Erie Lackawanna
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From: Dlw1el2 AT aol DOT com
Date: Tue, 5 May 2015 14:19:35 -0400
Subject: The Bubble Car
"MUs_to_RR_post024.jpg" - image/jpeg, 1572x1056 (24bit)


For those that were not aware, I believe it was during the Conrail Era of
running the Ex Lackawanna Electrified lines, that a combine was used to
create what was known as the Bubble Car. A large hole was cut over the
baggage compartment, of low roof combine 3408 and a clear plastic bubble
installed over it allowing Catenary Personel to view close up where a pantograph
and the wire come together at track speed.
A raised seat was installed under the bubble. The car remained in regular
service when not specifically asked for by the Catenary Dept. I remember
Dick Falcon, who was the head man in that Dept during the years I worked out
of Hoboken riding in it on regular scheduled trains. If it was west out
he would view it via looking back at the first pantograph. If the bubble
car was mixed into a consist, one could look forward at the pantograph of
the power car directly ahead. I think??? that when completed around 1980, it
immediately got the orange and cream paint job, which is what all trailers
were getting at the time.

I do believe that after 1984 when the old cars were retired that it got
repainted into the dark green. Having recently spoken with Dick Falcon, he
said they used it a lot when NJT was installing the catenary on the Coast
Line. He said to day they used camera's to do the same visual that the
bubble car was constructed for.

I can't find my one and only shot of the car in Dover on a special for the
editors of Railway Age Magazine that I was part of the train crew on. I
know Paul Tupaczewski has some shots of it. Maybe some other members of the
group can post their shots of the car so everyone can see what I'm talking
about.

This shot is when I was dead heading home one evening and the car happened
to be in the consist of the train.

Bob Bahrs


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