Over the summer, New Jersey Transit and AMT of Montreal announced that Bombardier won the bid to build their new dual mode locomotives. The locomotives will run both off of diesel power and overhead catenary. Design will be based on NJT's ALP-46. The locomotive will have a cab at only one end and will have one pantograph. Delivery is expected for 2011.
Read the press release and view drawings here.
NOTE: ALP-45DM is NOT the official name of the locomotive. The actual name has yet to be announced.
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Well, the proof is there in the press release.. but I have a couple of questions. One is why does NJTransit, who has no lines that actually need dual service locomotives, suddenly want them? And two, the ALP46 and other similar electric locos are too small to have much in the way of a diesel engine and supporting systems in it. I assume this is a big evolution in the design, the one picture actually looks more like a PL42 than an electric. But I still don't know where they are needed. Any lines that are part electric and part diesel usually have either shuttles or just diesels on the runs that go all the way. I know there is always talk about expanding their service area but I think I'll ask around about this one. Thanks for the link.
I agree, it looks like a PL42 with the cab of an ALP-46. This is to allow for the transformer and two gensets.
I originally thought they were going to be for ACES, but then I realized that there are no cab cars for the ACES trainsets. I heard that they will fit into NY Penn, and will be used on RVL trains into NY. I think we will also see them on M&E trains and NJCL trains, all into NYP. Unless the casinos buy cab cars, they will not show up on ACES. Currently, ACES will have an ALP-something on one end and a P40DC on the other. The P40 will idle from somewhere in North Jersey to Shore interlocking. This gives it a chance to warm up before it has to actually do any work, since they don't always start easily (because they're GEs so their crap!)
I had heard they acquired some of those.. I guess they want to extend some services in that case, such as the RVL into New York. Leave it up to NJT to always be working on something. If I may ask, ns, where do you base yourself at, since we are watching the same trains I am guessing!
I'm at Port Morris yard/ Lackawanna Cutoff.
Also, for more info check out railroad.net they have a whole NJT forum, along with just about anything else you can think of.
What are your fav things/ places to see? We get mostly PL42s out here, but I like going to Dover because they have the ALPs, etc.
I am based in the Fairlawn-Ridgewood area. Same thing with the PL42s, but enough F40s and GP40s to make it interesting. I want to check out Port Morris area and the cutoff more when I get the chance. For freights My friends and I usually head down to the River Line, though we haven't gone in a while due to lack of activity there. So a yearly trip to Altoona takes care of that part! I have done a lot of exploring since we have a lot of rail history here. Too bad much of it is gone. The variety out your way is interesting, a lot of stuff to see out there on the old DL&W.
Ah, yes Altoona. I asked my parents if maybe we could go this year. They asked how far it was, and when I told them, they said no...
It actually doesn't take that long via Rt.80. Hope you make it out that way someday, I think you'll enjoy it. In the meantime enjoy the local train scene. At least there are enough trains around even if they are mostly NJT. They can put on a good show too.
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