Metro-North M8 Pilot Cars

[RailLine8]

Anyone know if these things got the Bar car? I hope it does and the MTA failed big time if these don't got a bar car

[nightatnight]

The M7 developed by Bombardier Transportation has a high per mile failure rate which led to using Kawasaki Rail Car in it's place for the M8. The M8 seems to be a bit more utilitarian with focus on rider comfort and driver feedback in it's development. The door and side paneling is almost identical to the M7. The body sits different on the chasey providing a more stable ride. The drivers influence led to a more classic look but I'm guessing what works is more important then style.

[RLhockey203]

they better keep the bar car or else

[chetirepyat]

The front end of the M8, with the vertical headlight, is goofy and old-fashioned looking.

[msolomon128]

thats one ugly train.

[Hitmonchan107]

Wow, they look elegant. Too bad I never used the Metro North/LIRR trains. Only rode it once with my uncle like a decade ago.

[mrgar588]

i dont beleve it will be order 2013

[slicingwater]

Nice

[seClip9]

Nice catch of the pilot train in action

[Wehategod]

why dosen't New Haven Bring back the old Washboard MU's that were built in 1955 i would prefer those cars to the new cars

[distantsignal1]

We don't even know what the M9s will look like, yet. I'm sure they'll be in LIRR's yellow color scheme.

[c2a4r8l2]

Is it me or are these M8's ugly? I really hope the MTA decides not to use these M8's on the LIRR.

[Train538]

The M9s will be used on the LIRR. The M8s are just like the M2s, M4s, and M6s; they are only made for Metro-North's New Haven Line.

[nicky2175]

Do you know if the tests are going well?? I want to ride on one of them really soon!!!!

[nicky2175]

So do they test on all weekdays??? Can you see them go by at srtatford?????

[Train538]

I think I mentioned that ;) Yes of course you'll see them pass by Stratford! (LOL) Remember, I said the New Haven Line which means they will pass by Stratford considering Stratford is on the NH Line!

[five0fan]

@nicky2175 Well ,Stratford is on the New Haven Line, so yes!

[malikrthr1]

i knew that 3rd rail only goes up to pelham. Connecticut department of transportation will not allow 3rd rail in connecticut for some reason.

[nicky2175]

But when are they testing do they test on the nh line???

[Train538]

Yes of course they test on the New Haven Line! Aren't they going to be running on the New Haven Line? LOL They also test on the Hudson Line once in a while considering NH equipment runs back and forth between Highbridge Yard and the yard in Croton-Harmon. As of 7/18/2010, they test weekdays from 9 PM to 4 AM. Weekends are extremely rare but I personally have seen them test on a Sunday night about a week ago.

[nicky2175]

Are the m8's really going into service this year? About how many m8 are there now? When are they doing testing on the trains??

[Train538]

Metro-North is hoping to have at least one train in revenue service by the end of this year. There are currently eight M8s on property (as of 7/18/2010)(9100-9107). Testing began a couple months ago and only test from 9 PM to 4 AM (weekdays-only test on weekends if needed).

[SuperNJTRANSIT]

LOOKS LIKE A M7 WITH A PANTOGRAPH

[Train538]

Certain details are based off the M7s.

[theresnoeastern]

Nice  they have funky look, to them

[uconnfan2000]

I wish they were here 40 yrs. ago... I wouldn't come under a ROCK attack when checking the shoes and panographs.

[PLACEPEARL]

Those trucks look like they're ready to rock.; they prob

fix themselves. The cars are sharp, great scheme.

[nyshortline]

I'd love to see these cars make it to Old Saybrook or even New London in Shore Line East service. Funny how they have knuckle couplers instead of automatic couplers.

[Train538]

They used knuckle couplers for transport from Baltimore to New Haven via CSX (Selkirk, NY) and as soon as they arrived in NHV, MN switched them out. Since live testing has begun as of last week, obviously all of the couplers have been switched over to automatics.

[nyshortline]

@Train538 Ah, OK. Think they'll ever make it to New London or will that stay diesel?

[Train538]

Honestly, I think they will make it to New London at least once.

[PooPooDay]

@nyshortline

actually they don't have knuckle couplers, those you see are what they call "compromise" couplers so that they can couple to the engine as the engines were pulling them around before their "test" runs.

[PooPooDay]

@PooPooDay

...you can actually see the automatic "pin" coupler about 20 seconds into the video...

[TEMPLE7D]

LOVE THAT S2M

[Train538]

That's actually an RS2M ;) (same as the M7s).

[TEMPLE7D]

@Train538 ohh ok thanks!!

[Train538]

My pleasure! I do understand where you're coming from though but it's the truth!

[TEMPLE7D]

@Train538 but that sounds more like a s2m

[five0fan]

@TEMPLE7D It is atcually an RS2M used on many M7s.

[malikrthr1]

i think they are really cool. Metro north is my favorite railroad. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. But please people, so what if you think they are ugly. Appreciate it and be thankful for those people who live along the new haven line that they have new cars to ride in. The M2 deserves a break for it has been in service for over 35 years.

[TimeQueenofRome]

Also known as an M7 with Pantographs.

[travelsonic]

I wonder why they went from married pairs [M2s] to triplets for the M4s and M6s, only to go back to pairs for the M8s?

And why type of horn is going to be used on these?

[Train538]

Haha well Metro-North soon realized that triplets weren't the best idea as when the conductor needs to cut off certain cars, sometims they need to cut off more than they need (an actual MN conductor and engineer told me that). As I commented much earlier, the M8s have the same horns as the M7s-Leslie RS2Ms. If you go to page 4 of the comments you will see the answer.

[LCPD1337]

@travelsonic I believe that it is the same horns as on the m7. (Leslie RS2M)

[five0fan]

@LCPD1337 Correct.



[ecoRfan]

Sure as anything a lot nicer than SEPTA silverliner-V's. I like the interiors too.

[GenesisSanctuary]

Honestly, I think those M8s look pretty cool.

[jec20721]

Better than Silverliner IV's (but just as ugly). They should have made them look more the M7's.

[frokker303]

..are they really going to be that red on the inside? has anyone who had any design input on these know anything about psychology and color? I wouldn't want to ride on that. eesh. I might lash out if I was in a bad mood.

[trmander]

What the hell is up with the music?

[nidocamen]

I'm so saddened to see Metro-North moving away from the sleeker-looking M1s and M3s. These must have been designed by committee. Nice interiors but the front is honestly kind of ugly. Reminds me of older subway cars. Shouldn't you guys be building more futuristic, sleeker designed railcars? I'm a fan all the way from Phoenix who used to ride MNCR years ago. Sorry to see the cooler designs going away :(

[RAILTECHCHASER]

@nidocamen Some M1's and M3's are still in servive on the Harlem and Hudson Lines. Those never operate on the New Haven Line because they don't have pantographs. The M8 will only servive the New Haven Line and will replace the M2's and M4's, leaving the M6's in service.

[Train538]

Correction: (sorry if I sound mean or rude) all M1s are now officially out of service as of a few months ago. But your statement is mostly correct except that most M4s will stick around a little longer than the M2s but the M6s should be around the longest (not thinking about the M8s).

[TEMPLE7D]

@RAILTECHCHASER sorry to tell you but the lirr M1 and the mnrr M1As are finished--lirr m1s retired in 06 and mnrr 08

[malikrthr1]

@TEMPLE7D there are still 3 m1s in service. 2 for the hudson line for gamedays and rushour and 1 on the harlem line and still a couple of m3s left.

[nidocamen]

@RAILTECHCHASER oh yes, I'm quite aware of why the M1s and M3s cannot operate in NH territory because of only having third rail shoes :) I meant that the original design of the M1s is much sleeker looking than the 'boxy' shapes now being introduced with the M8s and also the fairly ugly and uber-boxy M7s. They are new and techie and cool and stuff, but damned ugly. Our new LRVs in Phoenix are sleeker looking than the M7s and M8s. Oh well, an era is gone :(

[malikrthr1]

the new haven line has its own set of 3rd rail set aside from the harlem and hudson line.

[Train538]

Huh? The New Haven Line doesn't have third-rail. The NH Line has overhead wires but since the NH Line connects with the Harlem and Hudson, there are no overhead wires (due to height restrictions). Changeover is in Pelham.

[boazrg]

@nidocamen I kind of like the front end treatment - it's sort of retro looking.

[rollerpodger]

@nidocamen yeah well try commuting on those sleek trains you speak of. This winter I was on no less than ten separate train rides where the roofs were leaking in multiple cars; i'm all for nostalgia but there is a big difference between a fully restored antique Cadillac and one that is mostly bondo, panted in 31 different colons, breaks down whenever it gets cold, cant travel fast because if dose it will rattle itself to pieces, has an interior that smells like CBGB's bathroom + rag for a gascap

[likitty20]

@nidocamen i understand you but things change

[AdmiralArcher]

After all, I've seen and had enough of them French-made commuter trains. We want some Japanese, and with the original propulsion motors, not Siemens or Alstom.

