PRR BUDD METROLINER

Speed

The Metroliner was designed to reach speeds of up to 150 miles per hour (240 km/h). However, in revenue service, the top speed was limited to 120 miles per hour (190 km/h) due to track conditions and electrical issues.

Reliability

The Metroliner was known to be unreliable, with more than a third of the fleet unavailable for service on any given day.

Length

Each Metroliner car was 85 feet long, 10 feet 6 inches wide, and 14 feet 10 inches high.

Weight

Each Metroliner car weighed 166,000 pounds.

Horsepower

The coaches produced 1,200 horsepower, while the snack and parlor cars produced 1,020 horsepower.

Horns

The Metroliners were equipped with shrill-sounding Leslie horns.

Development

The Metroliner was developed through a collaboration between the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Budd Company, General Electric, and Westinghouse.

Service

The Metroliner was intended to provide hourly service between New York and Washington, and half-hourly service between New York and Philadelphia.

Image

The Metroliner became an image of speed and convenience for two generations of rail travelers.