What Model Loco Is This?

[skates94]

Hello,

I'm still very new to the hobby and have yet to see a loco in the modeling community like this:

www.metrarail.com

It's the small photo on the home page of the major commuter system for the Chicago area (METRA).

If someone knows who makes this loco and what the model number is I would appreciate it. I would like to keep my eye out for a model of this if it already doesn't exist. Thanks and Happy New Year.

[Anonymous]

Looks to me like a METRA Electric Cab car or locomotive. Cab cars have locomotive controls, but use power from the locomotive at the other end. If it's an electric locomotive then it has it's own power.

[Jacktal]

I visited this website a few times and discovered that they don't show the same loco every times.One resembles an F40PH a lot but has a different front end(may be a variant).For the "bullet" looking loco and the one with catenary's...I have no idea.

[jrbernier]

These are Metra's newest locomotive. They were build by Motive Power Indistries in Boise - MP36PH-3S is the model(3800 hp). They initially replace the older F40C engines on the ex-Milwaukee lines.

Jim Bernier

[Anonymous]

As Jacktal said, it's not the same loco every time. Walthers offer an F40PH and bilevel cars (coach and cab car) in HO painted for Metra. The one that looks like an F40 with a different cab is an F40PHM-2 - try searching under Metra on www.railpictures.net to see what's out there, though I'm not aware of any other RTR Metra equipment in HO apart from the Walthers F40PH and bilevel cars. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Bachmann has the Amtrak Acela out that looks like the bullet train[?]

[jrbernier]

Metra has a rather large fleet of engines - look at the following site to see all of the models:
http://hometown.aol.com/metrafan/rosmetl.html

The F40PHM-2's are sometimes called 'motorhomes' or 'Winnibago's' bacuse of their looks....

Jim Bernier

[skates94]

Wow, Thanks for all the prompt responses. Sorry, both times I visited it had shown the same bullet loco with the two orange stripes on it. Thanks again.

[Jetrock]

If you hit "reload" it shows various other locomotives.

METRA is pretty neat--in northern California we have the Capitol Corridor that works on a similar principle--but one thing I wonder: In winter, do they put snowplows on the cab car when running in reverse?

[Anonymous]

Jetrock, I'm almost certain they do. BTW, does anybody know where the F40Cs will be headed? Hopefully not the scrap yards......