EMD GP40-based passenger locomotives

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EMD GP40-based passenger locomotives
New Jersey Transit train 53 to Port Jervis.jpg
A GP40FH locomotive, one of many locomotives based on the GP40
Type and origin
Power type Diesel-electric
Builder Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD)
Specifications
Configuration:
   AAR B-B
   UIC Bo'Bo'
  CommonwealthBo-Bo
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Performance figures
Maximum speed77–105 mph (124–169 km/h)
Power output2,000–3,000  hp (1,491–2,237  kW)
Career
Locale North America

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.

Contents

GP40TC

GO Transit GP40TC No. 501 with Bombardier Bi-Level Coaches in October 1980 Toronto's GO Transit 501 in October 1980 (34593118111).jpg
GO Transit GP40TC No. 501 with Bombardier Bi-Level Coaches in October 1980

The GMD GP40TC was built by General Motors Diesel (GMD), for GO Transit in Toronto. Eight units were manufactured between 1966 and 1968. They were built on an extended frame to accommodate a head-end power generator. [1] :55 GO Transit sold the fleet to Amtrak in 1988, [2] :106 where they were based in Chicago and used on short-haul trains.

In 2005, the Norfolk Southern Railway rebuilt all eight GP40TC locomotives at its Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pennsylvania. [3] [ better source needed ] These are now classed as GP38H-3, and work as maintenance-of-way trains or standby power for Downeaster trains.

GP40P

GP40P 3676 operating on the Central Railroad of New Jersey. CNJ 3676 at Bay Head, NJ in August 1971 (25433986063).jpg
GP40P 3676 operating on the Central Railroad of New Jersey.

Thirteen GP40Ps were built in October 1968 for the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ) and paid for by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). The CNJ put the units in service on the Raritan Valley Line and the North Jersey Coast Line.

The CNJ's passenger operations were transferred to NJDOT in 1976 (with Conrail operating them under contract), and in 1983 New Jersey Transit assumed operating passenger rail service in the state. Shortly after, the steam generator, which had occupied the flat end of the locomotive's long hood, was replaced with a diesel HEP generator, and the units were reclassified as GP40PH. They would later be rebuilt as GP40PH-2 units in 1991–92.

GP40P-2

Southern Pacific ordered a Dash-2 variant of the GP40P; only three of these were ever built. After the conclusion of passenger service, they were repurposed for freight use. All three units are still in service, with two being retained by the Union Pacific Railroad and the remaining one sold to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad.

GP40FH-2

Metro-North Railroad GP40FH-2 No. 4905 at Suffern Yard West-of-Hudson's Finest.jpg
Metro-North Railroad GP40FH-2 No. 4905 at Suffern Yard

In 1987, New Jersey Transit and Metro-North ordered a set of GP40 locomotives called GP40FH-2s, which were completed by Morrison Knudsen between 1987 and 1990. These locomotives combine the standard cab and frame of a GP40 with the cowl from an ex-Burlington Northern F45 locomotive. A total of 21 units of this type were built; 15 were delivered to New Jersey Transit, and the remaining six were for Metro-North.

As of late 2016, only the Metro-North units remain in service, rebuilt as GP40FH-2Ms. All NJT GP40FH-2 locomotives have been retired following the delivery of the ALP-45DP. Five units were rebuilt into MPI MP20B switchers in 2008. Seven NJT units were purchased by Iowa Pacific Holdings and three of those were designated for use on the Hoosier State between Chicago and Indianapolis before Amtrak took over operations again on January 30, 2017. The rest of the units have been sold to various other operators.

GP40PH-2

NJ Transit GP40PH-2B No. 4217 heads west out of Maplewood GP40PH-2B 4217 Maplewood.jpg
NJ Transit GP40PH-2B No. 4217 heads west out of Maplewood
NJ Transit locomotive 4109 in CNJ livery at Maplewood, New Jersey, 2020 GP40PH-2 4109 Maplewood.jpg
NJ Transit locomotive 4109 in CNJ livery at Maplewood, New Jersey, 2020

In 1991–92, NJ Transit sent its ex-CNJ GP40PH units out for rebuilding. The units were rebuilt as GP40PH-2 locomotives.

New Jersey Transit would later order two more sets of GP40PH-2 units; these units were rebuilt from former freight GP40 units. The first order in 1993 consisted of six units rebuilt by Morrison-Knudsen which are designated GP40PH-2A. The second order in 1993–94 was for 19 former Penn Central units rebuilt by Conrail, which are classified as GP40PH-2B.

Metro-North ordered a single GP40PH-2 unit, numbered 4906. It was rebuilt by Conrail in 1992 and is classified as a GP40PH-2M.

Starting in 2014, all but three of NJ Transit's original GP40PH-2s have entered an in-house rebuild program by NJ Transit for a mechanical conversion into a standard GP40-2 for non-revenue service. The HEP motor was removed, unlit number boards were drilled in, the rear ladders were removed and replaced with steps, and LED markers were applied to the rear end of the locomotive, replacing their original tri-color class lights. As of 2020, locomotives 4100, 4101 and 4109 are the only ex-CNJ locomotives that remain in service. NJ Transit's GP40PH-2B units and Metro-North's GP40PH-2M unit also remain active. All GP40PH-2A units were retired and placed into storage, except for one unit, which was sold to MARC in 2019.

