January–June 1999 • $10.0 0 / • Buenos Aires Pre-Metro • Juan Perón • Rochelle Weber • Hershey Cuban Roster s Hedlights The Magazine of Electric Railways Published since 1939 by the Electric Railroaders’ Association, Inc.

Volume 61, Number 1–6 columns January–June, 1999

Staff 3 NEWS Editor and Art Director Peter Kocan compiles a roundup of rail transit activities from around the world. Sandy Campbell Contributing Editors 6 BOOKS Raymond R. Berger, Clive Foss, James N. J. Henwood reviews Cable Car in America, Yale Bowl and the Open Trolleys, James N. J. Henwood, Peter Kocan, and to St. Albert: The Edmonton Interurban Railway. Arthur Lonto, Frank S. Miklos, Bruce Russell and J. William Vigrass features Electric Railroaders’ Association, Inc. 9 TREN URBANO: SAN JUAN’S NEW LINE An exclusive progress report by Bruce Russell, J. William Vigrass and | Raymond R. Berger. National Headquarters Grand Central Terminal 22 FOCUS ON ARGENTINA, PART 4: City BUENOS AIRES PRE-METRO Mailing Address The final installment of Bruce Russell’s extensive coverage of rapid transit systems P.O. Box 3323, Grand Central Station in Argentina focuses on the Buenos Aires light rail line. New York, NY 1016 3-3323 E-Mail 32 THE STREETCARS OF JUAN PERÓN [email protected] Clive Foss shows how the Perón regime boosted its streetcars as part of the propaganda it constantly produced. Subscriptions Headlights is sent free to members of the 36 ROCHELLE WEBER’S NEW YORK E.R.A. Applications for E.R.A. membership An artist’s unusual paintings celebrate the rhythms of contemporary New York. are supplied upon request. Changes of Address 38 THE HERSHEY CUBAN INTERURBAN: Send address changes to the E.R.A. EQUIPMENT ROSTERS along with an old address label Clive Foss concludes his comprehensive essay on the last old-style from a recent issue. interurban in the western hemisphere with detailed equipment Correspondence rosters, a bibliography and additional photos. All inquiries regarding the activities of the E.R.A. should be directed to our New York headquarters. on the cover

Contributions Hershey Cuban. (cover) As imposing as Send all items for publication a PE blimp, newly repainted 3018 in Headlights to the editor. Manuscripts stands ready to depart Hershey Shops should be submitted on diskette, e-mailed for Jaruco in 1996. clive foss to our Internet address, or typewritten. Tren Urbano. (below) San Juan’s new rapid transit line, Photos, illustrations and maps are needed the Tren Urbano, has its own flag. It is seen here at the as well. Please send original negatives or entrance to the yard and shop driveway ramp. j. william vigras slides when possible and include descriptions for each image along with your name and address.

© 1999 electric railroaders’ assoc., inc. all rights reserved. 991112 There are two long viaducts, SAN FRANCISCO each with stations, three Ground was broken on major bridges, and seven November 3, 1997, for a stations. It is through- 7.5 mile extension of BART routed with the original south from Colma to north– south San Ysidro Millbreae with a 1.2-mile (border) Blue Line. Planning east–west “wye” to serve for two extensions is under San Francisco International way, one to continue the Airport. The project’s cost mission Valley line east is estimated at about about six miles to connect $1.2 billion, of which with the El Cajon–Santee $750 million will come from Orange line in La Mesa, and federal taxpayers and the the other to leave the MVW remainder from state and line north about three miles local taxpayers and to Balboa Avenue. Prior to agencies. Completion is the opening of the MVW scheduled for December line, average daily weekday 2001. Most of the extension

s ridership of the light rail will be underground with o l lines was nearly 56,000, new stations at South San k i

m with a farebox recovery (of Francisco and San Bruno. . s

k operating expenses) of The Airport station will be n

a 67%. The new line is ex - elevated at the new r f pected to average about International Terminal now Above, one PORTLAND, ORE. 1929. The 15-mile MAX line 6,000 daily. rgi under construction. of Portland’s The Tri-County Metropolitan to Gresham (served by Ridership is expected to new low-floor Transportation District of Portland Electric Power– reach nearly 70,000 daily cars emerging Oregon (Tri-Met) celebrated Portland Traction interurban LOS ANGELES by 2010, including nearly from the the opening of the 18-mile cars until 1958) opened in The Los Angeles County 20,000 to and from the downtown Westside MAX light rail line September 1986. Ridership Metropolitan Transportation airport. The station at end of on September 12, 1998. The has increased 60% since Authority has sent 750 volts Millbrae will be located on Westside line extends light rail from then and now averages of direct current through 16 acres and will have three Tunnel. downtown Portland west 31,400 daily on weekdays. 7,000 feet of tracks for BART trains and through Beaverton to With the Westside line, between the Vermont- two tracks for CalTrain’s Hillsboro, bringing the MAX daily average weekday Beverly and Vermont-Sunset Peninsula passenger train system to 33 miles. The line passenger count is expected stations of the Metro Red service between San has 20 stations including to reach 50,000. line Vermont-Hollywood Francisco and San Jose. Washington Park, which is passenger transport 4.6-mile extension. The passenger transport in a three-mile tunnel under extension is to be placed in the city’s West Hills. Located service in May 1999 after 260 feet below the surface, SAN DIEGO several months of testing of MANILA the station is one of the The 6.2-mile Mission Valley the third rail, cab signals, Ground-breaking deepest in North America. West (MVW) line, paralleling automatic train control, and ceremonies for Manila’s (A rival is the Forest Hills the San Diego River, software support systems. second LRT took place on station in San Francisco’s opened to traffic on Novem - This will increase the Red November 15, 1997. It will Twin Peaks tunnel used by ber 23, 1997. It cost $220 line mileage to 11.1. The be elevated for a distance the K, L and M LRT lines.) million, far more than earlier 6.3-mile extension from of about nine miles, Construction of the portions of the light rail sys - Hollywood-Vine to connecting Santala and Westside line began in May tem which were built largely Lankershim and Chandler Recto, with 11 stations. 1994. Estimated total cost is along existing railroad in North Hollywood is Japan is financing the $994 million. Beaverton was rights-of-way or on city scheduled to open in Philippine project. rgi served by Southern Pacific’s streets. 40% of the new line May 2000. electrified lines until July is above or below grade. passenger transport

