TriMet TV Episode 15 · Apr. 30, 2008 · 2:31 · Download (25MB M4V)

MAX Trains Get a Makeover

If you're a frequent MAX rider, you might have noticed some changes on TriMet's older trains. We're in the process of refurbishing the body and paint on 26 of our oldest MAX vehicles. Here's how we do it...

Text transcript of this episode

If you're a frequent MAX rider, you might have noticed some changes on TriMet's older trains. We're in the process of refurbishing the body and paint on 26 of our oldest MAX vehicles.

Over time, rust and corrosion can damage MAX's finish. And these trains are more than 20 years old—about half their lifespan—so they're ready for a mid-life makeover.

Bob Culpepper, Light Rail Technician: "For the Type 1s, the overhaul process, for just the body shop, is approximately three to four months."

The refurbishing takes place here at TriMet's Ruby Junction maintenance facility in Gresham. A team of six technicians work on one train at a time, from beginning to end.

Culpepper: "We have to strip them down to original bare metal, and basically start the process from the beginning, and bring them back to a fairly nice looking standard."

TriMet's maintenance crews try to keep the trains in the best possible condition. That way we're able to invest in expanding service, instead of buying new trains.

While a new MAX vehicle costs more than 3 million dollars, the cost of refurbishing is only a fraction of that expense—around 150,000 dollars.

Culpepper: "We chip the paint and the old body work off, then we grind it down to bare metal.

From there we clean it, then we put an epoxy primer on it, which is a moisture barrier and a corrosion resistant paint.

Then we apply what's called spackle, which is a form of body filler, and it's used to fill in all the low spots, and give it a smooth appearance.

And then on top of that goes epoxy primer again, then we put a primer surfacer on there, which is used to sand out the very minor imperfections that were created in the body filler.

Then we put a sealer coat on, two coats of color, and then we put on the two colors, the blue arc, and the yellow arc on top of that, and that pretty much covers it."

After 25 years in service, a MAX train becomes eligible for replacement using grant money from the Federal Transit Administration.

However, a well-maintained vehicle can have a useful life of 40 to 50 years. By giving these trains a makeover now, we can get more MAX for our money.

Culpepper: "They're about 20 years old, and we're gonna try to get 20 more years out of them."

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