The main difference is the front platform. The F40PH does not have this platform. These were added during the rebuilding. Many of the F40s, which had been the backbone of Amtrak's fleet, are 30 years old, and several have been retired and scrapped. As for the diesel power plants, I think these may have been dropped into other locomotives. This site has more info about the F40s: http://www.railserve.com/jump/jump.cgi?ID=17260
Here's an F40PH in 2001: http://toyotameister.tripod.com/albany/f40_frnt.jpg. Some other F40-related photos are on this page: http://toyotameister.tripod.com/albany. I took all of these during the PCRRHS convention in Albany in 2001. All of the F40s on that page have since been retired or scrapped.
Your friendly neighborhood CNW fan.
Lord Atmo wrote:why is it "F40M-3.....F"? does it have a cowl over its cowl?
Ya..really. I haven't even heard of these locomotives before. It really sounds like a cowl unit inside a cowl unit. F and M-3. Very interesting. Are there any pictures of these F40M-3s. I would like to see one.
Happy railroading
James
F40M-3 is a rebuilt Amtrak F40PH. IIRC, they are re-geared for freight service. They have had their front noses cut back, to allow for a porch, like any other typical freight engine.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=47864
The F40C to which you refer is a remarkably different engine than the F40PH, as it is a C-C unit and the F40PH is a B-B unit. There are three left on Metra's roster, which are used as back up power (rarely). The rest of the fleet is in lease service, although at least one has shown up at Larry's Truck, and is proably dead.