headlights | january–june 1999 3 Right, route NEW YORK was vetoed by Governor map of the New York State Governor Pataki who complained that AirTrain to George Pataki announced state taxpayers were already Kennedy on September 16, 1998 that subsidizing Airport. work has started on the and suburban mass transit Below it, an Port Authority’s $1.5 billion by $1.3 billion a year. architect’s “AirTrain” to Kennedy new york post rendering of Airport. The 8.4-mile light y e

Terminal 5–6 rail line includes a two-mile s r e Station at loop linking the airport’s j NEW JERSEY w

Kennedy e

nine terminals and a 3.3- n The U.S. Congress passed

Airport. d mile line to the MTA’s n spending bills that included a

Howard Beach subway k $6 million for final design Bottom, r o Bombardier- station (about 65 minutes y and land acquisition for an w from Penn Station in e eventual 8.8-mile rail link built AirTrain n f is similar in Manhattan on the ‘A’ train), o between Elizabeth, Newark y t

both to open in 2002, and a i Airport and the Newark City

design to the r

3.1-mile line north to the o subway, including a one- Vancouver h t

Long Island Rail Road’s u mile rail link connecting Skytrain. a t Both are light Jamaica station (about 20 r Newark’s Broad Street and o rail vehicles minutes from Penn Station), p Pennsylvania Stations, a and use to be completed by 2003. (magnetic- rides and usage climbed to $463 million project. The magnetic Though extension of the striped fare cards), intro- 66%. With the introduction spending bills also allot propulsion. AirTrain to Manhattan is duced in 1993, accounted of monthly, weekly and daily $70 million to continue “under study”, it hardly for no more than 15% of reduced-cost MetroCards construction on the 20.5- seems likely (or even poss- transit trips until July 1997 higher usage is anticipated. mile $1.7 billion light rail line ible) since the sleek new when only MetroCard riders Eventually metal tokens, between Bayonne and trains use magnetic could transfer free between now needed to ride the Ridgefield via Hoboken. propulsion, making them subways and . At that subways without a Metro- newark star ledger incompatible with the time usage climbed to 40%. Card, may be eliminated. New York subway. In January 1998 purchasers newark star ledger Work continues on the Port new york post of ten rides ($15) received Authority’s Newark Airport MetroCards good for eleven Trains on six subway lines monorail, due to open early are now operating with only in 2001 between the airport the motorman and no and a new station, two miles conductor. The one-man south of Newark, on service began in September Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. 1996 on three full-time The station is on the site of n o i

t shuttles: Franklin Avenue in the Pennsylvania Railroad’s a t

r Brooklyn, 42nd Street in abandoned Waverly Yard. o p Manhattan, and Rockaway It will be served by Amtrak s n

a Park in Queens. Two more and New Jersey Transit r t

r lines operate as one-man trains and the Newark e i

d shuttles after midnight: Dyre Airport-Elizabeth light rail r a

b Avenue in The Bronx, and line. It is about 12 miles and m

o the West End line in 20 minutes from Penn b f

o Brooklyn. The Brooklyn– Station in Manhattan. y

s Queens Crosstown (G) line wall street journal e t

r began operating in March u o

c 1998 with only the motor- man on weekends. An effort to require the state to pay for a conductor on all trains

