Engines of SEPTA Episode 6 ABB N5s

It's been way too long since I've made one of these so here you go! The N5s are kind of the mixed bag for SEPTA offering good acceleration among other things but it has a fair share of being a car operators and employees hate with one accident reducing speeds and being top heavy. So is it that bad? Watch the video to find out. Please donate: www.gofundme.com/thunderbolt-...
Chapters
Intro: 0:00
Rough Start: 1:03
Horns: 3:09
Issues: 3:40
Runaway Car: 5:12
Norristown Slow Speed Line: 6:14
Ending: 7:05

[@coryphillips8526]

Hello. I have enjoyed your series "Engines of Septa." I just want to add that in the mid 1990s, on the Norristown Hight Speed Line aka route 100, there were no more bullet cars on the line. The cta cars had taken over. Plus a few Budd cars from the Market-Frankford Line. Also, the reason why there is a switch for pantagraph is because that's how the car was originally made. There was an actual model of the N-5 car in the customer service office at 69th St. terminal. Septa felt it was more feaseable to convert the cars to 3rd rail power rather than redoing the whole line with a catenary and removing the 3rd rail. Hopefully soon you can do videos on the PCC trolley cars, old and new, the LRV trolley cars, city and suburban, Broad Street Line and Market-Frankford Line. Good job with the videos you have made.

[@Frances_Network_Production]

I been waiting forever for this!

[@TailsFan369no2]

5:34 his driver put on the brakes. Nothing happened! The driver tried again, still nothing! “HORRORS! I CANT STOP!”

[@patrickgallagher1161]

Hey man I love your vids! As a fellow SEPTA fan, I really think your vids offer a lot of good information for those who want to know more about the cars. Lifetime subscriber

[@muhammadfadhiil3430]

i didn't get a Notification when you published this i clicked the bell and everything

[@MetroGaming75]

Yes another one engines of septa but the Norristown Slow Speed is kinda ok but after this is the PCC trolleys are Kawasaki Trolleys

[@Machodave2020]

This is one of our worst engines. They should've just kept the bullet cars.🤦🏾‍♂️🤦🏾‍♂️ SEPTA just makes bad decisions sometimes.

[@emperorpalpatine2531]

I am still waiting for videos on trolleys, subway, the el, and mp54

[@Boypogikami132]

@@Machodave2020 it was a 50% good choice

[@Machodave2020]

@@Boypogikami132 nope. They have a high maintenance cost and they don't even run that well. They're not smooth compared to the bullet cars, it's just horrible. Worst decision ever.

[@commandingofficerkanawha7546]

Great video!

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

5:34 would have been a good time to queue the Thomas runaway theme

[@Ih8kone]

Not sure what you mean by that...

[@harrisonofcolorado8886]

Finally it's here!

[@cnes44ac80]

Oh by the way, I luv ur vids, keep em coming

[@henrybrightonmusicuploads]

Man, I love those New Cast P3’s!

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I do as well. Really nice choice of horn.

[@josephdurning2452]

I remember the first day SEPTA took over the red arrow system i was only 4 stops after 69 street when I stop for passengers on the P & W when a supervisor from SEPTA got on the car and said your late, from that day on I had no respect for SETPA

[@Transportationfan1421]

When I was young I remember when at a station the engineer of a Norristown train let me honk the horn once on an ABB N5

[@Ih8kone]

I hope the speed goes back up to 75 m.p.h.

[@chayn.3918]

4:15 makes me think of the SDP40F, P30CH and E60s

[@Wes8761]

Wow they go pretty fast for such small trains

[@dashamm98]

It was fun talking to you IRL today

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Same

[@TRRailfan]

I love your Engines of Septa series I can’t wait for the Toasters!

[@ByzantineAuxilary]

What toasters?

