Boeing LRV

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Boeing LRV
Boeing Vertol LRV in San Francisco in 1980
Boeing Vertol LRV in San Francisco in 1980
Number: 275
Manufacturer: Boeing Vertol
Year of construction (s): 1976-1979
Retirement: 2005-2008
Gauge : 1435 mm ( standard gauge )
Length: 21,641 mm (71 ft )
Width: 2642 mm (104 in )
Empty mass: 30.4 t
Top speed: 110 km / h
Installed capacity: 310 kW
Power transmission: Overhead line
Train brake: Air / hydraulic brake
Seats: 48

The US standard-rail vehicles ( English US Standard Light Rail Vehicle , shortly USSLRV ) was in accordance with the requirements of the Urban Mass Transit Administration ( UMTA , from 1991 Federal Transit Administration , shortly FTA ) developed standard gauge rail cars , which in the 1970s by Boeing Vertol was built.

It was marketed by the manufacturer as the Boeing LRV . The name is based on the then new category of light rail systems, which was supposed to replace older tram concepts (American-English streetcar ) based on PCC cars .

history

The LRV ( light rail vehicle ) concept was developed in the late 1960s when several cities were looking for alternatives to PCC vehicles. Local transport companies such as the San Francisco Municipal Railway ( Muni Metro ) and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA in Boston) paid particular attention to the successful light rail concepts in Europe. At the same time America was in the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon's “Buy America Program” prevented any purchases of technology that was not built in the USA.

In 1973 UMTA agreed with Boeing-Vertol in Philadelphia to build LRV at a cost of around 300,000 US dollars per light rail car. Muni immediately ordered 80 cars, the MBTA ordered 150 - these were later expanded by a further 100 or 175. In 1975 the first test car was delivered to Muni, the first regular operation took place at MBTA in Boston on December 30, 1976. Muni Metro, which opened in 1979, was designed with these light rail cars. Other local transport companies considered the purchase, but ultimately opted for other systems.

The two variants for Muni and the MBTA differed in several features. For example, the light rail cars for San Francisco were equipped with steps that were used on old tram lines, but were folded in with elevated platforms when using the new Muni metro lines. In Boston, on the other hand, a sloping front section was used in order to remain in the spatial profile in the curves of the routes, some of which were built in 1897.

Technical problems

The Boeing LRV were known very early on for their susceptibility to errors. There were derailments, failures of the drive systems and the complex door mechanism often got stuck. The mean operating time was shortened so much that in the first few years only 50% of the vehicles were regularly ready to drive. In order to maintain the transportability, the old PCC wagons were renovated by the MBTA. Due to this problem, the Muni Metro only reached its full capacity in 1982.

Boeing Vertol USSLRV # 3466 in Boston

In Boston the problem grew into a real scandal. The municipal companies continued to buy the freshly produced cars, even though they were in need of repair almost immediately. Since the supply of spare parts did not keep up, the maintenance technicians decided to park and cannibalize some of the new cars. This was done in secret at first, but a photographer from a large daily newspaper managed to take a picture of some of the brand new butchered cars in a side tunnel of the Green Line. After the publication, cannibalized wagons were also found directly in the repair shops.

In 1979 the MBTA sued Boeing and was able to prevent the acceptance of the last 40 wagons of the second lot (175 wagons in total). These had already been produced and some time later the MBTA bought some of them for its spare parts supply, Muni bought the remaining 30 cars to expand its own fleet. The last cars were delivered in 1983. The MBTA solved the problem with the vulnerable door mechanism in 1990 by replacing all doors with automatic folding doors.

Retirement and whereabouts

Both Muni and MBTA later ordered new light rail vehicles from the Italian manufacturer Breda as replacements. Muni began decommissioning the Boeing LRVs from 1995, the last one drove in 2001. At MBTA, the decommissioning was delayed due to technical problems of the new models, so that all new vehicles were not put into service until 2010.

In 2002, Manchester considered buying the decommissioned Muni cars because of the Commonwealth Games . For this purpose, some cars were transferred to England and tested. However, it turned out that they did not meet the security requirements there. Ultimately, Muni's remaining Boeing LRVs were all scrapped. At the MBTA, some cars remained in the depot, but are no longer used.

literature

Jens Perbrandt: Boeing at "altitude 0" . In Tram Magazine August 2019, pages 46 to 49. ISSN 0340-7071.

Web links

Commons : Boeing Light Rail Vehicles  - collection of images, videos and audio files