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New Commuter Locomotives

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New Commuter Locomotives
Posted by NorthWest on Thursday, October 10, 2013 6:43 PM
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Posted by Firelock76 on Thursday, October 10, 2013 6:52 PM

Thanks for posting!

Well, I think they're all ugly as sin, but what the hell, the average commuter doesn't care what the locomotive pulling his or her train looks like, just as long as it gets them where they want to be.

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Posted by carnej1 on Thursday, October 10, 2013 7:40 PM

According to reports on other sites the first delivery unit of the MPI/GE locomotives for the MBTA has just been delivered to the contract shop which is setting them up;The Providence & Worcester R.R's  main shops in Worcester, Ma.

 Apparently it was the second unit built, the first is at the AAR test facility in Colorado.

"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Friday, October 11, 2013 8:19 AM

The SunRail power looks like the offspring of an MP36 and an SD45.  The noses of the various locomotives may not have the panache of a bulldog nose or flatnose but they do meet crashworthiness requirements, something that wasn't around when the old noses were being built.

I'm impressed by the engineering involved to shoehorn the MP8 into the NYCTA's clearance diagram.

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by McKey on Friday, October 11, 2013 9:20 AM

Thanks for posting! More design in these than in many other American diesels...

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Posted by NorthWest on Friday, October 11, 2013 5:36 PM

CSSHEGEWISCH
The SunRail power looks like the offspring of an MP36 and an SD45.

I'd say GP40X with Blombergs...Wink

That said, it is an interesting "locosmash". Currently there aren't many HSP46 photos online, but I'll keep looking. 

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Posted by Overmod on Friday, October 11, 2013 8:44 PM

NorthWest

CSSHEGEWISCH
The SunRail power looks like the offspring of an MP36 and an SD45.

I'd say GP40X with Blombergs...Wink

Naaaah, it was made with the parts left over from making the GP40FH-2s...   ;-}

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Posted by NorthWest on Friday, October 11, 2013 10:29 PM

Aaaah Yes...the FH-2s. Probably one of the most interesting "locomotive combinations" I've seen. People say they're ugly, but I think they are beautiful in their own way. I think the cabs from the F45s went to the GP40WH-2s. Speaking of odd diesel combinations, take a look at this! Apparently there are at least three of them, and they are successful. But not something I would think of!

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Posted by rcdrye on Saturday, October 12, 2013 11:59 AM

Just an SD38 on tri-mount trucks...  Acutally looks like it might be an SDL38 with the short frame.

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Posted by NorthWest on Saturday, October 12, 2013 12:53 PM

I believe it is the hood, cab and prime mover of a geep mounted on the trucks, fuel tank, frame, and traction motors of a GE U18C. (See the locomotive behind it to compare the pilot and frame).

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Posted by Dutchrailnut on Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:50 PM

The Sunrail unit is a recycled ex-MARC GP-40 with new cab.

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Posted by NorthWest on Saturday, October 12, 2013 8:58 PM

Dutchrailnut
The Sunrail unit is a recycled ex-MARC GP-40 with new cab.

That is unfortunate, the GP40WH-2s were much better looking! Hope one gets preserved.  

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Posted by NorthWest on Saturday, November 23, 2013 12:31 AM
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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, November 24, 2013 1:32 PM

NorthWest

Don't see the 'burgular bars' that MBTA seems to afix to all  their locomotives.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by NorthWest on Sunday, November 24, 2013 10:53 PM

BaltACD
Don't see the 'burgular bars' that MBTA seems to afix to all  their locomotives.

Recent photos I have seen indicate they have vanished from F40PHs, as well.

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Posted by carnej1 on Tuesday, November 26, 2013 11:18 AM

NorthWest

BaltACD
Don't see the 'burgular bars' that MBTA seems to afix to all  their locomotives.

Recent photos I have seen indicate they have vanished from F40PHs, as well.

It's been years since I've seen an MBTA unit with "Ghetto Bars". It has also been a long time since I've heard any reports of serious damage to a locomotive by miscreants dropping debris off of bridges.

 I suspect that is a combination of factors: The railroad overpasses have improved fencing (solid barriers in the case of bridges over the NEC catenary) and increased law enforcement efforts by both the Boston P.D and MBTA own police force.

Back in the "bad old days" there were injuries and (IIRC) at least one fatality from attacks on trains in the Boston area involving chunks of concrete and other heavy objects dropped from above..

 

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Posted by zkr123 on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 10:22 AM
What unit is that for MTA?
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Posted by NorthWest on Friday, January 3, 2014 4:08 PM

The unit in this picture?

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3600117

That is a MP8AC-3 for the NYC Subway system, where it is an R156.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPI_MP8AC-3

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