[@TRRailfan]

@@ByzantineAuxilary ALP-44 Toasters

[@Boypogikami132]

OMG ITS THE GUY FROM TRAINS OF NY SUBWAY

[@TRRailfan]

@@Boypogikami132 lmao

[@JamesTrifolium]

Sweden’s getting new narrow gauge trains known as the X15P for a commuter branch line in Stockholm. SEPTA should really consider contacting Stadler about converting those to third rail power along with a two car configuration for use on the NHSL. Here’s the model if anyone is curious: www.jarnvag.net/images/bild/vagnguide/extX15p_SL2.jpg Knowing Stadler, they’ll be smooth, easy to operate and is fit for rough climates in case of snow storms. It’s everything a railway company could ask for. As of me writing this, they are in extensive testing are expected to go into service in 2022.

[@FunnyMonkey1217]

Can you do the engines of septa market frankford cars?

[@oakrail8100]

What railroad are you going to get for you model railroad ho scale?

[@DanielJ_00]

Nice ! A new episode of the Septa engines. Btw, because of the copyright, is it likely the Silver Springs crash will be uploaded again for the 23rd anniversary (February 16) ?

[@WhiteRiceEater]

Red wine: spills The cup: Breaks The ending you get: THE NOOOO ENDING

[@gregorypkingsleyutub]

I love the cars❤️

[@malachimuhammad-dy2ow]

The N5s do well on express an limited services, but on local service, I'm starting to think that they're being a show off.

[@TrainSounds]

These cars almost sound identical to NJTs Arrow cars along with the MTA light rail cars in Baltimore (before their rehab)

[@RRansomSmith]

All except the Arrows built by ABB. ABB did the Arrow rebuild.

[@Wik1pedia]

Plz do the market Frankford line and broad st lines engines

[@MetroGaming75]

The horn is similar to the Silverliner V and CSX freight trains

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I've heard NS 4030 has a P3. I saw it when it was leading 65W last week. Sounded just like the N5s

[@MetroGaming75]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren it nice how the horns are popular on many trains

[@someone4159]

Can you make a video of the Granville train disaster in Sydney??? Today marks 42 years since

[@emperorpalpatine2531]

Is it possible to make a video about the trolleys?

[@FunnyMonkey1217]

Do The M4 about the Market Frankford Line

[@GHOW1271]

What song do you use the intro

[@jayyllaann289]

Are you planning on doing crashes in other countries like Australia

[@kianorane8392]

those cars have the most amazing horn

[@kianorane8392]

i know right

[@MalachiMuhammad-xg4xx]

Those cars were quite unreliable, but they did well on express and limited services on the Norristown High Speed Line.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Yeah they can get up to speed rather quickly for such a top heavy car.

[@SouthFLExpressLanes]

lol how about Engines Of Tri-Rail, xD. Anyways Nice Video!

[@Ih8kone]

2:44 Well then why didn't SEPTA sue Hyundai Rotem for delayed production of the Silverliner V electric multiple units, especially considering the fact that they almost screwed SEPTA over during the Summer of 2016, better known as SEPTAgeddon?

[@albertcarello619]

SEPTA should keep these ex-CTA CARS for backup emergency service!

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

SEPTA sold em off long ago. Some still exist

[@albertcarello619]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren The ones that still be exist should be used in emergencies and not sold off.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

@@albertcarello619 what I meant is some exist via preservation. SEPTA no longer has them anymore. They were on lease anyway

[@TrainFan119]

I think the only thing i like about them is the new cast p3 horn

[@albertcarello619]

These horns are the same as the ones on the South Shore Line.

[@RyohuHajimeRX-0UnicornGundam]

What's the next train crash video going to be about?

[@superbaddy4]

Hopefully the Glendale Wreck of January 26th 2005.

[@RyohuHajimeRX-0UnicornGundam]

@@superbaddy4 what happened in that crash?

[@RyohuHajimeRX-0UnicornGundam]

I'm just curious.

[@superbaddy4]

Some guy (who I believe was suicidal) left his truck on the tracks and it caused a wreck with 3 different trains, including two Metrolink commuter trains. 11 people were killed and both of the Cab Cars (numbers 623 and 625) on the Metrolink trains were deemed a total loss.

[@RyohuHajimeRX-0UnicornGundam]

@@superbaddy4 Holy smokes that's awful! 😱

[@brysonjarrett7718]

The horn sounds like the half the P1245 wonder why.....

