-end Power", Issue 43 from 1992 had "Head-end Power" Issue 85 from 1999 had "Electric Power for your Private Car", Issue 88 from 2000 has "What you need to know about VIA's head-end power requirements" and issues 90, 93, 94 and 95 from 2001 have a four-part series on "Electrical Systems for Private Car Owners". There is an order form for these and other back issues of PV on the AAPRCO website linked below.

AAPRCO website
pnichol6@prodigy.net

> Does anyone know where I could find
> information that describes how HEP is to be
> wired up in a car, hardware required, how to
> calculate how much load you will have on a
> particular car, and the procedure for
> hooking up and breaking down the HEP in a
> train. I'm looking for a manual or website
> that explains the basic theory of how it
> works and illustrates some of the details.
> Not planning to do any HEP wiring myself
> anytime soon, but would like to learn more
> specifics on exactly how it works and is set
> up. Any leads would be appreciated. Thanks.

Brenden,

Amtrak ten years ago used to give two and half day seminars to AAPRCO folks in the ins and outs and safety regulations relating to HEP; but with various training crises, plus cutbacks in the department that writes and distributes these standards, they are not available now (have been out of print for almost ten years). The private varnish engineer for Amtrak can send the technical specifications to install, but that is still not the gist of what you are asking for.

A very light overview, plus a comparison of systems is on the Northwest Rail Electric Website, link below. If you have specific questions, I could answer them, but it is rather difficult to condense twenty hours of instruction into a board response. Email me direct if you would like to start a Q and A dialog on this. I have wired several Amtrak cars, many tourist railroad cars, and presently working on a project to convert 12 ex Chicago Metra cars to be compatible with Amtrak Specs.

Steve Zuiderveen

NW Rail Electric HEP Page
SZuidervee@aol.com

Thanks for the responses. The NW Rail Electric link is just the kind of overview I was looking for to get started with, thanks Steve. If I have any direct questions, I will e-mail you.

Brendan