SEPTA's Wash Train With A Comet I
On the night of Monday, November 18, 2025, SEPTA's "Wash Three" train headed out to clean the rails. One of three such trains that include a cab car, pump car, tank car, and locomotive, the consist travels revenue trackage at reduced speed while spraying water and gel to remove leaves that fall on the tracks every weeknight (and sometimes on weekends) in season. Leaves and leaf residue cause wheel adhesion problems, which in turn lead to "slip-slide" conditions when applying the brakes, resulting in flat spots on train wheels.
That night, Wash Three included Comet I SPAX 606 (ex-NJDOT/Erie Lackawanna 1532, Pullman-Standard). This car was part of a fleet that arrived in New Jersey and New York in 1973 to pair up with GE U34CHs and introduce Head End Power (HEP) in the United States. After many years of service for NJDOT/EL and New Jersey Transit, they were sold to SEPTA in 2008. It is one of two presently operated by SEPTA, the only Comet Is that remain in service, albeit non-revenue, for a commuter agency. SPAX 606 still has a Leslie SU3L horn, the original model installed on this car.
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/Zct6UP0nL0E
Full resolution pics and prints:
https://www.riverrailphoto.com/septaregional
Consist:
SPAX 91 (KLW QST30BE-T4L)
SPAC 1506 (Tank Car)
SPAX 2106 (Water/Gel Pump Car)
SPAX 606 (Comet I)