Amtrak Siemens Charger locomotive (SC44, ALC42, ALC42E)

[lordsigma]

I know the Pennsylvanian, Cardinal, Crescent, LSL, as well as Valley Flyers are still using P42s. Some Northeast Regional trains use them as well. These are just a few routes off of the top of my head that I can think of that still use P42s.

I know the Cardinal and Crescent still have them, but sometimes mixed in with chargers.

The ALC42s AFAIK still are not approved for ACSES. As a result they cannot lead on the Lake Shore Limited or some of these northeast state corridor routes like the Valley Flyers. The Lake Shore could very plausibly be the last long distance route that sees them unless the approval is right around the corner. It isn’t quite clear yet to what extent the diesel ALCs will be used on routes that will eventually see the hybrid variant and Airo trainsets. Some others may see them as they are running on the Palmetto and have made appearances on the Carolinian as well which are both slated to get the trainsets. They may try to have them make their way around to most places in the interests of getting mechanical staff and operating crews trained on them since the hybrid locomotives in the Airo sets will be very similar. One corridor route that will almost certainly also eventually get them is the Heartland Flyer which is being considered to be covered by the long distance order for re-equipping as opposed to the Airos.

 

[jis]

It just occurred to me that it could be kind of interesting to see an ex HHP-8 Cabbage on the Heartland Flyer since they will probably try no yo assign two locomotives to it if they can. That of course is contingent upon at least some of those HHP-8 Cabbages being equipped with I-ETMS. Of course it is almost certain that the power unit will be an ALC-42 as time moves along.

 

[Acela150]

The ALC42s AFAIK still are not approved for ACSES.

This is spot on. Not really sure of a timeframe where this will happen. They have been attempting to test them for ACSES, Cab Signals, & ATC functions. Not really sure how that's going though.

 

[lordsigma]

This is spot on. Not really sure of a timeframe where this will happen. They have been attempting to test them for ACSES, Cab Signals, & ATC functions. Not really sure how that's going though.

They were approved for Cab Signals/ATC earlier this year.

 

[Acela150]

They were approved for Cab Signals/ATC earlier this year.

But getting the three of them to work together is another thing. Add ITMS into the contest.

 

[Thirdrail7]

It just occurred to me that it could be kind of interesting to see an ex HHP-8 Cabbage on the Heartland Flyer since they will probably try no yo assign two locomotives to it if they can. That of course is contingent upon at least some of those HHP-8 Cabbages being equipped with I-ETMS. Of course it is almost certain that the power unit will be an ALC-42 as time moves along.

You won't see the HHP-8s that far west. You probably won't really see them outside them Northeast. They may operate on the Springfield line, though.

This is spot on. Not really sure of a timeframe where this will happen. They have been attempting to test them for ACSES, Cab Signals, & ATC functions. Not really sure how that's going though.

It's moving along.

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

You won't see the HHP-8s that far west. You probably won't really see them outside them Northeast. They may operate on the Springfield line, though.




It's moving along.

I remember talk a while back about the HHP-8s as a replacement for the metroliner cab cars for the Valley Flyers (on the Springfield like you said).

It still would be cool/interesting to see Siemens chargers on routes up that way. Either ALCs or SCs would be interesting.

 

[daybeers]

So, Keystones and Hartford Line/Valley Flyer trains? Downeaster potentially?

Can't wait to see one on the two car Hartford Line trains I wonder what the weight of the HHP-8 will be without the motor.

 

[AmtrakMaineiac]

So, Keystones and Hartford Line/Valley Flyer trains? Downeaster potentially?

Can't wait to see one on the two car Hartford Line trains I wonder what the weight of the HHP-8 will be without the motor.

I suspect most of the weight in an electric loco is the transformer, especially one designed to work at 25 Hz. They might even need to add weight such as concrete blocks so that the loco would track correctly. I believe they had to do that for the F40 cabbages.

 

[cirdan]

There is going to be that someone that'll bring this up, so let me end it right there. Amtrak is not a commuter railroad and has far more long distance/intercity routes then Via Rail does. So the equipment wear Amtrak does on equipment is a lot.

I would have thought a commuter railroad would be a more grueling and hard wearing environment than an LD train, due to the frequent starting and stopping cycles.

 

[Agent]

Yesterday, AMTK 348 and 349 were ferried from the Siemens factory to Oakland. Sky Rider filmed this light power move at Hercules, California.

 

[Agent]

Amtrak #6(17) with AMTK 348 and AMTK 349 running about twenty minutes late east of Ottumwa, Iowa this morning.

 

[Acela150]

A train with three chargers, 2 on the east end, 1 on the west end of the train. Made its way towards Sunnyside this afternoon for testing on Metro North.

 

[daybeers]

 

[chadamfleetrailfan]

It was so cool seeing my favorite charger 301 (Day 1 livery) leading again! (Even though it was on the test train from the post above)