New Multi-Level SEPTA Railroad Pilot Cars (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: tax, live, law)

[ilovephilly79]

The Philadelphia area certainly generates enough revenue to financially support the state, and certainly more than the rural counties. However it does make me shake my head when I see that we had these built in china. We are shipping all of our wealth overseas to a country that is ultimately our great opponent. I do relate to what the poster above says when he or she states that they should be built here in pennsylvania. Wouldn't that be a boon to our success? Paying our neighbors a fair wage to build something for ourselves?

Nevertheless, that's not what this is about. The train cars do look beautiful. I'd be interested to ride one when they arrive. I'd also be interested in some pictures of the interior.

[Wells5]

Originally Posted by ilovephill63849180

The Philadelphia area certainly generates enough revenue to financially support the state, and certainly more than the rural counties. However it does make me shake my head when I see that we had these built in china. We are shipping all of our wealth overseas to a country that is ultimately our great opponent. I do relate to what the poster above says when he or she states that they should be built here in pennsylvania. Wouldn't that be a boon to our success? Paying our neighbors a fair wage to build something for ourselves?

Nevertheless, that's not what this is about. The train cars do look beautiful. I'd be interested to ride one when they arrive. I'd also be interested in some pictures of the interior.

The intention of my previous post was to denounce the unfortunate fact that Septa found it necessary to buy these cars from the PRC and that there are no American companies in the passenger rail car manufacturing business. The Philly fanatics who inhabit this forum then went into a tizzy over the PA paupers in the hinterlands whom the fanatics claim they have to support.



Those posts illustrate the mindset of the Philly people. Having lived in Montco in the late 70s, there I developed a dislike for the Philly folks. They display an arrogance and an attitude that makes you want to go far away from them.

[ilovephilly79]

Originally Posted by Wells5

The intention of my previous post was to denounce the unfortunate fact that Septa found it necessary to buy these cars from the PRC and that there are no American companies in the passenger rail car manufacturing business. The Philly fanatics who inhabit this forum then went into a tizzy over the PA paupers in the hinterlands whom the fanatics claim they have to support.



Those posts illustrate the mindset of the Philly people. Having lived in Montco in the late 70s, there I developed a dislike for the Philly folks. They display an arrogance and an attitude that makes you want to go far away from them.

I completely agree with you on the fact that these are being built in China. Our free trade agreements have successfully bankrupted this country and it's outrageous that we continue to give more business to China.

Regarding the other points, you came in to throw stones because you don't like Philly people, and I have no allegiance either way, but you shouldn't be surprised that people came back at you because of it.

[Sammy215267]

Originally Posted by ilovephilly79

The Philadelphia area certainly generates enough revenue to financially support the state, and certainly more than the rural counties. However it does make me shake my head when I see that we had these built in china. We are shipping all of our wealth overseas to a country that is ultimately our great opponent. I do relate to what the poster above says when he or she states that they should be built here in pennsylvania. Wouldn't that be a boon to our success? Paying our neighbors a fair wage to build something for ourselves?

Nevertheless, that's not what this is about. The train cars do look beautiful. I'd be interested to ride one when they arrive. I'd also be interested in some pictures of the interior.

There is going to be about four (4) pilot cars being shipped i think in the coming weeks for testing and what not. They will have seating like the Silverliner V's. Blue seats. These cars will feature USB Charging ports, I heard possible bathrooms (but will be locked off) not sure how true it is. I cant wait for them to enter service either.

As to everyone wondering why they are being built in China. Federal Law requires transit authorities using their money to comply with the "Buy America Act" which means they have to go with the lowest bidder. The title plucks my spirit because you automatically think they are being made in the states but they aren't. Though there are parts that is from the states being assembled here on the cars. No one in the United States makes railcars anymore so that's why a company from China or Germany however would / will get a contract.

[ilovephilly79]

Originally Posted by Sammy215267

There is going to be about four (4) pilot cars being shipped i think in the coming weeks for testing and what not. They will have seating like the Silverliner V's. Blue seats. These cars will feature USB Charging ports, I heard possible bathrooms (but will be locked off) not sure how true it is. I cant wait for them to enter service either.

As to everyone wondering why they are being built in China. Federal Law requires transit authorities using their money to comply with the "Buy America Act" which means they have to go with the lowest bidder. The title plucks my spirit because you automatically think they are being made in the states but they aren't. Though there are parts that is from the states being assembled here on the cars. No one in the United States makes railcars anymore so that's why a company from China or Germany however would / will get a contract.

That's because the trade agreements cut tariffs so that foreign manufacturers can undercut American builders that have higher labor costs. The joy of slave labor.

[BPP1999]

Originally Posted by Wells5

The intention of my previous post was to denounce the unfortunate fact that Septa found it necessary to buy these cars from the PRC and that there are no American companies in the passenger rail car manufacturing business. The Philly fanatics who inhabit this forum then went into a tizzy over the PA paupers in the hinterlands whom the fanatics claim they have to support.



Those posts illustrate the mindset of the Philly people. Having lived in Montco in the late 70s, there I developed a dislike for the Philly folks. They display an arrogance and an attitude that makes you want to go far away from them.

I agree with your first sentence. But then you go into your anti-Philadelphia ravings… every single time. You don’t need to throw stones… every single time. BTW; most of your anti-Philly posts come across as, I don’t know, arrogant and attitudinal… every single time.

[Isaach8]

What is the source of the photo that isn’t in the PhillyVoice article and shows the front of the double decker car? Where did that come from?

[thedirtypirate]

Originally Posted by Isaach8

What is the source of the photo that isn’t in the PhillyVoice article and shows the front of the double decker car? Where did that come from?

It looks like 'Beijing Youth Daily' is a newspaper in China and they were the ones who published the photos and story.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing_Youth_Daily

[Sammy215267]

Originally Posted by Isaach8

What is the source of the photo that isn’t in the PhillyVoice article and shows the front of the double decker car? Where did that come from?

I found it on Twitter. Someone in the plant must've taken the photo and put it on a flyer or some sort.

[Urban Peasant]

Originally Posted by BPP1999

Surely you are aware that a county such as Montgomery, where you and I live, has been historically wealthy for years due to Philadelphia? Please don’t act like the four collar counties are simply a random bastion of wealth surrounding a poor city… the five counties of this region go hand in hand.

Much of Philadelphia proper's housing stock outside of rich areas like Chestnut Hill and Roxborough looks very working class. Boston has its triple deckers while Philly has an assortment of attached townhomes and duplexes, many rough and worn but all packed closely together and obviously designed to house workers. I wondered where the bosses lived and it did not take long to guess correctly - the suburbs of course.

I digress however. This thread caught my eye because it is about public transportation. In today's global society, it is hard to bring back the good old days of American manufacturing even though we all so want it back. I am not anymore happy or unhappy than the next fellow American that our public transit vehicles have to be ordered from a company headquartered abroad be it China, Japan, or Italy, but at least we ought to be grateful that we have any railroad and transit vehicles at all. CRRC is also manufacturing our new Orange and Red Line trains but they are assembling the components at a plant in Springfield, MA. I do not know if SEPTA's vehicles are also being assembled at that plant or elsewhere in the US but at least in our case, fellow Americans have jobs at the Springfield plant (Springfield btw was a long downtrodden has-been city like Allentown, PA or Camden, NJ) so it's not all bad. Yeah Pullman Standard and Budd made cars that lasted in the past and we sorely miss them but let's at least be grateful for what we have at the moment.