Amtrak Siemens Charger locomotive (SC44, ALC42, ALC42E)

[billosborn]

Simple Railways just posted a video of his trip from Seattle on the EB. He was hoping to see an ALC-42 and he was rewarded - As always, he has chapter links in the description. You can click on "A Charger in the mountains" to see #300 pulling the train, and a closeup walk-around of the charger at the Whitefish, MT stop.

 

[joelkfla]

Simple Railways just posted a video of his trip from Seattle on the EB. He was hoping to see an ALC-42 and he was rewarded - As always, he has chapter links in the description. You can click on "A Charger in the mountains" to see #300 pulling the train, and a closeup walk-around of the charger at the Whitefish, MT stop.

In fact, he broke the trip into 2 segments, and got an ALC-42 on both trains, while he noted that neither westbound train that he passed had one.

 

[jis]

In fact, he broke the trip into 2 segments, and got an ALC-42 on both trains, while he noted that neither westbound train that he passed had one.

For all EB runs to have ALC42s I suppose there have to be at least 10 or 12 ALC42s in circulation. So not surprising that he saw a few without ALC42s.

 

[jis]

Amtrak has exercised 50 options for more ALC-42s

For Amtrak, 50 More Siemens ALC-42s - Railway Age

Amtrak has exercised an option with Siemens Mobility for an additional 50 ALC-42 (“Amtrak Long-Distance Charger, 4,200 HP”) diesel-electric locomotives, bringing the total contract value to $2 billion, including supplemental multiyear maintenance support. The amount also includes about $850...

www.railwayage.com

 

[Cal]

Amtrak has exercised 50 options for more ALC-42s

For Amtrak, 50 More Siemens ALC-42s - Railway Age

Amtrak has exercised an option with Siemens Mobility for an additional 50 ALC-42 (“Amtrak Long-Distance Charger, 4,200 HP”) diesel-electric locomotives, bringing the total contract value to $2 billion, including supplemental multiyear maintenance support. The amount also includes about $850...

www.railwayage.com

How much will that bring the total up to?

 

[jis]

How much will that bring the total up to?

75 + 50 = 125, numbered 300 to 424.

 

[PVD]

75 + 50 = 125, numbered 300 to 424.

I think some casual observers get confused by the fact that a batch of state-owned units are designated for Amtrak operated corridor service. Those are separate (and slightly different) from the ones that will be owned by Amtrak.

 

[KnightRail]

Bob Johnston of Trains dot com on February 8, 2022 reported the ordering of the additional 50 units so either someone spoke out of turn back in February or everyone has been under a rock for the past four plus months.

 

[jis]

I think some casual observers get confused by the fact that a batch of state-owned units are designated for Amtrak operated corridor service. Those are separate (and slightly different) from the ones that will be owned by Amtrak.

The state units are SC-44s

Bob Johnston of Trains dot com on February 8, 2022 reported the ordering of the additional 50 units so either someone spoke out of turn back in February or everyone has been under a rock for the past four plus months.

IIRC he said that exercise of the options was imminent, and the actual option exercise and actual placement of the order happened more recently.

But to be sure I will ask him when I talk to him next within the next few days.

 

[Cal]

75 + 50 = 125, numbered 300 to 424.

There were originally 207 P42DC's (plus a handful of P40s), does that mean some LD trains will be going from two engines to one? I know routes previously served by P42's now have SC-44's but even then I feel like it'd make sense for them to have to get more to replace all the P42s.

 

[PaTrainFan]

So, does everybody feel better about Amtrak's commitment to the long distance network?

 

[PVD]

The state units are SC-44s

IIRC he said that exercise of the options was imminent, and the actual option exercise and actual placement of the order happened more recently.

But to be sure I will ask him when I talk to him next within the next few days.

That's why I mentioned casual observers, they tend to lump them together as "Chargers"

 

[Ryan]

Casual observers have no idea what the locomotives are other than perhaps "that one looks new".

 

[daybeers]

So, does everybody feel better about Amtrak's commitment to the long distance network?

