Aero Dynamic...Westside Express Service (WES) #1002 is one of three currently operating examples of Colorado Railcar's Aero DMU.
The basic design is from CRC's original Aero demonstrator #2002, which toured the U.S. in 2002. The tour included several test runs on the Portland & Western, which will host WES trains in partnership with TriMet, the Portland-area transit agency.
The 1002 and sister cars 1001 and 1003 show significant modifications from the demonstrator, which included several seat configurations and wraparound windows similar to those found on Colorado Railcar "Ultradomes".
Demonstrator #2002 was later sold to South Florida Regional Transit for Tri-Rail service, but was damaged beyond repair in a fire at the U.S. DOT test center at Pueblo, Colo. in 2005.
These cars, along with South Florida Regional Transit's bilevel DMUs and trailers, are likely to remain "orphans" after the demise of Colorado Railcar, which closed down in December 2008.
Photographed by Thomas McCann, November 28, 2008.
Added to the photo archive by Thomas McCann, November 28, 2008.
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