Where does the "one functional light rail car" statement come from? I have seen it used here several times lately, and wonder about the original source behind that.
It began as a rumor among local railfans, and was recently confirmed by the union.
I live by the 50th St/Minnehaha station and have seen (and heard) the
trains crossing 50th as frequently as every 5 minutes during a recent
peak in testing before the Transit strike. That would seem to require a
number of cars be operating simultaneously. I have photos of six cars
parked at the 50th St. Station--3 lined up in each direction--although
they were coupled together.
Functional is defined as having passed all testing- sort of like the pre-delivery inspection on a new car. A light rail car cannot be used to carry passengers or even for training until it has been tested, found up to specs, and accepted. Fortunately the light rail "tow truck", a diesel powered heavy truck fitted with railroad wheels, has performed flawlessly in towing the light rail cars up and down the line. The track between about 31st and 50th Street has been used extensively for testing (perhaps because it's the least demanding) so it's entirely possible that only one of the six cars was running or the whole consist may have been towed there.
by North Side Station,
Dyna Sluyter
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