Amtrak Diesels in Philadelphia

[steamfreightboy]

I frequently see diesels (P42s, Dash 8s, NS engines) sitting in the yard at 30th st Station in Philadelphia. What trains would the P42s and Dash 8s be used on, as all routes out of philadelphia are electrified? Also, what are the Norfolk Southern locomotives doing in 30th st? Thanks,

sfb 

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

I believe that the through trains to Pittsburgh and Chicago swap power at Philadelphia rather than at Harrisburg.  Some of Amtrak's M/W power is also based on Philadelphia.

[engr2930]

The Amtrak diesel locomotives seen at Philadelphia usually consist of the following: P-42 (2), 1 for train 43 Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and return and 1 protect. The 500 series P-32s, GP-38s and GP-15s and the 700 series GP-38s are used in work train service. The 3 P-32s and a couple of 500 series GP-38s are equipped with 480 and can be used in revenue passenger service to provide head end power. The NS freight locomotives which are GP-40s 3029-3033 are leased for work train service. Occasionally if there is a shortage of electric motors at Washington, the diesel(s) will continue thru to Philadelphia and the power change will made there and in turn to balance out the power the southbound power swap from electric to diesel will be made. No more through train service from Philadelphia to Chicago.

 

[blue streak 1]

Once in a while the Pennsylvanian l0co will trade with one in Pittsburg on either direction Capital.

Protection is a big deal for PHL. If a train breaks down ~ halfway from either WASH or NYP then the unit can go pick up the disabled train.. Whenever CAT has to be deenergized a P-42 will sub either at WASH or PHL and go thru to New Haven or BOS. Normally this is at night and will happen to Trains #s 67, 66, 190, 150. Opposite directions are also possible.

[daveklepper]

I presume that if a diesel goes through from Phila to NH or Boston, an electric, either Amtrak or NJT, couples on at Newark or Secaucus for the trip through the tunnels to Harold Tower.   There is no way a diesel can haul a train upgrade to Penn Station in either the Hudson River tunnels or the East River tunnels without causing both a health hazard to passengers and crew and a violation of New York City and State laws.   The deisel would be shut down or idling.

Also fuel tanks on dual-service locomotives running into Penn Station, both Amtraks third rail DC models and the new NJT AC-electric-diesel-electrics, have special fuel tanks.   But FL-9s did run into Penn using their dua;l sprung shoes, until they were banned because they were occasionally required to use diesel when the shoes broke or other electrical problems developed.

[blue streak 1]

Dave the way I understand it and this may be subject to some change.

If there is a planned outage of CAT a specially equipped  diesel(s) is hooked up in front of the motor. It can control the electric motor just like the Atlantic city route. So where ever there is a CAT dead spot the diesel is activated and commands the PAN down. When past the dead spot this sequence is reversed.  Some one posted the numbers of the specially equipped diesels but I do not know who. 

When you read the Amtrak specifications for next generation diesels all will have this feature. Also new Cab cars single level and bi-level will have this feature. So since only one North River tunnel at a time is out of service no problem in using a diesel - elec motor train to go in and out of NYP

Anyone elaborate or correct the above??  

 

[oltmannd]

engr2930

The Amtrak diesel locomotives seen at Philadelphia usually consist of the following: P-42 (2), 1 for train 43 Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and return and 1 protect. The 500 series P-32s, GP-38s and GP-15s and the 700 series GP-38s are used in work train service. The 3 P-32s and a couple of 500 series GP-38s are equipped with 480 and can be used in revenue passenger service to provide head end power. The NS freight locomotives which are GP-40s 3029-3033 are leased for work train service. Occasionally if there is a shortage of electric motors at Washington, the diesel(s) will continue thru to Philadelphia and the power change will made there and in turn to balance out the power the southbound power swap from electric to diesel will be made. No more through train service from Philadelphia to Chicago.

 

Those GP40-2s are the ex-Conrail ones NS trimmed up to fit on the NEC for intermodal train demo a half dozen years ago or so.  http://youtu.be/kUe4qbjpuOg