FRA and SFRTA/Tri-Rail View Progress of DMU Demonstration Project
at Ft. Lupton Plant

Veteran SFRTA/Tri-Rail Official Praises Craftsmanship

Ft. Lupton, Colorado – On February 11, Colorado Railcar welcomed Jo Strang, Deputy Associate Administator of Railroad Development for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Steve Sill, Manager of the FRA’s DMU Demonstration Project. Just two days earlier, Brad Barkman, Director of Operations for SFRTA/Tri-Rail had arrived in Ft. Lupton for his periodic review.

After closely reviewing the complex wiring and welded piping on the underside of the DMU and the finished details of the Double Deck’s interior, Brad Barkman asked that Colorado Railcar’s line workers and fabricators accept his personal thanks for care taken in the execution of their craft. The Colorado Railcar employees involved were extremely proud to have their work praised by a railroad expert with such a broad base of technical knowledge and experience. The Double Deck DMU is in its final stages of construction as ADA lifts are being installed in the doorways on each side of the car. Both the Double Deck DMU and Coach will proceed to the TTCI in Pueblo, Colorado for running tests.

The Single Level Aero DMU will go to the TTCI in early March for its second round of running tests. The Aero DMU will be on display for attendees of the TTCI Annual Research Review Meeting on March 16 and the ASME/IEEE Convention in nearby Colorado Springs (being held concurrently). Colorado Railcar staff will be on hand to answer questions on the revolutionary, self-propelled commuter railcar.

Tom Janaky (left to right), Norman Ford, Brad Barkman (SFRTA/Tri-Rail), Jeff Schrecengost,
and Arthur Rader with new SFTRA/Tri-Rail Double Deck in latter stages of production

Two New Double Deck, Glass Domed Touring Cars for Alaska Railroad Approaching Finish Line

Alaska Railroad’s Steve Silverstein, VP of Sales and Marketing, visited Colorado Railcar’s plant in Ft. Lupton for a final review of his distinctively unique, double deck, touring coaches. The two luxury coaches feature Colorado Railcar’s patented dome joined with an open viewing platform on the upper level. Passengers will enjoy the spectacular Alaskan scenery, selecting convenient indoor and outdoor viewing as they please.

The new double deck glass domed touring cars will be barged to Alaska from Seattle in mid-April to launch Alaska Railroad’s new Gold Star service between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Travel packages will be offered by the Alaska Railroad including the train, hotel stops, sight seeing cruises and special Alaska adventure activities like kayaking, river rafting and Alaska sight seeing cruises. For more information, visit www.AlaskaRailroad.com and select Scenic Rail Tours.

Colorado Railcar Plans Spectacular Display at APTA EXPO 2005
New Double Deck DMU and Double Deck Coach to be Displayed on Floor of Dallas Convention Center

The world’s largest Double Deck DMU (self-propelled commuter railcar seating 188) and Double Deck Coach (seating a record 218) will be on display -- end to end occupying space 200 feet in length and nearly 20 feet high -- dominating one side of the EXPO floor at APTA’s International Public Transportation EXPO and Annual meeting at the Dallas Convention Center. If you are planning to attend, make sure to visit our booth. The EXPO, which convenes every three years, will run concurrently with APTA’s Annual Meeting from September 25th through 28th, 2005.