MPI/EMD F40s

[Jasper.Brandon]

I am someone who think that the direction that Amtrak is going in with the Siemens Charger fleets of long distance locomotives is that of a circus instead of a railroad. With the recent issues with the ALC-42s, Amtrak should have looked in the past for inspiration for the future. I would have loved to see them go with an F40 designed to meet tier-4 requirements. A work horse like the original, this model would have upgrades that would benefit crew and save the railroad cost dealing with a completely different animal. I think that the Charger class of locomotives are decent for commuter and regional service, but I have seen very little to believe that these units are not going to have issues pulling the Auto Train.

 

[GDRRiley]

The 645 in a F40 isn't going to meet T4. Even a 710 is being pushed to its limits to reach T4. That leaves a QKS95, Cat C175-16/20, 1010J-12/16, GEVO or a few other prime movers.
Chargers have more HEP than F40, F59PH or P42 and with AC traction motors they require less upkeep.
2 P42 make 7800-6775 with 1 in HEP mode mattering on the load. ALC42 make 8400HP dropping down 6800 at full HEP while supplying 1000kw vs the 800kw of the P42

 

[PerRock]

New locomotives always have teething issues. The P42s had them, the F40s had them; it isn't unique to the Chargers.

 

[railiner]

I had always thought that the F40 was one of the most reliable diesel-electrics in Amtraks fleet. It certainly proved better than its SDP-40F and P30PH predecessors.
Unfortunately, the 2 stroke EMD prime mover design is inherently a polluter..

 

[GDRRiley]

I had always thought that the F40 was one of the most reliable diesel-electrics in Amtraks fleet. It certainly proved better than its SDP-40F and P30PH predecessors.
Unfortunately, the 2 stroke EMD prime mover design is inherently a polluter..

if the railroad can live with DEF like amtrak does its seeming like you can get them to meet T4, T3 has been an option for a long time now.
Are they going to hit T5 if its close to what california wants no, but I'm not sure any existing engine can