Metro Trainer

[Barend Botha]

2 coach Metro Rail trainer train I spotted in Lyttleton.

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Nice pic and well spotted!

Unusual as well so well worth it for the record!

Anyone know what the protrusions along the top sides are for?

[Marc Russell]

The livery of the first car is unusual, unlike the second car which is of the standard kind

[John Ashworth]

Looks like a different train to the one photographed in Centurion at http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... 144&t=1742

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Does look very different.

[Gabor Kovacs]

Kevin asked;

Anyone know what the protrusions along the top sides are for?

I asked a friend of mine, who is employed by Metro in the maintenance division at Braamfontein.

He gave me the two main points as what the protrusions are for

Looking at the picture carefully, one will notice that the sliding doors are on the outside of both the driving trailer and the motor coach bodies. Because the sliding doors are outside the coach bodies, the pneumatics that operates the doors is located above the doors on the side roof-line. The protrusions that Kevin refers to have two functions, I was told;
1. To cover and protect the pneumatic cylinder/s, associated plumbing, sliding mechanism, electrical cabling and connections that allows the doors to operate safely and effectively;
2. To create an effective roof gutter that drains water from the roof of the vehicle, without getting platform waiting passenger/s wet when the train arrives or departs at a station, and to keep the above mention equipment dry and functional in wet weather conditions. Obviously also assists in protecting the mentioned equipment from the harsh African Sun.