| MPI MP8AC-3 R156 (New York City Subway) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 An R156 locomotive on the BMT Jamaica Line at Broadway Junction station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The MPI MP8AC-3 is a light-weight diesel locomotive built by the MotivePower division of Wabtec. It was designed from scratch as a work train engine for the New York City Subway system, where it is designated the R156.
The R156 is designed to navigate the clearances and tight turns of the NYC subway, with weight constrained to 112,000 pounds (51,000 kg), so it can operate on elevated portions of the system. It joins a fleet of 62 diesel-electric work locomotives on the system. Third rail power is not used because the third rail is normally turned off at work sites for safety reasons. [3] Instead, the R156 is powered by a 6-cylinder, 800 horsepower Cummins QSK 23 diesel engine. [4] A separate, smaller John Deere Diesel drives a generator to provide auxiliary power and to heat the main engine and keep batteries charged when the main engine is not running. Trucks are supplied by Kawasaki, which provides the same wheel and traction sets for the R160 subway cars. The traction motors are Siemens' SITRAC AC motors (the same ones on R160Bs 8843–9102). The R156 locomotives have provisions for the future installation of communications-based train control (CBTC) equipment, which were expected to be installed by June 2017. [5]
The MTA ordered 28 units in 2006. After some difficulty with the initial prototype, the first unit, numbered OL912, was delivered on May 1, 2012. [3]
A locomotive or engine is a rail transport vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. If a locomotive is capable of carrying a payload, it is usually rather referred to as a multiple unit, motor coach, railcar or power car; the use of these self-propelled vehicles is increasingly common for passenger trains, but rare for freight.
A multiple-unit train or simply multiple unit (MU) is a self-propelled train composed of one or more carriages joined together, which when coupled to another multiple unit can be controlled by a single driver, with multiple-unit train control.
A diesel locomotive is a type of railway locomotive in which the power source is a diesel engine. Several types of diesel locomotives have been developed, differing mainly in the means by which mechanical power is conveyed to the driving wheels. The most common are diesel-electric locomotives and diesel-hydraulic.
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage such as a battery or a supercapacitor. Locomotives with on-board fuelled prime movers, such as diesel engines or gas turbines, are classed as diesel-electric or gas turbine-electric and not as electric locomotives, because the electric generator/motor combination serves only as a power transmission system.
Railway electrification is the use of electric power for the propulsion of rail transport. Electric railways use either electric locomotives, electric multiple units or both. Electricity is typically generated in large and relatively efficient generating stations, transmitted to the railway network and distributed to the trains. Some electric railways have their own dedicated generating stations and transmission lines, but most purchase power from an electric utility. The railway usually provides its own distribution lines, switches, and transformers.
A traction motor is an electric motor used for propulsion of a vehicle, such as locomotives, electric or hydrogen vehicles, or electric multiple unit trains.
The Evolution Series is a line of diesel locomotives built by GE Transportation Systems, initially designed to meet the U.S. EPA's Tier 2 locomotive emissions standards that took effect in 2005. The first pre-production units were built in 2003. Evolution Series locomotives are equipped with either AC or DC traction motors, depending on the customer's preference. All are powered by the GE GEVO engine.
An electro-diesel locomotive is a type of locomotive that can be powered either from an electricity supply or by using the onboard diesel engine. For the most part, these locomotives are built to serve regional, niche markets with a very specific purpose.
The passenger locomotives derivatives of the General Motors EMD GP40 diesel-electric locomotive have been, and continue to be, used by multiple passenger railroads in North America. For passenger service, the locomotives required extra components for providing steam or head-end power (HEP) for heating, lighting and electricity in passenger cars. Most of these passenger locomotives were rebuilt from older freight locomotives, while some were built as brand new models.
The MPI MPXpress is a line of diesel-electric locomotives built by MotivePower for commuter rail service. There are five MPXpress models: MP36PH-3S, MP36PH-3C, MP40PH-3C, MP32PH-Q, and MP54AC. Of these, only the MP54AC conforms to federal Tier 4 emissions standards, making it the only model that can be sold in the United States.
The Long Island Rail Road owns an electric fleet of 132 M9, 836 M7, and 170 M3 electric multiple unit cars, and a diesel and diesel-electric fleet consisting of 134 C3 bilevel rail cars powered by 24 DE30AC diesel-electric locomotives and 20 DM30AC dual-mode locomotives.
The Brookville BL20GH is a diesel-electric locomotive built by the Brookville Equipment Corporation. The locomotive is designed for both freight and passenger service. Brookville built 12 in 2008 for the Metro-North Railroad. The Staten Island Railway operates four nearly identical BL20G locomotives, built by Brookville in December 2008, in work service.
The GT46C-ACe is a model of Australian diesel-electric locomotive designed and built between 2007-present by Downer Rail at its Cardiff Locomotive Workshops using Electro-Motive Diesel components, and subsequently built in the United States.
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The MPI MP21B is a low-emissions diesel switcher locomotive built by MotivePower. It is powered by three Cummins QSK19C I6 engines with each one developing 700 horsepower (522 kW) and creating a total power output of 2,100 horsepower (1,570 kW). One MP21B locomotive was manufactured, currently operated by Amtrak.
The MPI HSP46 is a four-axle AC-traction diesel-electric locomotive for commuter trains, designed and assembled by MotivePower. It meets EPA Tier 3 emissions standards. The launch customer is the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), whose first unit entered revenue service in April 2014.
The CBH class is a class of diesel-electric freight locomotives designed and manufactured in the United States by MotivePower in Boise, Idaho, for Western Australian grain growers' co-operative CBH Group.
The MPI MP33C is a model of diesel-electric freight locomotives designed and built by MotivePower in Boise, Idaho, USA. To date all orders have been for Australian operators.
The MPI MP14B is a low-emissions diesel switcher locomotive built by MotivePower. It is powered by two Cummins QSK19C I6 engines with each one developing 700 horsepower (522 kW) and creating a total power output of 1,400 horsepower (1,040 kW).
The Siemens Charger is a family of diesel-electric passenger locomotives designed and manufactured by Siemens Mobility for the North American market.
Media related to MPI MP8AC-3 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons