[PRCo] TRAX Postscript

[Kenneth Josephson]

Hi Fred,

Happy to receive word your trip was enjoyable.

As I noted yesterday, after your departure for Colorado, I met Mac Sebree at
the University terminal. The motorman was a fan and showed us the cab
layout. He also seemed to confirmed the rumors about TRAX buying thirty two
San Jose cast offs. At present, TRAX plans to rehab the beasts in their own
shops.

Met a sweet operator on the Sandy line. She rolled her windshield screen all
the way up and lowered her cab to passenger compartment window so I could
video tape out the front window. The two young men we met misunderstood my
question about the trackside "S" signal. They thought I was referring to the
"SG" signs for "sound gong." The white S is an indicator for the crossing
gates. It works in conjuction with sensor on the catenary during the hours
of light rail operation. This allows for certain grade crossing gates to
remain up while light rail cars load and unload at stations. At night,
normal gate operation, with track sensors for the diesel freight service, is
employeed. By the way, I checked for you. The Sandy line does use 130 pound
rail.

This same operator also mentioned the Dallas cars were difficult to adjust
to. They use a hand controlled deadman switch. They were also more powerful
than the TRAX Siemens units and sometimes tripped substations. She stated
she built up her forearm running the Dallas equipment. :-)

The half dozen operators I chatted with seemed to enjoy the interest rail
fans show for their operation. As long as nobody gets too pushy or foams too
much, it will probably remain a fan friendly operation.