[philvia]

ugly as hell

[AdmiralArcher]

@philvia It may be UGLY, but I hope them M8s knock them M7s (Bombardiers) out the biz-ox.

[AdmiralArcher]

Them M8s gon' wax Bombardier's M7s out the biz-ox.

[malikrthr1]

about 3 or 4 of the m8 is here sitting in the new haven yard. I just like that new railcar smell.

[oinonio]

Sure beats the piss and shattered dreams smell of the old cars...

[CtTrainguy52]

Very nice. I simply cant wait for those units to get here. This will surely be new expirience for both commuters and railfans alike. I m glad I found this channel.

[herenthere]

the car front looks horrible lol...need a redesign!

[BiZzAr0]

Too late there, buddy.

[leonardwilson85]

@herenthere I agree. However, they had a mockup at Grand Central last year. The seats are very comfortable.

[AdmiralArcher]

OOPS, all too late!

[police04]

SUPER!

[Train538]

Horray they have Leslie RS2Ms for horns! Well it makes sense because the M7s have them. And also I never knew that when you pass between cars in the back that the doors slide just like Amtrak. Very smart. 5 stars!

[milky27oreo]

@Train538 yes!!!!!! It's always so difficult holding the doors open on the older cars!

[ERA3733]

@milky27oreo

Just to let you know, the RED color tells you that these M-8 Cars were paid for by the State of Connecticut, since the M-8s purchased by and for the MTA will be in the standard MTA Blue color. The red M-8s are replacing the Connecticut owned RED M-2 cars. Unlike the Subway and the LIRR, Metronorth has three different constituencies it must satisfy, each with different tastes. These cars satisfy the State of Connecticut, who paid for the cars.

[milky27oreo]

@ERA3733 Not exactly, there will not be any blue M8s. All New Haven Line sets are red-colored to make that they are New Haven Line trains. Blue-colored sets mark that they are trains for Harlem/Hudson, Black/Yellow mark the LIRR, and subways are usually painted in just plain silver, but we're starting to see a little twist in colors, adding in some black now.

M9s will probably be blue. But there will not be any blue M8s, and M8s will not run (unless there is need for it) on any other line.

[ERA3733]

@milky27oreo

Actually, I took another look at both these and the M7 cars, and realized the following:

1. The M7 and M8 cars have identical body shells, they just have different end caps. They even have identical side doors, which are single pocket doors, NOT double Pocket doors like the earlier classes. As to the Red Color, you are correct, but there still are differences between the cars that Connecticut pays for and the similar cars that MTA pays for.

[milky27oreo]

@ERA3733 Correct. I believe the only differences between the cars that CDOT pays for and the MTA is the logo on the side, nothing major.

[five0fan]

Yayyy! An RS2M.

[lirr56890]

when is lirr going to get new trains

[oknazevad]

There may be some picked up as part of the East Side Access project. But realize that the M8s are meant as the New Haven Line's equivalent of the M7s, which have been around on the LIRR and Hudson and Harlem lines for a bit now. It's really not a case of the New Haven getting new stuff first, it's a case of it getting them last.

[SubaruB4RSK]

@oknazevad

Yeah I had the joys of riding the early morning vomit comets at 2Am about that time weird things happen.. train doors (side) not fully closing with a large gap at the top..

Pantograph wire arching on the resistor grid at the top.

I will say I met some nice conductors and passengers over the course of 2 years.

[morningsidemoons]

They just got new trains.....

M9 are next on the table for LIRR and Metro-North for ESA and maybe Metro-North in Penn, but those trains wouldn't be here until at least another 10+ years.

[AdmiralArcher]

How 'bout Metro-North at Atlantic Avenue?

[morningsidemoons]

I don't think that's possible even.

[AdmiralArcher]

@morningsidemoons What u mean it's impossible? If the MTA can make a Metro-North at Penn Station, why not the Atlantic Terminal?

[morningsidemoons]

Metro-North in theory can use the Amtrak line down the west side (Hudson Line) and the Hell Gate for Amtrak (New Haven Line) for Penn access. Harlem Line is out of luck for Penn.

How can Metro-North be able to have trains go into Brooklyn?