4 headlights | january–june 1999 In April 1998 Union County CHICAGO LOUISVILLE DENVER approved $376,000 for a On November 9, 1997, the The Transit Authority of River Voters in November 1997 study by Raytheon (responsi - Red (Howard-Dan Dyan) and City (TARC) outlined this defeated a six-county mass ble for the Hudson-Bergen Blue (O’Hare-Douglas- year’s action plan for transit plan that included light rail line) to determine Congress) lines began one- “Transportation Tomorrow two light rail lines. the cost to build and operate man operation. All CTA rapid Phase 2” (T2) at its kick-off Colorado’s governor, how - a light rail line from the port transit lines are now one- advisory Work Group ever, announced that the section of Elizabeth to Cran - man operated except that meeting held April 14th at state would put up $88.9 ford (about seven miles) and six- and eight-car trains add TARC. The Board voted to million for the 20-mile ex - then to Plainfield (another a conductor while in the study the feasibility of tension southeast along I-25 seven miles). Initial estimate subway for safety and to to Lincoln Avenue and of the cost of the line is speed loading and Parker Road, replacing a $150–$175 million. The unloading. Earlier in the proposal to widen I-25. The county would like to have the year, the CTA celebrated state DOT has applied for line connected ultimately to several anniversaries: in $355.5 million of federal tax Newark International Airport. May the 90th of the Brown money for the same pur - (Ravenswood) line, in pose. rgi Also in April 1998, Montclair October the 50th of the CTA, agreed to New Jersey and in the same month the Transit’s plan to connect 100th of the Loop “L”. Two SAARBRUCKEN, the Montclair branch to the cars from 1923 offered free electric light rail or rapid GERMANY Boonton line. The project trips around the loop. At the transit to connect downtown Fifteen low-floor Bombardier cost is estimated At $42 same time car No. 1 and a Louisville with the rail cars started interna - million and construction Lake Street “L” steam Smokestown and Shelby tional light rail service be - time is estimated at about locomotive were on display. Park neighborhoods, major tween Saarbrucken and 18 months. The distance is ray degroote employment sites, and the Saarguemines, France. Serv - only about a quarter mile, Louisville airport. Based on ice began on October 24, but the project has been public input and technical 1997. This is Europe’s sec - held up for years because BALTIMORE findings, the T2 Work Group ond example of a light rail about 30 houses that would Revenue service on two new and Policy Committee service sharing track with have to be torn down are in light rail extensions, one to recommended eliminating mainline trains. The first ex - a mostly black neighbor- Penn Station in the city, and several options, including ample of such through work - hood. Under the proposed the other to the Baltimore– building additional highway ing is in Karlsruhe. Dual agreement, building owners Washington International lanes on I-65 between mode cars operate on about would be compensated and Airport, began on December Downtown Louisville and 11 miles on German main renters would get the 6, 1997. The two branches the Kentucky Fair and line track with just under a equivalent of four years rent are operated as one Exposition Center; mile on French main line plus relocation costs. The through-line supplementing commuter rail using existing track (15,000 volts AC). The Montclair branch is elec- the north-south Hunt tracks; automated guideway remainder is on local city trified and the connection to Valley-Glen Burnie main trains such as monorail; and street tracks in Saarbrucken the Boonton line would be line. Delivery of 18 cars new, untested technologies. (750 volts DC). electrified to Great Notch, from Adtranz has been The cost of a rapid transit passenger transport permitting easier travel for delayed. rgi line is tentatively estimated Boonton line passengers at $325 to $475 million. compiled by peter kocan to Newark and possibly to passenger transport directly to Penn Station t2 logo montage in Manhattan. by sandy campbell newark star ledger

headlights | january–june 1999 5 o t n o l . j r u h t r a / n o i t c e l l o c n o s t a w . b d r a w d e

Car No. 5 of THE CABLE CAR IN AMERICA, expansion, which began in 1882 and peaked by 1889, and the Brooklyn REVISED EDITION which included, altogether, 59 street railways and two rapid Heights by George W. Hilton, 1997 transit lines, totaling 360 miles; the mechanics of the grip Cable Railway Stanford University Press and the various types which developed; the cable, its struc - (Lewis & Stanford, Calif. 94304-2235 ture, placement and hazards; the conduits, through which Fowler 1890) 8<" x 11", 484 pp., the endless cables ran, and the difficulties presented in leaving the $34.95 soft cover, $75 hard cover keeping them open, negotiating curves and crossing op - Wall Street posing cable lines, the powerhouse, with its steam engines Ferry Terminal ertain books, by virtue of their content, comprehensive and huge flywheels which propelled the cable, the econom - at the foot of treatment of the subject, scholarship, and readability ics of cable operation and the heavy investment required; Montague have attained the status of being regarded as classics and the decline of the industry, as electric cars proved St., Brooklyn. C in their field. Such a volume is George Hilton’s monumental themselves to be inherently superior, and cable systems november study of American cable cars, now available once again in ei - retreated until, by 1906, only 29 miles remained, in four 24, 1899 ther a soft cover or cloth edition. First published in 1971 and cities. By mid-century even the remaining installations in revised in 1982, The Cable Car in America has been reprinted San Francisco were threatened, although an enlightened by Stanford University Press in generous format, with all of its citizenry would insist on their preservation. The second half fascinating diagrams, maps and illustrations included. of the book consists of a city by city description of each cable company, with a succinct history, routes, and a rope The book is divided into two parts. In the first half, Hilton map of the cable installation including grades, footage and presents the most thorough, detailed history of the industry powerhouse locations and equipment. which one can find. In separate chapters, he describes the inventions and technological advances which led to the There are hundreds of period photographs, drawings and di - pioneer installation in San Francisco in 1873; the period of agrams culled from contemporary trade journals showing

6 headlights | january–june 1999 the cable world in all its fascinating and frightening com - plexity. Reproduction is excellent and lovers of mechanical detail will particularly enjoy them. Again and again, Hilton drives home the point that cable systems, while mechanical n o i t

marvels and testaments to the ingenuity of their builders c e l and the wonders of cast iron, would never have existed if l o electrical traction had been developed earlier. Their inherent c o t costs and hazards made them easy prey for electric cars af - n o l ter the early 1890s and led to their near extinction. . j r u h t

