User:Trimetwes fan1003/sandbox/Colorado Railcar DMU

The Colorado Railcar DMU is a Diesel Multiple Unit train that was manufactured by Colorado Railcar from 2002-2008. The DMU was offered in single-level and bi-level versions. The DMU was discontinued after Colorado Railcar shut down in 2008.

History
The first DMU demonstrator(numbered 2002) was built in 2002. The DMU was built to meet FRA's 49 CFR Part 238 compression load requirements, Which made it the first modern FRA compliant DMU in the United States. The DMU toured the US Between 2002-2004 to demonstrate the DMU to potential future operators. The DMU would be acquired by Florida's Tri Rail in 2004. In 2005, the DMU was repainted for Tri Rail but was never used in service.

Revenue DMU Orders
In 2005, the first bi-level DMU would be built for Tri Rail as par of an order for 4 DMU units that would be built form 2005-2007. TriMet in Portland ordered 3 DMUs and 1 cab car for use on its WES commuter rail line that were built in 2007-2008. Alaska Railroad ordered 1 bi-level DMU that was built in 2008.

Failed Orders
Amtrak and the State of Vermont considered the purchase of DMU trainsets for use on the New Haven–St. Albans stretch of the Vermonter. The new cars would purportedly have saved $4.25 million over three years, being four times more fuel efficient than a locomotive-hauled train. In 2008, the Vermont state legislature approved the purchase of five cars from Colorado Railcar, but the company closed while the decision was awaiting approval.

Details
The DMU is powered by 2 Detroit Diesel engines with a combined horsepower of 1200. Each DMU is capable of traveling up to 100 mph. The DMU is 85ft long with a height of 14ft 10in(19ft 6in for the bi-level DMU). The DMU has 92 seats(190 for the bi-level). DMUs can be ether single ended or double ended. The single level DMU has a streamlined cab at one end, and a flat cab on the other end(if the DMU is double ended). Bi-level DMUs are all flat cab units, but can have the roof of DMU slanted. DMUs can be fitted with dome widows or standard windows.

Unpowered Cars
Besides the powered DMUs, unpowered passenger cars were also built to run with the DMUs.

Tri Rail ordered 2 bi level cars to go with their bi level DMUs. These passenger cars would be placed in between 2 DMUs to make a 3 car trainset. Since Tri Rail had 4 DMUs, two 3 car trainsets could be formed.

TriMet ordered 1 single level cab car to with their DMUs. This cab car is identical to the other DMUs with the main difference being that the cab car lacks the 2nd flat cab. The cab car could be placed behind any of the 3 DMUs to form a 2 car train set.

Successor
In 2009, US Railcar took over Colorado Railcar after the company shut down. They intend to continue producing DMUs for the US market, but haven't received any orders as of 2023.