2018 MARC Operations

With ​Virginia Railway Express​ Equipment

June-December 2018

HISTORY:​ MARC operations began on September 1, 2016 With the arrival of an AEM-7. It
utilized old equipment from other railroads as rolling stock. In January 2018 with the arrival of
another locomotive, this time an MP36-3C, the railroad ordered new passenger coaches to call
its own. The first coach, a cab which was ordered as an experimental unit arrived in March. It
was assembled and painted silver, however no MARC markings were put on the unit. After a
month’s successful testing it was allowed to enter service as a coach which allowed for the
retirement of an old Ex. Union Pacific Heavyweight Coach. Also around this time, the decision to
retire the AEM-7 was made due to its old age. The AEM-7 was dual ended, which made
turnarounds at terminals easier. With the MP36-3C as MARC’s primary locomotive they decided
that running their commuter services in a push-pull configuration would be more efficient. The
current roster left them with one new bi level Cab, and one Ex. Amtrak 52 Seat Budd Coach.
Unfortunately the cab is NOT allowed to operate in cab mode yet. It was rushed through the
qualification testing to get it into service ASAP. Because of this, it was not qualified as a Cab
Car and has not had the necessary improvements. The set was operated as a traditional sett for
a little while however the pressing need for a cab car combined with issues on May 23, 2018
when the Budd coach passenger lighting and toilet failed permanently, the decision to seek an
immediate replacement came forth. Fortunately, their next door neighbor came to their rescue
with an offer to lease one of VRE’s Mafersa cab cars. MARC jumped at the opportunity and
began leasing the cab effective immediately. The cab arrived at MARC on June 2, 2018 just in
time to start of the summer. MARC retired the Budd Coach and put the Mafersa Cab car into
service.

CURRENT CONFIGURATION:​ MP36-3C facing North or West (Away from D.C.) then a MARC
Kawasaki Cab Car facing North or West (Away from D.C.) then the VRE Mafersa cab facing
South or East (Towards D.C.).

FUTURE:​ MARC intends to Purchase a Kawasaki Coach. When this arrives it will undergo full
testing and get painted into FULL Marc paint. It will then swap with the Cab for service. The cab
will then undergo FULL cab testing and get the FULL paint scheme. The cab will then return to
service as a cab car. The Mafersa Cab will then be returned to VRE.