Happily, people can still ride on the cable cars in San Fran - r cisco, and readers everywhere now have at hand once more a this unsurpassed study of their evolution and significance. YALE BOWL AND If your library shelves do not hold a copy of the previous THE OPEN TROLLEYS edition, now is the time to add this definitive work to your by John D. Somers, 1996 collection. reviewed by james n. j. henwood Dorrance Publishing Co. 643 Smithfield Street Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222 8<" x 11" soft cover, 46 pp., $16 plus $3.50 postage

hose beyond a certain age may recall that the last reg - ular use of open streetcars in the United States was Ton the Company’s run from downtown New Haven to the Yale Bowl on Derby avenue near the city n

o limits in November 1947. The , which i t

c began converting its rail lines to bus in the 1930’s, retained a e l l fleet of about 80 open cars for football services basically be - o c

o cause they were such efficient movers of large crowds. In t n

o 1947, with the fleet decimated by age and the end of all rail l . j service at hand, the open cars had their last fling. r u h t

r This book, with slick paper and a generous, uncluttered lay - a / out which leaves many pages partially blank, is basically an n o

s album of photographs, with extensive captions, and some l e

n text. The opens are featured, especially during their final n e

l year, but there are a few views of other cars, buses, crowds, l a and the Yale Bowl. A center spread map of New Haven City Above, New Haven No. 1467 at lines in 1927, and a full page detailed map of the vicinity of James Street Barn. 1947 the Yale Bowl, make the routes used by the opens easy to Top right, New Haven No. 1434 follow. A roster and short bibliography are included. at Yale Bowl. november 9, 1947 So, join the crowd, climb aboard, hang from the running boards, and head for the Yale Bowl, where, even if your team lost, you could anticipate an exciting ride back. reviewed by james n. j. henwood

headlights | january–june 1999 7 Although the Edmonton and St. Albert Interurban line had a brief existence, local streetcars served that city until the early 1950s. A feature of the Edmonton streetcar system was the service over the High Level Bridge where the streetcars shared the upper level with Canadian Pacific trains. The cars ran left-handed so that in an emergency their

y doors would open onto the r a

r bridge and not into space. b i l september 1950 e u g a r p s

INTERURBAN TO ST. ALBERT: along the Sturgeon River, with Edmonton, about ten miles to THE EDMONTON INTERURBAN the southeast. Long and involved negotiations with the town RAILWAY and provincial governments were eventually successful in by Raymond Corley and Douglas Parker, 1995 securing a charter and operating rights. As built in 1913, the Havelock House Interurban took an indirect route, zig-zagging to serve a com - 5211 Lansdowne Drive pany-backed residential development and a coal mine. Edmonton, Alberta Unable to run directly into central Edmonton, the Interurban Canada TGH 4L2 connected with the tracks of the municipally-owned Edmon - 40 pp., US $9.95 ton Radial Railway on the edge of town. To save money, the company announced it would purchase five gasoline-elec - he interurban era produced many companies with tric cars, although only one ever operated. The last spike short life spans, but it is doubtful if any can match the was driven in July, 1913, and service began at the end of Trecord of the Edmonton Interurban Railway, which op - September, using a Drake Automatrice gas-electric car. erated only six months. The company was formed by French Edmonton was slow to complete its connections and capitalists from St. Albert to link their community, which was through service did not begin until December.

Outbound Conditions finally looked promising for the small line by the Whyte Ave. spring of 1914, but it all came to a sudden end on April 1 car crossing when fire destroyed the car and its barn. Efforts were made inbound track to resume service, but nothing come of them. Bus service on at north end a direct highway route replaced the would-be interurban, of High Level although the Edmonton Radial electrified a portion of its Bridge. tracks to the calder district and operated them as part of its september streetcar system until 1949. 1950 One would not think the brief life of such a short operation world make compelling reading, but in the hands of these authors it does. The book is exceptionally well-written, and the research is thorough and comprehensive. The layout is attractive; photographs are sharp, and several maps provide y r

a needed detail. Full roster data, such as it was, and a plan of r b

i Drake Car No. 1 are provided, as well as detailed end notes l

e and a bibliography. This is good history, well-written, and it u g

a will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in the subject. r p

s reviewed by james n. j. henwood |

8 headlights | january–june 1999 any railfans, particularly The initial line, called Phase 1, will mostly agricultural economy. San Juan, rapid transit enthusiasts, run from Bayamon east to Rio Piedras, the capital, never had horsecars, because will soon flock to Puerto then turn north over the connecting line of the city’s small size, but they were op - Rico to inspect, ride and to Sagrado Corazon in Santurce. Phase erated in some other cities like Ponce photograph the world’s 1A continues the line north to the Minil - and Magueyez. However, there was a Mnewest electric railway, commonly las Government Center in Santurce. The 2'6" gauge light railway line between San known as Tren Urbano. second line, Phase 2, will run from Rio Juan and Rio Piedras, a side-of-the-road By November 2001, it is expected Piedras east to Carolina. Phase 3, the operation along Avenida Ponce de Leon. that the initial 10.6-mile portion of a third line, will also travel east, from the It was called the Ubarri Tramway after its larger two-line system will start opera - Minillas Government Center to Luis owner. Eventually, the Light tion, linking the communities of Baya - Marin International Airport. Finally, a and Power Company, Limited (of mon, Guaynabo, Cupey, Rio Piedras, fourth line, Phase Four, will run west - Canada) acquired it, re-gauged it to stan - and Santurce. When com - ward from Minillas to . At dard gauge, and electrified it. pleted, the system will be shaped like a this time it is not known how these lines About the same time, a local line sideways letter ‘H’, with Old San Juan at will be through-routed. was built in a sideways figure eight, con - the top left, the Munoz Marin Airport on necting Old San Juan, , San - the top right, Bayamon on the lower left Background turce and . They had a 12-car and Carolina on the bottom right. In the Puerto Rico passed from Spanish to fleet, including eight double-truck Peter middle of the system the connecting line American jurisdiction in 1898 following Witt cars, built by the Perley A. Thomas will run between Rio Piedras and the Spanish-American War. It was a very Car Company. During World War II, Sagrado Corazon. colonial island and somewhat poor, with New York City’s

