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Buffalo, New York - The Metro Rail That Never Was, Part 1

Dan

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Found this in my files, and I thought I'd get it online before I finish packing. This is the design for Buffalo's HEAVY RAIL rolling stock, from the April 1974 edition of the NFT Metro Newsletter.

I've got line drawings of the proposed "A" and "B" cars, too. I'll post them in a few weeks, if anybody's interested.

Not bad for a 29 year old design, huh?

RAPID TRANSIT CAR DESIGNED FOR NFTA

Rapid transit - Metro Rail HRT - 1973-xx-xx rolling stock 01.jpg


The sleek rail rapid transit vehicle shown above has been designed for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority by Peter Muller-Munk Associates, of Pittsburgh. Electrically propelled, the trains will pick up power from a third rail carrying 650 volts of direct current. They will travel at about 55 MPH (90 kph).

Each Metro car will be 9'6" (2.9m) wide, 67' (20.5 m) long, and 11'2" (3.4 m) high from the top of the rail. The front end will be a fiberglass molding, with two windshields and en emergency evacuation door, and will provide for the train operator's cab and controls.

The photograph shows the NFTA Metro car as it would look at a platform in a subway station. The Metro transit stations will be designed to accomodate six-car trains, operating at 2-minute headways in peak traffic hours. The Metro cars will comfortable seat 60 seated passengers and 52 standees, for a total of 112 passengers in normal rush hour loading. They will have a maximum crush-load capacity of more than 200 passengers. The large, attractive picture windows will have tinted glass. There will be three sliding doors on each side of the car. These doors will permit two persons to enter or exit simultaneously.
 
jordanb said:
How does this compare with Buffalo's existing subway?

Current Buffalo rolling stock: light rail, made by Tokyu in 1983. 67 feet long, 51 seats, 90 standees, maximum four car sets (usually runs in two or three car sets).

From http://www.nycsubway.org
img_14153.jpg
 
Dan said:
Current Buffalo rolling stock: light rail, made by Tokyu in 1983. 67 feet long, 51 seats, 90 standees, maximum four car sets (usually runs in two or three car sets).

-They've got some new stock in the line-up though.
 
Rumpy Tuna said:
-They've got some new stock in the line-up though.

New rail cars? Any plans available online? They're not just old Tokyu cars that have been repainted, are they?
 
Hey Dan, here's some pics of the new rail car.
Looking south down Main St from Mowhawk
1657P1010014-med.jpg

Looking SE from Aud
1657P1010021-med.jpg

Looking east
1657P1010022-med.jpg

1657P1010023-med.jpg

Looking North as train goes under HSBC building.
1657P1010024-med.jpg
 
Found this in my files, and I thought I'd get it online before I finish packing. This is the design for Buffalo's HEAVY RAIL rolling stock, from the April 1974 edition of the NFT Metro Newsletter.

I've got line drawings of the proposed "A" and "B" cars, too. I'll post them in a few weeks, if anybody's interested.

Not bad for a 29 year old design, huh?

RAPID TRANSIT CAR DESIGNED FOR NFTA

View attachment 57264

The sleek rail rapid transit vehicle shown above has been designed for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority by Peter Muller-Munk Associates, of Pittsburgh. Electrically propelled, the trains will pick up power from a third rail carrying 650 volts of direct current. They will travel at about 55 MPH (90 kph).

Each Metro car will be 9'6" (2.9m) wide, 67' (20.5 m) long, and 11'2" (3.4 m) high from the top of the rail. The front end will be a fiberglass molding, with two windshields and en emergency evacuation door, and will provide for the train operator's cab and controls.

The photograph shows the NFTA Metro car as it would look at a platform in a subway station. The Metro transit stations will be designed to accomodate six-car trains, operating at 2-minute headways in peak traffic hours. The Metro cars will comfortable seat 60 seated passengers and 52 standees, for a total of 112 passengers in normal rush hour loading. They will have a maximum crush-load capacity of more than 200 passengers. The large, attractive picture windows will have tinted glass. There will be three sliding doors on each side of the car. These doors will permit two persons to enter or exit simultaneously.
You should post the photo of the A/B car I would really like to see the concept work
 
Found this in my files, and I thought I'd get it online before I finish packing. This is the design for Buffalo's HEAVY RAIL rolling stock, from the April 1974 edition of the NFT Metro Newsletter.

I've got line drawings of the proposed "A" and "B" cars, too. I'll post them in a few weeks, if anybody's interested.

Not bad for a 29 year old design, huh?

RAPID TRANSIT CAR DESIGNED FOR NFTA

View attachment 57264

The sleek rail rapid transit vehicle shown above has been designed for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority by Peter Muller-Munk Associates, of Pittsburgh. Electrically propelled, the trains will pick up power from a third rail carrying 650 volts of direct current. They will travel at about 55 MPH (90 kph).

Each Metro car will be 9'6" (2.9m) wide, 67' (20.5 m) long, and 11'2" (3.4 m) high from the top of the rail. The front end will be a fiberglass molding, with two windshields and en emergency evacuation door, and will provide for the train operator's cab and controls.

The photograph shows the NFTA Metro car as it would look at a platform in a subway station. The Metro transit stations will be designed to accomodate six-car trains, operating at 2-minute headways in peak traffic hours. The Metro cars will comfortable seat 60 seated passengers and 52 standees, for a total of 112 passengers in normal rush hour loading. They will have a maximum crush-load capacity of more than 200 passengers. The large, attractive picture windows will have tinted glass. There will be three sliding doors on each side of the car. These doors will permit two persons to enter or exit simultaneously.
These look pretty cool! Mind showing what the original line drawings were?
 
These look pretty cool! Mind showing what the original line drawings were?
i was saving them for an Unbuilt Buffalo post; let me see if I can find them ....

Sorry, but I think I only have copies on paper. I just moved, so I have to dig them out. In the meantime, how about a better photo of that train.

Transit - Metro Rail HRT - 1973-xx-xx rolling stock 02.jpg


Here's a group of men looking at the model.

Transit - Metro Rail HRT - 1974-04-24 BEN 03.jpg


Up until 1974, models and illustrations depicted rolling stock that was more BART-like.

Transit - Metro Rail HRT - 1970-xx-xx Main Street Mall model 03.jpg


Transit - Metro Rail HRT - 1970-xx-xx Lafayette Square station.jpg


There's this odd appearing passenger car.

ZGDTe.jpeg


And Logan's Run style ...

IMG_6713.JPG
 
i was saving them for an Unbuilt Buffalo post; let me see if I can find them ....

Sorry, but I think I only have copies on paper. I just moved, so I have to dig them out. In the meantime, how about a better photo of that train.

View attachment 66458

Here's a group of men looking at the model.

View attachment 66459

Up until 1974, models and illustrations depicted rolling stock that was more BART-like.

View attachment 66460

View attachment 66461

There's this odd appearing passenger car.

View attachment 66462

And Logan's Run style ...

View attachment 66463
Ah it's alright, take your time.

As for these illustrations, these are quite interesting! Bit sad to see these illustrations degraded down into LRV. Hopefully the NFTA orders brand new cars!
 
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