Damn what a flash from the past! I had almost forgotten that this had happened yet after seeing this video I remember it like it was yesterday! Reminds me of when Metrolink leased coaches from Utah’s Frontrunner before receiving shipment of their Rotem cars. Great video and just an idea, would love to see a comparison video once they finish the double track segment in between Saddleback Church and Camino Capistrano Rd. and I-5! Would be cool to see how much has changed!
I remember those good old days when does BNSF locomotives led the rear end of Metrolink trains! Also when it was most common to see f59s on Metrolink! Can’t complain though I saw 852 this morning on M104!! Anyway, nice Video!
At this point, the Hyundai Rotem cars were basically brand new and a technological bug of sorts was discovered in the cab cars that disabled them from being able to be used as cab cars. Therefore, because Metrolink did not own enough power themselves to furnish every train with 2 engines(one each end) they leased around 20 locos from BNSF that they used for around 7 months while repairs to the cab cars software were made. The cars were still able to transport passengers which is why they were kept in rolling service, they were just temporarily not functional as cab cars. There may be more to the story but this is what I know, hope it helped!
At the time, cab cars were banned from leading so Metrolink paid BNSF 20 million dollars to haul their trains and there would always be a bnsf train in front of the rotem cars.
I believe there was a fatal crash involving a Metrolink cabcar leading back in 2015? So Metrolink borrowed some BNSF locomotives to lead their trains while there was an investigation on the cabcars..
I believe they did this while they were inspecting the cabcars after a fatal crash. BNSF engines took their place for a bit while the inspection lasted.