SAN JUAN’S NEW RAPID TRANSIT TREN LINE

UAN EXCLURSIVE PROBGRESS REAPORT NO BY BRUCE RUSSELL, J. WILLIAM VIGRASS AND RAYMOND R. BERGER s s a r g i v m a i l l i w . j headlights | january–june 1999 9 TREN URBANO s s a r g i v m a i l l i w . j San Juan, Puerto Rico. (opening System sold three single-truck Birneys to The most prevalent form of public page) The skyline of San Juan is San Juan. Unfortunately, German torpe - transportation on the island is public seen here from the waterfront. does sank the freighter carrying them. cars, or publicos. These operate in line In 1928, the Rio Piedras suburban service in urban areas or in point-to- Yard and Shop. (above) Tren line, with its single track and passing point suburban or interurban service. Urbano yard and shop sidings, was abandoned after it was Their operation is based on the ability construction was well underway badly damaged in a hurricane. The city to fill the public car, usually to seating as of January 22, 1999, when route continued in operation until 1950 capacity. The Puerto Rico Public Service this photograph was taken. when it, too, closed. Explosive popula - Commission regulates the hours of op - The framework in the tion growth with the resultant expan - eration and fares, and licenses opera - foreground is for a substation. sion of housing past Miramar, Santurce tors. Publicos and buses were the trol - and Condado made the suburban trol - leys main competition. In metropolitan leys obsolete. Further, numerous break - San Juan, many bus routes were con - downs of the aging 12-car fleet made solidated into the Puerto Rico Bus Com - them unreliable as well. Although many pany, and later into the Autoridad de other Latin American transit systems Metropolitana de Autobuses, or AMA. had acquired second-hand trolleys from Today, AMA is a modern urban tran - the U.S., none had ever gone to Puerto sit system with six trunk routes and nu - Rico. Thus, in 1950 it was decided to merous feeder lines that meet in 11 tran - close the remaining local line rather sit centers. In addition, Metrovil, a than modernize, rebuild, and expand it subsidiary of Peter Pan Bus Lines of beyond the original end of the line at Springfield, Mass., operates the two heav - Calle Parque in Condado. iest trunk routes. Even with a modern

10 headlights | january–june 1999 The most prevalent form of public transportation on the island is public cars, or publicos. POOR BUS AND PUBLICOS SERVICE has forced even the poorest citizens to have automobiles.

fleet of RTS and Flxible Metro buses, serv - rail elevated line could withstand hurri - An organization known as the ice is very inadequate. With the average cane-force winds with minimal damage. Siemens Transit Team, or STT, was cre - family having four children, the popula - As a result, transit planners settled ated. It consisted of numerous sub-con - tion has been doubling every 20 years. on a completely grade separated rail tractors, including the local firm of Re - All AMA buses are back in the garage by rapid transit system similar to Dade- quena Associates, who are responsible for 8:30 PM; Metrovil service finishes at 11 Metro’s Metrorail line. About 40% of the much of the station architecture, as well PM. Poor bus and publicos service has line will be at or near grade, with the re - as civil engineering for the right-of-way. forced even the poorest citizens to have mainder being elevated. A 1.2-mile sub - The North American consulting firm automobiles. Throughout the island, city way runs under Avenida Ponce de Leon Parsons Brinckerhoff, Quade and Dou - streets reflect colonial times and are woe - with two stations, one near the Rio glas was also recruited. fully inadequate today. Traffic jams are Piedras Plaza and the other at the Uni - normal occurrences and increase in fre - versity of Puerto Rico. In June 1998, ad - Description of the Original Route quency, size and duration annually. ditional funds became available that al - The first section of the line, known as low an extension of the line from the Phase One, will be 10.6 miles long, with Light Rail Considered northern terminal at Sagrado Corazon additional non-revenue shop trackage. and Rejected in Santurce to the Minillas Government There will be 16 stations, two of which In the early 1970s Puerto Rican officials Center in a subway under Avenida will be in subway, one in an open cut began to think about a European-style Ponce de Leon. and the others at grade or on elevated light rail network. It appeared to offer an structure. Stations will be a mixture of is - ideal solution to move people throughout Contract Awarded to Siemens land and outside platforms. metropolitan San Juan and it was Local planners released a proposal for a Current will be supplied through planned to use freeway/expressway right- 10.6-mile line running from Bayamon to third rail energized at 750 volts DC. Cate - of-ways. The lines planned were basically Santurce, the first portion of an eventual nary was ruled out because of concerns the same as the rapid transit system 40-mile system. After these plans were about visual intrusion on the line, planned or under construction today. approved, bids were solicited for the ini - which will emphasize attractive stations For various reasons, including lack tial operating segment. Three firms sub - and structures. of funding, the proposed light rail lines mitted bids, namely, Bombardier and Several stations will have parking never advanced beyond the study Lavallin of Canada, and Siemens of Ger - lots, and all are designed for easy trans - stages. In 1990 another series of studies many. Bombardier’s team consisted of fers between feeder bus routes and the was done to see if rail transit was prac - many retired employees from the New popular publicos. The Rio Piedras and tical for metropolitan San Juan. It con - York City Transit system. Lavallin University of Puerto Rico subway sta - cluded that the need for rail transit was worked closely with Italy’s Breda Con - tions will feature artwork and other em - greater than before. This is not surpris - struccione Ferroviari, which has exten - bellishments by local residents. All signs ing considering that the population had sive experience in the rail transit field, will be in Spanish and English. Public ad - doubled since the first studies in the particularly in Washington, San Fran - dress announcements will be in Spanish. 1970s; ridership forecasts were in excess cisco and Los Angeles. In the end, how - of 100,000 passengers per day. Based on ever, a DBOM Contract (Design, Build, Funding for Tren Urbano these projections, the focus shifted from Operate and Maintain) was awarded to The money for the construction of the light rail transit to heavy rapid transit Siemens Transportation Systems. This Caribbean’s first rail transit system with total grade separation, high-level contract is similar to the DBOM contract comes from varied sources, including a platforms and large vehicles designed awarded to the 21st Century Rail Corpo - $307 million grant from the United to operate in trains of up to six cars on ration by NJ Transit for the Hudson- States Department of Transportation. Lo - frequent headways. Bergen Light Rail Line in New Jersey. cal funds account for about 33% of the The Government of Puerto Rico De - project’s cost. These come from local li - Plans Patterned After partment of Transportation and Public cense fees and motor fuel taxes, along Miami and Caracas Works, Highway and Transportation with road tolls on three major high - Planners in San Juan looked at the rapid Authority administers Tren Urbano. ways. Two of these highways are nearly transit operations in Miami and in Cara - as busy as the New Jersey Turnpike. The cas to study heavy rail in a tropical en - A Consortium is Formed balance will be derived by selling cer - vironment. Dade Metro operates in After the Tren Urbano contract was tificates of participation for annual IS - warm or hot weather for most of the awarded to Siemens, they began to as - TEA appropriations from the federal year with no adverse impact. The 1991 semble teams to work towards the goal of government. The total budget for Phase hurricane in Miami proved that a third- having the first trains in service in 2001. One is over $1 billion.