[@girlsundpanzerundrailways2904]

running in the 90s train

[@jordonhellenback2061]

when will you make your AEM-7 video?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Work is on hold as I'm awaiting permission to use some footage from another user and they haven't responded in over 2 weeks so I can't do much yet

[@skydiamond8705]

M3 had old Path MP52 TRUCK from NJ

[@danielleclement885]

0:60?????????????

[@closed9446]

These cars are like the lner a2/2s. Which were a rebuild of the p2 mikado. T. Nichol, do you hate the LNER A2/2 bedause of their crappy appearence? jim van der kolk hate these engines (For q&a 2) 1. You hate the PRR S1? I like them. Least favorite locomotive (steam/diesel/electric/steam motor/DMU/EMU)

[@danielleclement885]

3:25 emd gg5 and 3:36 ge gg5 horn

[@albertcarello619]

50 miles an hour is the normal speed on the CTA L LINES. Maximum speed that is

[@sebastianmunera5470]

It sounds like the south shoreline

[@dethuponianproductions6377]

I'm 1000% sure you are doing the ALP-44 after the AEM-7

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Yep. Besides the AEM-7 story and ALP-44 go together hand in hand however unlike the Silverliner IIs and IIIs the ALP-44's story deserves it's own episode.

[@dethuponianproductions6377]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Makes sense.

[@Ih8kone]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Literally the only reason they call it the Norristown High Speed Line is because it has stopping habits like a bus, NOT a rapid transit system.

[@sleepythespian1455]

They look a lot like the Siemens SD100 LRV.

[@danielleclement885]

3:19 p3!

[@ryleplays01]

it's Similar to the LRT-1 in the Philippines

[@erielackawannasd45-24]

Isn't the NLSL standard gauge but the MFESL broad gauge?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Yes the Route 100 is standard gauge.

[@erielackawannasd45-24]

+Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions Then how did the MFESL cars run on it?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Erie Lackawanna SD45-2 Likely modified to standard gauge I guess

[@RRansomSmith]

@@erielackawannasd45-24 They used standard gauge trucks from scrapped Class K cars from PATH in Jersey.

[@erielackawannasd45-24]

@@RRansomSmith Thanks.

[@kaydensrailway5594]

kinda looks like a Pacer, not gonna lie

[@oregonwesternrailroadprodu5239]

Only nice thing I think is good about these is the horns

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Agreed but in all honesty they aren't totally crap. They do have good acceleration, the design looks good, and the cabs are pretty spacious. Oh and let's not forget the P3s like you mentioned, they certainly get your attention and I'm glad SEPTA didn't give them AA-2s as they got pretty overused.

[@oregonwesternrailroadprodu5239]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren true but then again the aa2 is one of the best horns

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Very true

[@Ih8kone]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren I wouldn't mind calling this the Purple Line.

[@allisonreithmeier4500]

So uh, are you going to do the Secaucus train crash 23 years later?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Indeed it is. I'll be working on it the same time my polish friend will work on the 3rd Cajon Pass video. After all despite the lack of photos of the incident it's actually a not well known accident that deserves a video talking about it.

[@allisonreithmeier4500]

Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions well okay take your time don't take it too long🙂☺

[@RRansomSmith]

Actually no, The last Bullet ran in April 1990 so they were gone before 451 even set foot on the property.

[@NorthwestDaylight]

Rewatch the bullet episode

[@seminolegonzalezairlines7757]

What do you think of the N5Maniac?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I've heard of him. My mom's bf met him on some of his runs before. He said the guy was pretty fun. The reason you don't see him on the NHSL anymore is when the speeds were reduced he was like "I AINT DEALING WITH THAT SLOW SPEED LINE NO MORE!" Now he's common on the 101 and 102 Trolleys

[@RRansomSmith]

I know him personally. Real cool guy. Can't tell you his name since he likes his privacy if he doesn't know you that well. But, he is a transit fan and if you catch him and talk to him, you'll never regret it since he's very knowledgeable and funny.

