Not only the last St. Louis built cars (January-April 1973), among the very last in daily service excluding PCCs and historic heritage operations. The others are the 1968 "Comarrow" (Arrow I MU) coaches on Caltrans San Joaquin service and a few 1953 St. Louis built U.S. Army cars now as combines on NCDOT's Piedmont.
Isn't the Piedmont an Amtrak train that's funded by NCDOT? This train is the only Amtrak train that's still run with Streamliner Era coaches, or "Heritage Fleet" cars. Most were built by the St Louis Car Co in the 1950's and early '60s. Most are of Union Pacific origin and others were built by Pullman. These are the small window smooth sided cars that were built as 44 seat coaches for the UP's "City" Series Streamliners. Those were acquired by Amtrak in 1971, and were later converted from steam heated cars to electric train line heating, or Head End Power. (HEP) These cars retained their direct dump toilets and probably received retention toilets later on. (Probably in the late 1990's, as Amtrak was "mothballing these cars.) There's some that are of Kansas City Southern origin and may have been used in the "Southern Bell", which was their premiere Streamliner train between Kansas City and New Orleans.
That’s not going to happen as the R44s are being phased out. Also, I wouldn’t call them “better equipment” as they’re worn-out, rusting, and break down often.
@@rodneywilliams3762 Wrong. There’s express and local with three terminals. Besides St. George and Tottenville, there’s Great Kills local trains as seen at start of video.
These are Mile Post markers, from when a track rehabilitation project was done on a few miles of track. A few years ago, approximately 4 or 5 miles of track were replaced.
Maintenance has never been an MTA strength. Even though these buckets are nearing retirement, the MTA could have made some placards with the destination sign for the front of the trains. Instead, they put useless SIR stickers or leftover American flags.
why on earth would mta do that? are you crazy or something? can't keep running old outdated equipment on the subway that keeps breaking down. Delays happen because of that.
That makes no sense for multiple reasons. The first being anything that runs in SI needs to be retrofitted with cab-signaling equipment which the R68’s do not have. Second, the R68s are due to be phased out in the upcoming years by option orders of the R211. Third and final, the R211S were specifically ordered for Staten Island are part of the base order.
Why? It wouldn't work because the R68s are also being phased out in a couple of years, unless you want more delays whenever they break down, like how the R46s in the NYC subway system do since they are really old and squeaky.
SIR keeps the tracks and stations pretty clean, at least by NYC standards.
1:00 we're not gonna question the random pairs of socks on the floor? 😂
Someone was running real hard to catch the Tottenville Express 😂
cool video and have more to come
It is also worth noting that these are the last train cars made by the St. Louis Car Company still in regular revenue service, if not the only ones.
Not only the last St. Louis built cars (January-April 1973), among the very last in daily service excluding PCCs and historic heritage operations. The others are the 1968 "Comarrow" (Arrow I MU) coaches on Caltrans San Joaquin service and a few 1953 St. Louis built U.S. Army cars now as combines on NCDOT's Piedmont.
Isn't the Piedmont an Amtrak train that's funded by NCDOT? This train is the only Amtrak train that's still run with Streamliner Era coaches, or "Heritage Fleet" cars. Most were built by the St Louis Car Co in the 1950's and early '60s. Most are of Union Pacific origin and others were built by Pullman. These are the small window smooth sided cars that were built as 44 seat coaches for the UP's "City" Series Streamliners. Those were acquired by Amtrak in 1971, and were later converted from steam heated cars to electric train line heating, or Head End Power. (HEP) These cars retained their direct dump toilets and probably received retention toilets later on. (Probably in the late 1990's, as Amtrak was "mothballing these cars.) There's some that are of Kansas City Southern origin and may have been used in the "Southern Bell", which was their premiere Streamliner train between Kansas City and New Orleans.
Keep the iconic rolling stock fleet old school generation alive and better equipment active alive 🧓🚉
That’s not going to happen as the R44s are being phased out. Also, I wouldn’t call them “better equipment” as they’re worn-out, rusting, and break down often.
I took the SIR once and it was bad. Half the doors don’t even work and for some only 1 door opens
You're clearly not from Staten Island. Nobody on SI calls these old, unheated rust buckets "iconic."
Cool video.
7:14 what purpose do the blue indicators serve exactly?
They indicate that the door at the end of the car is unlocked.
Why are the front Roll signs either broken or covered up by flag decals?
They’ve been stolen or damaged, and they probably don’t have any replacements
It’s one line two terminals it’s on a island you don’t need destination sign for that
@@rodneywilliams3762 Wrong. There’s express and local with three terminals. Besides St. George and Tottenville, there’s Great Kills local trains as seen at start of video.
What’s with all the white chain code markers between the two tracks?
These are Mile Post markers, from when a track rehabilitation project was done on a few miles of track. A few years ago, approximately 4 or 5 miles of track were replaced.
@ sure. But why do they need to have the chain markers every ten feet or so?
1:20 Arkham Asylum from “Gotham” TV series in the distance.
the R44s really look in rough shape. seems like the MTA doesnt even bother fixing the rollsigns anymore
Just becuase the new tech came doesn't mean they will have issues they will keep r44 as back ups
Nope. Once the R211S cars are finished with their trial runs and new sets arrive, these old buckets are gone. SIR has limited storage space.
the R44s really look in rough shape. seems like the MTA doesnt even bother fixing the rollsigns anymore. the R211S couldnt come sooner
Maintenance has never been an MTA strength. Even though these buckets are nearing retirement, the MTA could have made some placards with the destination sign for the front of the trains. Instead, they put useless SIR stickers or leftover American flags.
Na I like the newest stuff
NOOOOOOOOOOO
They could’ve just move the R68 to SI and R211 stay in NYC transit.
why on earth would mta do that? are you crazy or something? can't keep running old outdated equipment on the subway that keeps breaking down. Delays happen because of that.
Yo,what NO
@@TCORV SI is not a real subway
That makes no sense for multiple reasons. The first being anything that runs in SI needs to be retrofitted with cab-signaling equipment which the R68’s do not have. Second, the R68s are due to be phased out in the upcoming years by option orders of the R211. Third and final, the R211S were specifically ordered for Staten Island are part of the base order.
Why? It wouldn't work because the R68s are also being phased out in a couple of years, unless you want more delays whenever they break down, like how the R46s in the NYC subway system do since they are really old and squeaky.
First