headlights | january–june 1999 11 Old San Juan Extension viejo san juan

aeropuerto

Minillas Toa Baja Cataño

San Juan Tren Urbano Guaynabo San Juan Puerto Rico

Bayamón Phase 1

Deportivo Jardines Torrimar Martínez Centro Las San Médico Nadal Lomas Francisco Bayamon yards & shops

12 headlights | january–june 1999 ERA MAPS Sandy Campbell, Designer

santurce

San Mateo aeropuerto internacional luis munoz Sagrado Corazón marin potential yards & Hato Rey shops

Roosevelt Airport Extension Domenech

Piñero Carolina potential Universidad yards & shops

Río Piedras

Carolina Extension

Cupey

Potential Yards & Shops Trujillo Alto

headlights | january–june 1999 13 TREN URBANO

Bayamon. (left and top right) Bayamon, January, 1999.

Pre-casting. (bottom right) Pre- casting at Sageado Caroyon. s s a r g i v m a i l l i w . j 14 headlights | january–june 1999 If the projected patronage of OVER 100,000 DAILY PASSENGERS is accurate, the operation of four car trains, particularly in rush hours, will be of brief duration.

An option for 10 cars more than the 64 initially ordered was exercised in 1998, the another eight in 1999. Thus, the total number of cars on order is now 82. The 1998 add-on was because of the ad - ditional running time required for the two stations that were added, Domenech (elevated) and University of Puerto Rico (subway). The 1999 add-on was to provide enough cars for the ex - tension of the line from the Sagrado Corazon terminal to a new terminal at Minillas, with two stations, San Mateo and Minillas, both in subway. Rolling Stock to be Built in California Siemens Transportation Systems will s

build 82 rapid transit cars for Tren Ur - s a bano at its facilities in Sacramento, Cali - r g i fornia, although the car shells will come v m a from Semmering-Graz-Pauker from their i l l i

Vienna, Austria plant. The Siemens Sacra - w . mento facility has produced light rail cars j for several North American transit sys - married pairs and will initially operate in faster boarding and unloading in antic - tems. The Tren Urbano cars will be the trains up to four cars in length, although ipation of heavy traffic. These hand - first Siemens’ stainless steel rapid transit all stations will be able to hold six car some stainless steel cars with fiberglass cars ever built, and the first subway cars trains. If the projected patronage of over reinforced plastic ends will be capable of constructed by Siemens in Sacramento. 100,000 daily passengers is accurate, the high acceleration and braking. Four 125 Some of the final components of the Tren operation of four car trains, particularly KW, 167 HP (continuous rating) AC trac - Urbano cars will be installed in San Juan in rush hours, will be of brief duration. tion motors with a WABCO D-4-A-S to provide employment for local resi - The cars are 75' long, 10'3" wide at compressor will be used in conjunction dents. Testing of the cars prior to revenue the floor and 12'6" high from the roof to with a Knorr braking system. service will also be done in San Juan. the top of the running rails. They have Tightlock couplers, manufactured by The cars will be configured in two-car three 56"-wide doors per side to provide Dellner, will be used. Main trainline functions will be controlled by the SIBAS 32 microcomputer. The 28" wheels are unusual in that they are somewhat small for a rapid transit car. The heavy-duty Westcode HVAC system is designed to meet the needs of a trop - ical environment. Westcode will also manufacture the door operators, but three of the married-paired cars will have IFE (Austrian) doors. Inspection, maintenance and repairs will be done at Tren Urbano’s shop fa - cility near the Martinez Nadal (formerly Las Lomas) station. The shop is adjacent s s

a to the main line right-of-way between r g

i the Martinez Nadal and Torrimar sta - v

m tions and track access is available from a i

l both ends. The Control Center and an l i w . j headlights | january–june 1999 15 TREN URBANO Mock-up. (top) Cab mock-up of Tren Urbano vehicle is 1/3 length (25') and has one set of doors and one each of each type of window and seat. A full-size cab is a key portion on which ergonomic engineering has been demonstrated with a variety of people. Actual components were used in the final mock-up. Main functions of the train will be controlled by the SIBAS 32 microcomputer.

