We saw a handful of these loco’s at Amtrak’s 14th street engine service facility in Chicago. They all looked great! I’m sure that these loco’s were delivered while the P40 was being designed. But does Amtrak still use these? I mean, they stored the P40. Why not the -8 32BWH?
Thanks!
Justin
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
They looked best in their as-delivered, late '91 "Pepsi Can" paint scheme. These units are basically 12-cylinder versions of the B40-8.
Yes, these units were pretty much available in a pinch from GE as they designed the first Genesis units in the early 90s. They still look odd, in a cool way, being hood units on Amtrak trains where you generally see cowlbodied or carbodied units. Personally, I would have preferred Amtrak maintain that paint scheme on those plus carry it over to the other units ... that paint scheme just accentuates the lines of those -8s like nothing else can.
"Pepsi Can":
I can remember seeing a pair of them on the Southwest Chief shortly after they were purchased. I'm not sure of the situation at other terminals, but in Chicago they seem to be assigned as heavy switchers and protection power.
The same is true in Los Angeles.Sometimes these units are used on the train to San Luis Obispo.Recently A P32 was used on the Pacific Surfliners but had to be put on the rear as the ATS shoe had been removed.
I really wish that Amtrak would have left the paint alone as well. I really like seeing what looks like a old Santa-Fe -8 32BW on an Amtrak train! I’ve always had a liking for locomotives that look like they should have a three axel bogie rather than a 2 two axel bogie. I wish that Amtrak would use them what there built to do more often… A heavy switcher…. Just doesn’t seem right you know.
The B32-8WH's and the 15 leased GP40's (650-664) were intended as interim power to help tide Amtrak through a power shortage before the Genesis units could be delivered. The GP40's were returned to the lessor after two years and the B32's were demoted.
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