[@Ih8kone]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren The Media/Sharon Hill Trolley?

[@ajjj4wood1]

Septa yells at ABB for not delivering the ABB N5 for the NSHL

[@Jonathan-Adames-402]

crab hate this

[@jedlikestrains7599]

Who else was like oh hell this cars

[@TTTEFAN-ke3xp]

3:19 Metrolink anybody (They have P3 horns)

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Reminds me of SP too.

[@TTTEFAN-ke3xp]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren I ♥ your documentary videos

[@TTTEFAN-ke3xp]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren are u gonna re-upload the Silver Springs collision

[@NOVARailandWeatherEnthusiast]

Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions reminds me of 1206

[@transitschuykill]

GIMME A TOSASTER

[@wilfstor3078]

Second. (sorry I had too I don't usually do this stuff)

[@RRansomSmith]

Um no, The speed was 70 before (80-100 design speed, but cab signals usually only permitted no higher than 70) and was lowered to 55.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

And we all know why the speeds were reduced to 55mph turning the NHSL into the NSSL

[@RRansomSmith]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren That's what happens when maintenance isn't how it should be. My friend Tanya works in the shops over there and as much as she loves those cars, she also hates how SEPTA is lacking when it comes to getting things done maintenance wise done for them.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Bob (my mom's bf who's an inspector there) can agree. No one's bothered to replace this 1 switch frog on the line that he wants fixed. It's because the regional managers of the line couldn't be bothered.

[@RRansomSmith]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Yeah, downtown at 1234 Market, they're bus people and keep tryna run the system like a bus system. They only fix what's completely obvious, but by then, the system is in shambles.

[@phlbuff]

Hey do you have discord? Me and my railfan fans wanna chat with you :P

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Yes I do.

[@phlbuff]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Just asking if i can have it? (Im not a stalker)

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Is there a way I can send it privately? I don't want to put it out in the public

[@phlbuff]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Twitter works

[@phlbuff]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Yes

[@erielackawannasd45-24]

It's actually Norristown Low Speed line not Slow Speed.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

I mentioned Low speed line

[@erielackawannasd45-24]

+Thunderbolt 1000 Siren Productions I deleted this comment when I heard that, I guess it didn't go through.

[@RRansomSmith]

They don't sway from the HVAC. They sway from the fact that they're heavy as hell and bulky compared to their predecessors. Also, the tracks weren't built for their heavy weight. In a nutshell, they're too big for what they're needed for and that played a part in the lawsuit as it wasn't in the original design.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

My moms bf told me it was the HVAC since he works on the NSSL as an inspector and the HVAC makes them top heavy. He definetly agrees their heavy unreliable pieces of junk that would lucky if they saw another 10 years of service after he retires.

[@RRansomSmith]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Friend of mine set the cabs over there, plus I know a few of the operators. The cars themselves aren't bad, but def too heavy for the track they're on and that why they shake, rattle and roll themselves to death. Put some concrete ties over there and concrete track bed instead of earth and ballast, they'd be rockets. As is, they're literally killing the line.

[@RRansomSmith]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren And while that HVAC def makes them top heavy, its not their worst issue weight wise. They have huge motors and traction equipment too. Plus, that bulky aluminum body. Basically, an elephant on a plywood floor lol

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Jointed rail in some spots like the Bridgeport viaduct doesn't help either. I agree the cars are good hence why I titled them as "a mixed bag" but their chunky body, clumsy weight, top heavy, and other factors make them not as good as their predecessors. I dunno what ABB was thinking with some of the design choices made for these cars.

[@RRansomSmith]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Same problem with the M4s on the MFL. Bulky and heavy for no reason. You'd think they would've learned the first time about that company and to not be fooled by a name change due to corporate restructuring (ABB's merger with Daimler to form ADtranz).

[@Poopsticle_256]

They look kinda like LA Metro LightRail cars.

[@Ih8kone]

Minus third rail power.

[@Poopsticle_256]

Dante Trainmaster They have third rails? I thought they were powered by the catenary system?

