From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 13-Apr-15 14:28, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
   > Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   >> The steps are fixed, and none of the ones I've seen exhibit any   
   >> signs of rust; the coloring makes them look anodized (virtually   
   >> rust-proof), and there are plenty of alloys that don't rust   
   >> anyway--such the the one used for the _bodies_ of those same cars.   
   >   
   > I don't know what the dimensions are for how for something can hang   
   > down from below the car above the platform.   
      
   The BBD BiLevel is narrower than a Superliner, so even with the steps   
   sticking out a few inches, there's no horizontal clearance issues on any   
   tracks where a Superliner fits--and even the Superliner doesn't fill the   
   full size allowed with Plate F (but it's bigger than Plate B/C/E), so   
   you could probably add them to a Superliner as well.   
      
   Worst case, you could make the steps retractable; that'd drive up the   
   maintenance cost a bit, but it'd still be cheaper than paying   
   round-the-clock wages for step box operators on every car.   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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