What happened here?
After testing one, Via Rail in late 2000 announced an order for 7 of these units. They were intended to retire the last seven LRC's and kick off Via's unit-replacement program that envisioned an eventual 21 new units. Via even had a rendering on their website back then of how these were going to be painted.
Instead, these 21 locomotives started arriving in 2001 as the P42DC Genesis.
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By the turn of the century EMD was off its game due to the instability of its parent, General Motors. Five years later GM would spin off EMD to raise cash. During this limbo R&D suffered at EMD. They were working on the 265H engine and we were all wondering when we would see one in a passenger locomotive. We're still waiting.
It's a shame since many of us were hoping VIA would buy the stainless steel monocoque variant of EMD's passenger locomotives such as built for the Long Island Railroad. Imagine a stainless steel train pulled by a stainless steel locomotive. That sort of class just doesn't exist anymore.
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Via actually placed an order though.
What I'm asking is why the sudden change of heart from ordering these EMD's in the latter part of 2000, to cancelling and starting to take delivery on Genesis units in 2001.
Anyone know what went down?
Edit: While the question still stands, the October 2002 issue of Trains has a story on this model and a list of orders for it. The Via Rail order is noted as "Contract never signed".
Obviously, Via changed their decision late, but that does clarify that the order wasn't actually 100% official.
Was it perhaps delivery time, as 16-567D3A speculates?
I heard it had something to do with the International having to use Via F40s because the Via crews weren't trained on the P42s, so Via bought their own to allow Amtrak to use Genesis units on not only the International, but (I assume) the Maple Leaf and Adirondack as well.
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That sounds logical and was the type of insight I was hoping to seek out that could explain their last minute backtracking and switching of manufacturers.
Thanks
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