[@Ih8kone]

@@Poopsticle_256 The NLSL are powered by 3rd Rail.

[@physetermacrocephalus9986]

I wonder why they don't just rename the Norristown High Speed Line into the "Norristown Line" or "Norristown Tram Line" because there's nothing high speed about it

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

It would cause confusion with the Manayunk Norristown line

[@physetermacrocephalus9986]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren Nearly forgot that existed, but I think Norristown Tram is a pretty fitting name

[@Ih8kone]

I wouldn't mind calling it the Philadelphia & Western Railroad.

[@Ih8kone]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren I wouldn't mind calling it the Philadelphia & Western Railroad.

[@RRansomSmith]

It's not a tram so stop calling it that. Nothing about it says tram other than being single unit. Cut it out.

[@finndahuman57]

Just Like They Say If It Aint Broke Dont Fix It

[@btony01]

Do you know why they are going fast? It’s because they are still conducting tests on the train

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

No they went fast in normal service

[@RRansomSmith]

They run at up to 55 mph (formerly 70 before a series of accidents forced NTSB to knock it down).

[@mattsmocs3281]

They should buy back some L cars so service is back up to 75 and has good ride quality. Afterall these ugly boxes would look good in big piles at the junk yard

[@Ih8kone]

Or in my front yard.

[@mattsmocs3281]

Dante Trainmaster get a coach or something because these are just so bad it would bring down your land value

[@Ih8kone]

@@mattsmocs3281 Or my Backyard

[@septarailfan1182]

Will you be doing the PCC trolley?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

In the future likely

[@Ih8kone]

@@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren That's a heritage trolley

[@TailsFan369no2]

@@Ih8kone but inherited like the brill bullets

[@seminolegonzalezairlines7757]

The Keystone Service is number 666

[@danielleclement885]

3:25and3:36

[@danielleclement885]

3:25 emd gg5 horn

[@danielleclement885]

3:36

[@theguyemert9311]

6:16 why not the 'no' speed line, eh...eh

[@theguyemert9311]

Or the Norristown "highspeed" line

[@dannyh.s.1936]

Has anyone ever told you that you sound like Jim van der Kolk?

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Not really and he doesn't sound exactly like me but close

[@alishamcdonald7316]

1:12

[@muhammadfadhiil3430]

i was also gonna do an ugly locomotive in my series engines of Indonesia The BB 202 just search bb 202 on google images it looks soo ugly

[@TheTrainChasingPoet1999]

You're being overdramatic. During the horn samples, those trolleycars were whizzing by.

[@mandyplodek639]

Are you sure that wasn’t recorded before the accident

[@Ih8kone]

@@mandyplodek639 That was recorded before the accident

[@izakymom]

U know just replace these poopoos with class 142 pacers because although they’re bumpy and screechy they’re still better than n-5s

[@saxonaudio]

Watch that language of yours man

[@sepa2401]

wACH thAt lanGuaGe mAN

[@rumrstv]

First off that's not a Martini glass and secondly it's pronounced pew-nitive...

[@doggerbendrailway6002]

Great video mate if you like model trains feel free to come cheek me out

[@281-Productions]

SEPTA Abb craps

[@cnes44ac80]

173nd

[@Machodave2020]

ahhh, the ABB N5 cars, one of the WORST SEPTA LOCOMOTIVES TO EXIST🤬😫🤦🏾‍♂️😒😑😡😠

[@pa.trains]

why is abb traction such a pile of bull crap

[@MrNJT]

I hate the new cars. They’re horrible and just ruin the Norristown line.

[@RRansomSmith]

You got a better car to run on it?

[@RRansomSmith]

And they're not new. They're from 1993 so they're 26 years old now. Where are you getting new from?

[@MrNJT]

@@RRansomSmith They're relatively new.

[@RRansomSmith]

@@MrNJT Again, 1993. That's 26 years ago. That's not new. Most railcars are built to last at least 30 years and they're approaching it.

[@Ih8kone]

@@RRansomSmith CTA "el" railcars.

[@simonbooth6116]

3:18 p3!

[@alishamcdonald7316]

1:11