GEC's Layout Progress

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Well, I missed out on the GP40P, but In will probably land Arrow IIs!!!!!

The company I'm getting them from (IHP) made a "Core" kit that could be made into an Arrow III, Silverliner IV, or Arrow II, depending on the parts provided. Some Arrow II kits were apparently made (minus the trucks), but never offered for sale, and the interest was apparently to low to produce.

Long story Short: I am the only one who owns an Arrow II set anywhere.

IMW has listed an Arrow II, and I saw their preproduction shell, but I doubt they will be produced, given that I haven't heard any news on them in almost a year.


I will be getting 4 Married Pair sets (a total of 8 cars). This is will bring my Arrow MU car fleet to 24 cars (4 Arrow II Married pairs, 7 Arrow III Married pairs, 2 Arrow III single cars). They only require trucks and Pantographs. The trucks I think I can fabricate myself, and the pantographs are easily obtained.


Eventually, I will attempt to clone the Jersey Arrow I kits. Even though the Arrow Is were beginning to be replaced by the arrival of the Arrow IIIs, some Arrow Is were rebuilt to be compatible with the newer Arrows and ran into late 1979.



Prototype Information for the Curious

The prototype was built by GE - AVCO for the Penn Central/NJ DOT in 1974-1975, and was tacked on to the back of SEPTA's Silverliner IV order (Indeed, the Arrow IIs are nearly identical to the Silverliner IV, except that the Arrow II has a smaller roof-top equipment hump, and high-level center doors).

The Arrow IIs were purchased to replace the 60 year old PRR MP54s from New Jersey commuter service. As Arrow IIs arrived, the less than reliable Arrow I displaced the MP54s.

Throughout the late 70s and early 80s, the Arrow IIs were also leased to Amtrak for "Clocker" service (hourly New York-Philadelphia trains), and Harrisburg PA- New York City trains in 1980. Many Arrow IIs were also leased to the Maryland DOT (Later MARC) to replace MP54s on the line between Washington DC and Baltimore.

However, the Arrow IIs had apparently been abused in lease service, and came back to New Jersey worse for wear. In the mean time, NJ DOT had orderd 230 Arrow III cars between 1976 and 1979, which had begun to displace the Arrow IIs. The Arrow IIIs were originally purchased to operate on the former Erie Lackawanna electrified commuter lines to Hoboken, but the Arrow IIs were chose for this service instead they were rehabed, renumbered into the 1200 series, and repainted into the newly formed NJ Transit paint scheme.

When the EL was re-electrified, the old DC system was replaced with a new AC power system that was incompatible with the Northeast Corridor. This stranded the Arrow IIs in Hoboken service, where they ran out the remainder of their service life. Somehow, the Arrow IIs had received far more wear and tear than the only slightly younger Arrow IIIs, and so the Arrow IIs were deemed unfit for rebuild. They were retired in the mid 90s and scrapped in 2001, after only 20 years of service.


A six-car set of Arrow IIs are seen here in 1977. Arrow IIs can be distinguished from the Arrow III by the single arm faively pantograph, single roof hump, and corner air-scoops. All are married pairs that share electrical equipment.





Here, a Jersey Arrow I leads Arrow IIIs in late 1979. This is probably one of the last ones operating at this point. The Arrow Is would be rebuilt into locomotive hauled coaches and cab cars. Arrow Is were built by St. Louis Car company, and though they look similar to other Arrows, they are distinctive. They only came in single unit versions.




Here, an 8 car set of Arrow IIIs is departing South Amboy in 1980. the front two cars are single units, and the remainder are married pairs. Arrow IIIs have a single large air-scoop, two small roof blisters, and a stemman pantograph.