Does Amtrak still operate their P40's? Or are thay scrapped?
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Amtrak P40s are stored in Delewhare. 4 have been sold to NJ Transit while I think 8 have been sold to Conn Dot. Hope that helps.
Hi
So since their stored is it just beacause of the economey? What makes the P42 so mutch better than the P40?
The P42s are newer than the P40s and thus have "lower mileage" on them.....
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carnej1 The P42s are newer than the P40s and thus have "lower mileage" on them.....
Plus an additional 250 HP.
TomDiehl carnej1 The P42s are newer than the P40s and thus have "lower mileage" on them..... Plus an additional 250 HP.
That make sence. I thought that is why it's called a P42.More hp is nice. I just got a Amtrak P40 for my model railroad, HO. Just wondered. Thanks guys.
Hey, check the Amtrak ARRA document, page 69.
http://www.amtrak.com/pdf/ARRA/Amtrak-ARRA_Project-Summary-FY-09.pdf
PRJ Name: Return to Service Diesel Locomotives
Project #: PRJ29110074
Cost will be 13,000,000, starts 2009-04-01 and goes to 2011-02-17.
Description:
This project will return to service 15 P-40 Locomotives in order for them to be used in long distance service. During the overhaul of the P-40 locomotives, all main components of the unit including the auxiliary generator power contactors, voltage regulator, batteries, trucks and air brake will be replaced or overhauled. The 480 volt system, event recorder, and interior components such as seat, doors, windows and control stand will be inspected and replaced. All modifications on file will be completed. The cab interior and exterior will be refurbished and painted.
Justification:The following P-40 locomotives have a capital per unit estimated cost of $867,000: 807, 814, 815, 816, 817, 818, 821, 822, 823, 824, 830, 831, 832, 835 and 837. The hiring of new employees will provide an opportunity to have trained mechanical personnel actively employed who will be able to smoothly transition into positions made available through attrition in the Beech Grove Shops at the end of this 2-year project. This condition will minimize the downtime that occurs during recruiting, training periods and learning curves. These locomotives will be used in long distance service
There is a picture of one of the P40 that Amtrak sold to NJT in this month's issue of TRAINS.
bubbajustin Does Amtrak still operate their P40's? Or are thay scrapped?
What is a P40? Is it like an F40PH? Please excuse my ignarance but the only thing I've ever heard of that was called a P40 had wings and shark mouth and eyes painted on its nose.
Irv
corsair7 bubbajustin Does Amtrak still operate their P40's? Or are thay scrapped? What is a P40? Is it like an F40PH? Please excuse my ignarance but the only thing I've ever heard of that was called a P40 had wings and shark mouth and eyes painted on its nose. Irv
The Earlier series of GE Genesis passsenger locomotive. It was a 4,000 HP locomotive with HEP.The later production units were P42s.
Hi - the P42s can accept different speed card inputs to allow them to run at a higher top speed, such as on a seciton of the Chicago-Detroit line. Does anyone know if the P40s have this same capability, or are they otherwise limited? Thanks, Art
IIRC the P40's were geared for a max of 103 MPH I know the P42's were geared for 110 to cover for some of the higher speed runs out east on as protection power on the NEC. Look for the Reman P40's to have the same capablity that the P42 has in it. I bet these units are a test for the new Gevo engine for Amtrak if they like it LOOK OUT.
artpeterson Hi - the P42s can accept different speed card inputs to allow them to run at a higher top speed, such as on a seciton of the Chicago-Detroit line. Does anyone know if the P40s have this same capability, or are they otherwise limited? Thanks, Art
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
While the P40's chosen for rebuild will likely be upgraded to P42 standards or near P42 standards, they will definitely not be test units for a proposed GEVO passenger unit. At a minumum the units would have to be stripped to an emtpy shell and extensive modifications made to allow for the new prime mover and much different cooling system, its not just simply swapping an FDL prime mover for an EVO.
Bryan Jones
Hi - your understanding is correct for a conventional DC drive locomotive, but for a locomotive with AC drive the inverter output can be adjusted to change the performance levels. That has its limitiations, of course. Art
BaltACD artpeterson Hi - the P42s can accept different speed card inputs to allow them to run at a higher top speed, such as on a seciton of the Chicago-Detroit line. Does anyone know if the P40s have this same capability, or are they otherwise limited? Thanks, Art My understanding of Diesel-Electric locomotives is that speed is a function of the gearing between traction motor and the drive wheel....the traction motor's commutator rotational speed is the limiting factor. For a locomotive to have a higher line speed the gearing to the drive wheel needs to be changed. Simply changing a computer card does not accomplish this function.
Exactally. On the other hand a steam locomotive is a set tourque variable horsepower machine. So how long the engineer has the guts to set there with the throttle wide open, that's how fast you will go. I also imagine that the P40's will be upgraded.
Partially correct. The AC units you refer to are of the 700 Class and are designated P32AC-DM and are generally restricted to areas where third rail pickup is required. The locomotives look identical at a glance to their P42DC cousins. The "P42" generally referred to are DC units and can be found in all types of long distance service across the country. They do not have speed card capacity, nor do the P40's which are a lesser horsepower version of the P42DC in the same basic carbody.
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