Siemens Assembly Line. (middle) Car No. 1 being assembled at Siemens Mass Transit Division in Sacramento, California, on May 3, 1999. Cars are s

s constructed of stainless steel and configured in a r

g married pairs. Multiple coupling of up to three i v married pairs allows for maximum flexibility in m a i

l meeting varying passenger flow. The car shell l i

w was fabricated by Semering-Graz-Pauker of . j Vienna, Austria, a member of the Siemens Group. To its left is LRV 1001 for Valencia, Venezuela, one of 12 being assembled in Sacramento. The Valencia LRVs are Siemens SD460s, the same as St. Louis, Missouri.

Like a Rock. (bottom) Interior of the car shell shows skillful fabrication by Semering-Graz- Pauker. Six wide double-leaf pocket doors allow for rapid and easy boarding, and two wheelchair parking areas are provided in each car. A pleasant ride is promised thanks to powerful air conditioning, passenger information systems and extra-wide cantilevered seats. s s a r g i v m a i l l i w . j s s a r g i v m a i l l i w . j 16 headlights | january–june 1999 SIEMENS TREN URBANO VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS technical characteristics Supply Voltage 750 Volts DC Boarding Three high level doors per side and two end doors Car Body Material Stainless steel Suspension System Primary: rubber chevron springs; secondary: air springs Friction Brake System Electro-pneumatic with spring applied parking brake Propulsion System AC-IGBT, four motors per car Traction Motor Rating 125 kW (167 HP) continuous performance and capacity Maximum Speed 63 mph (100 km/h) Service Acceleration 3 mph per second (1.35 m/s 2) Service Deceleration 3 mph per second (1.35 m/s 2) Maximum Emergency Braking Rate 3.5 mph per second (1.55 m/s 2) Number of Seats 72 Total Passengers Per Car 240 dimensions and weights Vehicle Length 75' 5" (23 m) Vehicle Width 10' 6" (3204 mm) Height, Rail to Roof 12' 5" (3810 mm) Floor Height Above Rail 43" (1100 mm) Doorway Width (Side) 56" (1420 mm) Doorway Height (Side) 78" (1980 mm) Wheel Diameter (New) 28" (710 mm) Truck Wheelbase 95" (2400 mm) Truck Center Distance 52" 2" (15,900 mm) Rail Gauge 4" 8.5" (1435 mm) . c n i , s m e t s y s n o i t a t r o p s n a r t s n e m e i s

headlights | january–june 1999 17 TREN URBANO

administration building and are also lo - sibility of completing all the line “sys - highway construction firms for five of cated at the site. Security features such tems”. This includes cars, signals, electric the six contracts for the Phase 1 line. A as closed-circuit cameras are used. traction, track, communication, fare col - North American tunnel construction lection, escalators and elevators. consortium, familiar with rapid transit Siemens Operation and There are six civil engineering bid tunnel construction, was selected to Maintenance for Five Years segments that were bid separately to al - build the subway under Avenida Ponce Tren Urbano is a turnkey project; low local engineering and construction de Leon in Rio Piedras. Siemens will operate and maintain the firms to bid on these design/build pack - Siemens coordinates these segments system for five years, with the possibil - ages. Since the Puerto Rico Highway and and when all the work is completed, ity of extending the contract to 10 years. Transportation Authority administers they will install their systems. After the The contract gives Siemens the respon - Tren Urbano, they selected their best line opens, they plan to employ a staff

Fit To Be Tied. New rail (115 lb RE) piled up at the yard and shop was rolled by Bethlehem Steel. s s a r g i v m a i l l i w . j 18 headlights | january–june 1999 STATION NAMES WERE REFINED. Some were changed to better reflect the communities they served. Other station names were shortened to make them easier to remember.

