Amtrak Retires The AEM-7: The Toasters are Toast!
https://www.amtrak.com/farewell-to-the-aem7-excursion-train
I remember when the Metroliners were new in 1969. There's one preserved in the Railroad Museum Of Pennsylvania.
Now another iconic locomotive will be relegated to the museum, the AEM-7.
Makes me wonder if I'll be around to see an SD-80MAC destined for a museum
Regards, Ed
I know the feeling, Ed. I watched the WC when it was a "start-up", October, 1987, and all of the "spartan" cabs GP and SD's, Then the CN took over with it's "wide, saftey, Canadian" type cabs, and I was captivated. I thought, "wow", these look "heavy duty!". Now they are common place. Some companies offer the "spartan" look, but are different. Now I wonder "whats next?". NS now has the "admiral cab", and what track side observers like me, call the squared off, box like, "sponge bob" cab. All started as the locos we know, but went though a rebuilding process.
Will the "spartan cab" go away?, and like you ask, about the SD-80MAC, will they all end up as part of railroad history ?.
It sure will be interesting how the diesel, or electric, locomotives will evolve.
For me, it's part of the "interesting, and fun" of watching and modeling. For guys, like you, with ties to the steam era, it must be an awesome experience, from then to now.
Don't get me wrong, at 67, most of the steam was on branch line and yard service. I was never around such an event, as I grew up in farming and rural situations. I only remember the high nose GP's. I never had a parent, or relative that was into railroading as a job.
Mike.
My You Tube
It is sad to see the AEM-7s go. Certainly an fixture in railroading.
The SD80MACs are scheduled to become SD80ACUs in a few years.
Ed,What know you of old? I've seen brand new GP9s and RS11s in the mid 50s. Seen the last of main line steam on the PRR,N&W and B&O.Seen brand new GP30s,GP35s,U25Bs etc.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIEEd,What know you of old?
Well, Brakie... My joints tell me I'm old. The calendar tells me I'll be 21,915 days on God's Green Earth come August of this year, (including leap days ) as if I could leap anymore!
It wasn't that long ago that the 'ol timers at work were telling me...
You got a lot to learn, kid!
Glad I was around to see at least a little of the glory days...
Ed
Ed,I feel like a antique from the Victorian Age and I'm not much older then you. I'm just happy to seen what I've seen on the railroads in the 50s.. While other kids was playing sand lot baseball I was railfaning and my transportation was a Schwinn bicycle and my camera was a Kodak Brownie.
The retirement of the AEM-7 is just "also ran" side note in the annuals of railroad history.
BRAKIEThe retirement of the AEM-7 is just "also ran" side note in the annuals of railroad history.
I sure agree with you on that note. I'm surprised they all haven't burned up by now...
I was just sayin' how fast time flies at our age
See below.
I've often heard them called "electric toasters", but didn't realize how much truth there was in that!
Personally, I've always preferred to think of them as "corrugated bricks".
When you've seen the end of steam, plus the passage of 2+ complete generations of diesels, plus the end of pre-Amtrak passenger service, you reluctantly get used to changes like this. After all, I witnessed the birth and death of East Broad Top excursion service, with over 50 years in between!
Age brings acceptance, but that's not to say it gets any easier.
Tom
Anyone notice the irony of that engine number.....
trainmaster247 Anyone notice the irony of that engine number.....
I was just going to say that...
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
Makes Me feel old...just reading this thread...
Will be 27,010 days old in a few months....nothing like a new snowfall at night, going to bed, waking up, walking to school and all that pretty white snow all of a sudden is covered with black soot from the gigantic rail yard a mile from My house that was switched all night with black smoke belching 0-6-0's & 8's.....not to mention the mainline monsters.....the joy's growing up in Chicago.....Really??? LOL.
Take Care, Old Guy's!
Frank
I am from Chicago area now. Am 14 though so no memories of the big stemers, still really looking forward to seeing 4014.Running and can go over to the IRM in union to see some steamers running. I also many years ago got a tour of the 261 workshop as my uncle is part of that team.
Every time I see a "dead line" of UP diesels I think "but that engine's still new." Then I realize the mid 1980s was a long time ago.
Yesterday I attended a baseball game and wondered "How can a guy born in 1995 be playing major league ball? He's still ... oh."
Dave Nelson
I'm still young, but it bothers me that I've hit the age where my friends and I will be talking about some quarterback that's getting "too old," and he's younger than we are.
I also still think of WWII vets as "grandpap age" and Vietnam as "parents." Not really that way any more.
ACYI've often heard them called "electric toasters", but didn't realize how much truth there was in that!
I spent some time on the original "Meatball", Asea #X995 back in 1977 before the first AM7s were ordered. Tiny little motor performed so flawlessly, that the competition, from France was sent packing early. To satisfy Buy American rules, the first order was assembled at EMD, in LaGrange IN. The carbodies of the second order, were built by Budd at their red Lion plant in Northeast Philly, then shipped to EMD, where the motors were assembled. I also worked with them in the First decade of the current Milenium when I worked for Amtrak. Ouite a motor, Small, light, and capable of hauling a fully loaded Amfleet train at 125 MPH on a regular basis for years. They were certainly more successful than the E60, or the HHP8, and could do things that the legendary GG1 could not do. I will go as far as to state, that the AM7 was the second most successful locomotive in North America, behind the legendary SD40/SD40-2.
wojosa31I will go as far as to state, that the AM7 was the second most successful locomotive in North America, behind the legendary SD40/SD40-2.
I think most diesel historians would put both behind EMD's GP9 (4257) vs. SD40(1275) and SD40-2(3957) then maybe the AEM-7(65) as a modern passenger unit.
Fun facts. The GP9 was cosidered the railroad man's locomotive. The GP38-2 was considered the GP9 of the 70s.
I would certainly rate the AEM-7 as successful and it deserves it's place in history but I'd agree with Brakie that it is far down the list of "Iconic" locomotives.
As long as we're building a "tribute" thread here, allow me to post a few shots I grabbed of the 911 in better days and her sister 918. Both shot in Washington Union Station on the 2nd of April, 2006.
Whirring away peacefully...
How did she get that splotch of turquoise paint on her plow? Now, if you were to actually model that... how odd it would look. But here's the photo to prove it.
I was awaiting departure on #51, The Cardinal.
The 918 gets bugs scraped off her windshield. Does Preiser make a figure like that? Another modeler's detail—note the two different number boards! Again, if you model "real-life" sometimes it just don't look right...
...and a final wipe-down.
I have had the fortunate opportunities to ride behind several "motors" from the iconic, yes, iconic —New York Central S-3 built in 1908 and still running strong in 1972, and the ex- Cleveland Union Terminal P- motors, a New Haven EP5 and a score of GG1s.
Nothing compares to the feeling of sheer power when the controller is notched out and you feel the inertia on your body press you against the wall as you accelerate out of the station and you're doing about 35 or 40 by the time you even get out on the main!
I can recall several times when the Broadway would pull into Harrisburg with four, panting E units, they'd be cut off and a single GG1 would tie-on and walk that 16 or 18 car train right out of the station like nobody's business (most often 40 and 41 would get two GG1s) Hoo-aah!
Thanks for letting me reminisce...