Well in this months Trains there was another article about how the $2,000,000 locomotives are breaking and leaving Amtrak in a tight spot (if only they had a older more relabeled locomotive at the ready). I have been saying it for quite some time now, the P42’s are P.O.S. and unsafe and this is just another example of what a sham these units are. I think I heard somewhere that the guy put in charge of Amtrak’s new locomotive program had ties with G.E.? Wouldn’t surprise me.
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route_rock wrote: Buy the same stuff Metra has.The MP36PH would work.GE should have stuck to toasters and lightbulbs!
Well when Amtrak purchased the P42 those didn't exist so they really couldn't have done that. Now I'm not a GE fan what so ever, but they have a wonderful marketing team that sold Amtrak on these pos locos. Now the passenger locos from EMD (f59PH) weren't anything special either, but are reliable, but my guess is that the p42's were just cheap, and coming from a government run organization like Amtrak that is way under funded, price matters. Now the only place I've seen the MPI Locomotives are in commuter service, relatively short hall, I don't know if they ever have been tested in AMTK service so I'm hesitant to say that they should use them with no performance records.
Oh yes I know they were not around then. SOmeone asked what else they should buy. Just adding my two cents.
Even though it is short haul,its still pretty *** demanding.I would say they have been tested pretty hard.I am sure Metra would swear by them.But then again we know why commuter lines use EMD. Too keep on time. When I grab throtle 8 and sand I want to be going not waiting till sunday for the thing to load
Well, let's see. The oldest of the P42's are now 17 years old. The vast majority of the fleet is 15 years old and aging. These locomotives have actually performed reasonably well, given a few things that many folks don't realize:
1. They run pretty much around the clock, and in the past 10 years, a significant portion of these units have operated with as little as 10 hours off for limited servicing (that's throw fuel in em and turn em around), many instances being runs of 1000 miles or more in 24 hours.
2. Many of these units get NO rest, as they are relied upon to provide standby HEP during layovers.
3. Many of these units have run in excess of 4,000,000 miles, with the highest in service units approaching the 6 million mile mark.
4. At 17 years old, these units are rivaling EMD's F units for longevity, and may outlast them by sheer will of maintenance and necessity.
5. Recent problems surrounding traction motors are now just being felt by freight roads, since their units do not in any way come close to the mileage being tossed onto Amtrak's fleet. Doing a little digging will allow you to discover that the TM issue is the supplier's and now that the freight roads are actually feeling the pinch, there is some leverage to get the issues resolved...NOW.
6. If these units are so horrible, then GE, Amtrak and the BLE can take the blame, since they all had a hand in its design.
7. I have had 3 units fail on me since their introduction; one for a bad air brake valve, one for an injector problem (a previous warranty issue) and the last due to the now infamous traction motor issue.
If you look at the units as they stand, senior citizens of the locomotive world, then they really aren't bad at all. They called the F40's junk when they got old, and the covered wagons were spat upon when they got too old to do an honest day's work. I guess it is just the way of the world. Ease up guys. Sure, there are some bad actors, just like in steam days...these engines still have personalities; but unless you have worked with them day in and day out and see firsthand the abuse they take and the virtual round the clock service they give, it is pretty easy to be critical. Not me. These units get me home every night I work, and at the end of each run, the unit (the Eagle gets a single unit these days) that gets me there gets a pat on the flank for a job well done.
4merroad4man wrote: Well, let's see. The oldest of the P42's are now 17 years old. The vast majority of the fleet is 15 years old and aging. These locomotives have actually performed reasonably well, given a few things that many folks don't realize: 1. They run pretty much around the clock, and in the past 10 years, a significant portion of these units have operated with as little as 10 hours off for limited servicing (that's throw fuel in em and turn em around), many instances being runs of 1000 miles or more in 24 hours.2. Many of these units get NO rest, as they are relied upon to provide standby HEP during layovers.3. Many of these units have run in excess of 4,000,000 miles, with the highest in service units approaching the 6 million mile mark.4. At 17 years old, these units are rivaling EMD's F units for longevity, and may outlast them by sheer will of maintenance and necessity.5. Recent problems surrounding traction motors are now just being felt by freight roads, since their units do not in any way come close to the mileage being tossed onto Amtrak's fleet. Doing a little digging will allow you to discover that the TM issue is the supplier's and now that the freight roads are actually feeling the pinch, there is some leverage to get the issues resolved...NOW.6. If these units are so horrible, then GE, Amtrak and the BLE can take the blame, since they all had a hand in its design.7. I have had 3 units fail on me since their introduction; one for a bad air brake valve, one for an injector problem (a previous warranty issue) and the last due to the now infamous traction motor issue.If you look at the units as they stand, senior citizens of the locomotive world, then they really aren't bad at all. They called the F40's junk when they got old, and the covered wagons were spat upon when they got too old to do an honest day's work. I guess it is just the way of the world. Ease up guys. Sure, there are some bad actors, just like in steam days...these engines still have personalities; but unless you have worked with them day in and day out and see firsthand the abuse they take and the virtual round the clock service they give, it is pretty easy to be critical. Not me. These units get me home every night I work, and at the end of each run, the unit (the Eagle gets a single unit these days) that gets me there gets a pat on the flank for a job well done.
Well said.
***! someone said it before I could!
The P42 are the best on the road for passegner service!! They have been around for the longest and still run strong. I don't see BNSF, UP, or NS passing down some of there locos to help out! but I have see a few dashes in amtrak paint but that was only in a yard. But I do strongly agree with route_rock on using those engines.
route_rock wrote:GE should have stuck to toasters and lightbulbs!
Well, here's a toaster...
Now to find a GE lightbulb....
Well, here's a toaster..." border="0" width="30" height="20" />
Too bad that is not a GE toaster
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TrainManTy wrote: route_rock wrote:GE should have stuck to toasters and lightbulbs!Well, here's a toaster...Now to find a GE lightbulb....
Ha, Ha, Haand they still use those where they should be using the Acela HHC's