that is hoped will take great pride in their work and include the daily clean - TREN URBANO STATIONS ing of trains and stations. Customer original names current names service is planned to include uniformed 1. Luchetti (station eliminated) staff on trains and stations. 2. Bayamon Centro 1. Bayamon 3. Complejo Deportivo 2. Deportivo Phase One Route and 4. Jardines de Caparra 3. Jardines Structure Changes 5. Torrimar 4. Torrimar (name unchanged) In March 1995, the Puerto Rico High - 6. Las Lomas 5. Martinez Nadal way and Transportation Authority cir - 7. San Alfonso 6. Las Lomas culated a Draft Environmental Impact 8. De Diego 7. San Francisco Statement, which evaluated the benefits 9. Centro Medico 8. Centro Medico (name unchanged) and impacts of a proposed rapid transit 10. Villa Nevarez (station eliminated) line. At that time, it was intended to 11. Estacion Experimental (station eliminated) build a line from the Luchetti Industrial 12. Villa Nevarez 9. Cupey (new location) Park in Bayamon to Sagrado Corazon in 13. Rio Piedras 10. Rio Piedras (name unchanged) Santurce. Following this, a number of (station added) 11. Universidad public meetings and hearings were held 14. Centro Judicio 12. Pinero to address the concerns of the neigh - (station added) 13. Domenech boring community. Six changes to the 15. Hato Rey 14. Centro Roosevelt original plans were made by the time 16. Nuevo Centro 15. Hato Rey the Final Environmental Impact State - 17. Sagrado Corazon 16. Sagrado Corazon (name unchanged) ment was made in November 1995. 1. The line was cut back from the Luchetti Industrial Park to Bayamon Cen - 5. The Villa Nevarez and Estacion finalized. This allowed for the con - tral. Because of concerns about an ad - Experimental stations were combined struction of the second station near the verse impact to the wetlands between the and a new location for the Villa subway portal adjacent to Avenida two locations, and because of estimates of Nevarez station was selected. This re - Ponce de Leon and the south service light use of the Luchetti station, it was de - duced construction costs, provided bet - road of Avenida Jesus Pinero. It is cided not to build this portion of the line. ter intermodal facilities and reduced named “Universidad”. 2. The original plans for Tren Ur - the environmental impact at both sites. In the original plans for Phase 1, bano included a maintenance and stor - The new Villa Nevarez station was later space for a station at Domenech Street age facility just beyond the Luchetti sta - renamed “Cupey”. was allowed. Located between stations at tion. Since this portion of the line was 6. The approach to the Sagrado Avenida Jesus Pinero and Avenida Roo - eliminated, a new siding was eventually Corazon station was slightly modified sevelt, this area is considered a good traf - selected on the south side of the main in order to improve the placement of fic generator with the Department of La - line right-of-way between the Martinez columns for the elevated structure over bor building, the Puerto Rico Telephone Nadal and Torrimar stations. the Martin Pena Canal. This slight mod - Company building and the new facilities 3. The Bayamon Central station lo - ification shortens the bridge span over of EDP College within one block of the cation was changed slightly to a location the canal, avoiding the placement of station entrance. With additional fund - closer to AMA’s Bayamon bus terminal columns in the waterway. It also reduces ing available, along with construction and the El Canton shopping mall. East of costs by eliminating the need to acquire cost savings mentioned above, it was de - there, a route, which crosses over High - private property in the area. cided to construct this station, which will way 2 and passes between the Munici - be named “Domenech”. pal Stadium and the Ruben Rodriguez 1998 Changes: Final Alignment, Station names were refined. Some Coliseum, was selected. Deportivo (for - Then Construction at Last were changed to better reflect the com - merly Complejo Deportivo) station is A number of changes took place in 1998 munities they served. Other station just east of that point, with the Bayamon in the Phase 1 line, even while con - names were shortened to make them Judicial Building adjacent to the station. struction was under way. easier to remember. Listed above is a 4. The Martinez Nadal (formerly Las Plans for the development of land table comparing original and current Lomas) station was moved slightly east owned by the University of Puerto Rico station names. to give the opportunity to better inter - near Avenida Ponce de Leon and the modal facilities. Tren Urbano subway alignment were

headlights | january–june 1999 19 TREN URBANO

Phase 1A: The Minillas Extension the Ponce de Leon Subway Alignment, Las Lumas. (left) Work In June 1998, the Department of Trans - which were estimated to cost $288.8 mil - progresses at Las Lumas portation and Public Works, Highway lion and $383.2 million respectively. On station, seen here in January. and Transportation Authority issued a the Highway Alignment, a mid-point sta - Moving Right Along. (right) Draft Environmental Impact Statement tion was proposed at Calle Los Angeles. The traveler supplied by Paolo which proposed a 1.6 kilometer extension The Ponce de Leon subway alignment de Nicola of Italy is shown at of the Tren Urbano line from the Phase has a mid-point station called “San Ma - Bayamon where it had just One terminal, the Sagrado Corazon ele - teo”. The Highway Alignment Minillas erected several segments of vated station north to the area near the station will be in open cut between guideway on August 27, 1998. Minillas Government Center. Avenidas Fernandez Juncos and Ponce Five heavy rail alternatives were de Leon, parallel to Highway 22, just be - proposed: [1] an elevated structure along fore it enters the Minillas (Highway) Tun - Highways 1 and 22, two expressways; [2] nel. The Ponce de Leon subway station is a subway underneath Avenida Ponce to be just east of that point. de Leon; [3] a subway underneath Fortunately, a deal has been struck Avenida Fernandez Juncos; [4] an ele - that preserves both alternatives. The vated structure mid-block between Phase 1A Minillas Extension will be built Avenidas Fernandez Juncos and using Alternate 2, the subway under Avenida Ponce de Leon; and [5] a sub - Avenida Ponce de Leon. However, the way underneath mid-block between the alignment for Alternate One, the High - above two thoroughfares. way 1 and 22 routing, will be preserved Feasibility studies and cost estimates for use in Phase 3, the Minillas to Inter - were prepared. Consideration was given national Airport line. It is expected that s s a r g i v m a i l l i w . j to the extension of Tren Urbano to the the extension will be in operation in 2004. International Airport and to Old San Juan. Alternatives 3 and 4 were rejected Conclusion because of significant construction and In November 2001, if all goes according operational impacts. Alternate 5 was re - to plan, Puerto Rico will have the first

jected because extensive land acquisition rail-based transit system in the s s a was necessary, it required extensive un - Caribbean. For many decades local trans - r g i derpinning of the columns supporting portation in much of Latin America and v m a

the overhead structure of Highway 22 the Caribbean has been based on buses. i l l and disruption of nearby Pavia Hospital. What is about to occur in San Juan is a i w . This left the Highway Alignment and hopeful sign of future trends. | j

20 headlights | january–june 1999 In November 2001, if all goes according to plan, Puerto Rico will have THE FIRST RAIL-BASED TRANSIT SYSTEM in the Caribbean.

headlights | january–june 1999 21