If the Siemens techs and Amtrak maintenance can get the Chargers and Sprinters to not break down nearly every day (look at the NECAlerts account), I would say yes.

 

[CCC1007]

There were originally 207 P42DC's (plus a handful of P40s), does that mean some LD trains will be going from two engines to one? I know routes previously served by P42's now have SC-44's but even then I feel like it'd make sense for them to have to get more to replace all the P42s.

It would be a good idea to remember that some of those p42’s were ordered to allow long trains of mail and express traffic to have up to 5 locomotives, depending on terrain and traffic.

125 (or 175 if the rest of the options get exercised) new locomotives should be enough for the LD network as it is today.

 

[west point]

125 (or 175 if the rest of the options get exercised) new locomotives should be enough for the LD network as it is today.

175 to cover incidents. That still leaves P-42s for new services. The ALC-42Es will probably work the NEC and thru routes onto non electrified routes.

 

[MARC Rider]

175 to cover incidents. That still leaves P-42s for new services. The ALC-42Es will probably work the NEC and thru routes onto non electrified routes.

The NEC through routes onto non-electrified routes will be serviced by the new Siemens Dual-mode intercity train sets. Unless the reference is to the Cardinal, Crescent, and the Silvers, which will continue to need diesel locomotives south of Washington.

 

[west point]

Sorry did not clarify. As I read it the ALC-42Es will be used on regional trains to or thru Richmond and Roanoke. Regular diesels for LD trains. Carolinian ?? Maybe yes maybe no. Since NC is going to buy some venture cars will wait and see on that on.

 

[rickycourtney]

There were originally 207 P42DC's (plus a handful of P40s), does that mean some LD trains will be going from two engines to one? I know routes previously served by P42's now have SC-44's but even then I feel like it'd make sense for them to have to get more to replace all the P42s.

Amtrak has purchased 125 ALC-42 locomotives for long-distance services, and they're purchasing 65 ALC-42E locomotives for use on Northeast Corridor services (with an option to buy 10 more). Plus, Amtrak Midwest, which previously used the national fleet of locomotives, purchased 33 SC-44 locomotives.

That's 223 locomotives, 233 if the option order is exercised.

Sorry did not clarify. As I read it the ALC-42Es will be used on regional trains to or thru Richmond and Roanoke. Regular diesels for LD trains. Carolinian ?? Maybe yes maybe no. Since NC is going to buy some venture cars will wait and see on that on.

The ALC-42E + Venture trainsets will be used on the Northeast Regional including the Virginia and Springfield services plus the Adirondack, Carolinian, Downeaster, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Maple Leaf, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian and Vermonter.

 

[frequentflyer]

175 to cover incidents. That still leaves P-42s for new services. The ALC-42Es will probably work the NEC and thru routes onto non electrified routes.

Pretty sure the plan is to retire the P42s. After 30 years of hard service, and millions of miles of 80 mph running, the Genesis will go down in Amtrak history as one of the best locomotives they had, besting the famed F40s.

The ALCs not making much news is good since they are running on the EB and soon the City of New Orleans.

 

[edwardjtracey]

As a regular Vermonter rider down the Connecticut River Valley: the arrival of the ALC-42E (to avoid the time-consuming engine swap at New Haven) cannot come soon enough.

 

[Cal]

City of New Orleans.

When will they be deployed?

 

[west point]

As they beccome available passing all acceptance points.

Note: As more ALC-42s come into service many of those first locos will point out problems. Amtrak will require those in service problems to be completely cleared in any ALC-42 that Siemens delivers to Amtrak for acceptance. Wilmington will be very hard on Siemens requiring Siemens to fix all these problems. Those items may slow more ALCs entering service.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

When will they be deployed?

Two were released from Wilmington a couple of weeks ago. One went down to New Orleans via the Crescent and one went to Chicago via the Capitol Limited.

 

[Agent]

There might be another train on soon-to-have-Chargers list. Amtrak #5(04) has AMTK 305 third out. I read a report it is to be dropped off at Lincoln, Nebraska for crew familiarization. This westbound California Zephyr was three hours late out of Chicago due to "mechanical issues," so it was night by the time I caught it in Iowa.