California is selling F59 locomotives to Metra in Chicago as existing equipment is being replaced by the new Siemens Chargers. What will happen to the excess Amtrak locomotives in the Midwest when the 33 new Chargers are placed into service?
We’ll have a similar issue in a few years when the new Seimens coaches enter service. I’m not sure there will be a love-loss when the Horizon and Amfleet coaches are parked!
The Midwest Chargers are already in service. In the Midwest, they replace P42's working out of the long-haul pool.
Understood. What will happen to 20-30 excess Amtrak locomotives?
According to the minutes of the PRIIA 305 Executive Board meeting of 5/22/2018 not all Chargers are in the Midwest yet. 23 are in service, the remainder to the order of 33 units is stored at TTCI until Amtrak P42s are re-deployed and open up storage space at Chicago. http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/305%20Exec%20Brd%20minutes%20%20-5-22-18%20DRAFT.docRegards, Volker
Thanks for the detailed reply!
What’s interesting is that the minutes note that Metro North is going out to bid for duel mode locomotives and the first single level Seimens coach is under construction in Sacramento.
Be careful to distinguish locomotives that belong to 'Amtrak' from those provided for Amtrak-managed service (e.g. "Amtrak California")
It was my understanding that Amtrak, as a matter of policy, does not sell or part out its equipment (probably at least in part for liability reasons). This was forcefully demonstrated to me several years ago when a couple of AEM7s were scrapped and I was interested in the trucks and traction motors. The person who did the scrapping went so far as to cut the axles to make sure parts would not be re-used.
On the other hand, California owned its F59s and understandably has different priorities in 'asset management' especially when trying to standardize a fleet around Tier 4 and better compliance.
Whoa, hold on everybody! There's a few things going on here.
Metra is purchasing 21 F59PHIs which are the 5 Cascades painted units and the 16 Surfliner units. These are Amtrak-owned. I have not heard of a disposition plan for the California-owned units.
The displaced P42DCs are generally already part of the national pool, except for those with special signal equipment for the Michigan lines and such. The national pool will simply stop supplying locomotives for these trains, and will probably reabsorb the captive units. Based on the condition of the units, the annual attrition rate and the need to take units out of service for PTC installation they'll probably be needed elsewhere. If not, they can be reserves or act as protect units, many of which have been removed from the system in recent years.
Amtrak has been willing to sell units in the past, such as the P40DCs to Shore Line East. I think it is likely that they differentiate between other government operators and individuals and corporations, though.
When I rode the Rio Grande Scenic about 10 tears ago, a F40PH was pulling it (I got a cab ride). My recollection was that it was ex-Amtrak. This link seems to confirm that they had ex-Amtrak units:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locopicture.aspx?id=64762
The 20-year lease on the 21 F59PHIs is up this year and Amtrak chose not to renew as they now have 50+ state sponsored Chargers on the line. Ergo, they became available for purchase by Metra.
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Does anyone yet have specifics on how/when the F59's may move to Chicago.
Will they be overhauled by a third party vendor before they arrive?
As far as the P42s go, I think its a good thing that Amtrak will soon have a surplus. The reliability of these units isn't getting any better with age, and with some out of service (due to PTC as already mentioned and wreck damage), an increase in the spare ratio is probably more than welcome.
AMTRAKKER Does anyone yet have specifics on how/when the F59's may move to Chicago. Will they be overhauled by a third party vendor before they arrive?
I heard that a couple of PHIs had found their way to Amtrak's Beech Grove shops recently, although its unclear if this is related to Metra. They probably will recieve a bit of an overhaul before entering service in Chicago.
HR616 As far as the P42s go, I think its a good thing that Amtrak will soon have a surplus. The reliability of these units isn't getting any better with age, and with some out of service (due to PTC as already mentioned and wreck damage), an increase in the spare ratio is probably more than welcome. AMTRAKKER Does anyone yet have specifics on how/when the F59's may move to Chicago. Will they be overhauled by a third party vendor before they arrive? I heard that a couple of PHIs had found their way to Amtrak's Beech Grove shops recently, although its unclear if this is related to Metra. They probably will recieve a bit of an overhaul before entering service in Chicago.
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