In December 2017, New Jersey Transit purchased 17 additional ALP-45DPs to replace the remaining GP40PH-2B locomotives that are still in service. [4] However, in July 2020, NJ Transit decided to use the ALP-45As to replace older locomotives of the PL42AC fleet instead of the GP40PH-2Bs, due to the PL42AC's unreliability and inability to be upgraded to meet new Environmental Protection Agency standards. [5]

In 2019, NJ Transit unveiled locomotive 4109 painted in a heritage scheme based on that of the CNJ GP40P. [6] In October 2022, NJ Transit unveiled locomotive 4101 painted in a heritage NJDOT scheme. [7] In October 2023, GP40PH-2B 4210 was repainted into the Erie Railroad black-and-yellow scheme.

GP39H-2

MARC GP39H-2 No. 70 at Odenton MARC GP39PH-2 70.jpg
MARC GP39H-2 No. 70 at Odenton

In the late 1980s, Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt six GP40s into 12-cylinder GP39s for MARC. They were downgraded from 3,000 horsepower (2,200 kW) to 2,300 horsepower (1,700 kW), and re-equipped with 4-stroke Cummins HEP generators. As of 2023, they continue to be used by MARC for smaller train sets and work train duty, and all are currently being rebuilt. They will be reclassified as GP39PH-3C.

GP40WH-2

MARC GP40WH-2 No. 52 at Camden Station, Baltimore, Maryland MARC52.jpg
MARC GP40WH-2 No. 52 at Camden Station, Baltimore, Maryland

In 1993, Morrison-Knudsen was contacted by the Maryland Transit Administration to assemble a fleet of GP40s for use on MARC. They entered service in 1994. GP40WH-2s are equipped with a Cummins head-end power generator. The Federal Railroad Administration exempted these units from the "triangular light pattern" rule because the engines were ordered with Gyralites before the mandatory use of ditch lights.

Between 2009 and 2011, MARC retired all of their GP40WH-2 locomotives in favor of new MP36PH-3C locomotives, [8] except for unit 68, which remains for non-revenue work duty and rescue use. Five units were leased to the MBTA in 2011 until 2012, [9] and one unit was sent to CSX Transportation for use on their track geometry train.[ citation needed ] The remaining units have been rebuilt by MotivePower into MP32PH-Q locomotives for use on SunRail [10] or sold to various leasing firms. [11]

GP40-3H

CTrail GP40-3H No. 6695 at New Haven Union Station Hartford Line locomotive at New Haven Union Station, September 2018.JPG
CTrail GP40-3H No. 6695 at New Haven Union Station

In 1996, AMF Technotransport rebuilt six freight locomotives into passenger locomotives for the Connecticut Department of Transportation for use on Shore Line East service. The locomotives, designated GP40-2H, were rebuilt from ex-CSX Transportation EMD GP38s and EMD GP40s. The rebuild included an EMD 645 prime mover, producing 3,000 hp (2,200 kW), and a separate head-end power (HEP) generator. [12]

Between 2017 and 2018, the GP40-2H locomotives received an overhaul performed by National Railway Equipment and were reclassified as GP40-3H. [13] [14] They were subsequently transferred to the newly established Hartford Line service, where they remain in service as of June 2018. In 2022, the remaining Shore Line East equipment was moved into service on the Hartford Line after CTDOT introduced M8 electric multiple units to operate on Shore Line East service. [15] [ failed verification ]

GP40MC

MBTA GP40MC No. 1119 at North Station in Boston, Massachusetts in 2005 MBTA 1119 at North Station, October 2005.jpg
MBTA GP40MC No. 1119 at North Station in Boston, Massachusetts in 2005

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority currently owns and operates a set of 25 GP40 passenger diesels known as GP40MCs, used on the MBTA Commuter Rail system. They were originally built by General Motors Diesel as GP40-2LWs for Canadian National in 1973–75. In 1997–98, these units were extensively rebuilt by AMF. Although they have been principally used on the lines from North Station, these locomotives can also be seen commonly on the South Station lines. Currently, the GP40MCs are undergoing an overhaul by the Norfolk Southern Railway, which includes repair and modification to the major propulsion systems and the HEP generators.

Other locomotives

Other passenger locomotives based on the GP40 locomotive include the following:

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seaboard Coast Line Railroad</span> Transport company

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD F40PH</span> North American diesel locomotive class

The EMD F40PH is a four-axle 3,000–3,200 hp (2.2–2.4 MW) B-B diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division in several variants from 1975 to 1992. Intended for use on Amtrak's short-haul passenger routes, it became the backbone of Amtrak's diesel fleet after the failure of the EMD SDP40F. The F40PH also found widespread use on commuter railroads in the United States and with VIA Rail in Canada. Additional F40PH variants were manufactured by Morrison-Knudsen and MotivePower between 1988 and 1998, mostly rebuilt from older locomotives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD E8</span> Model of 2250 hp American passenger cab locomotive

The EMD E8 is a 2,250-horsepower (1,678 kW), A1A-A1A passenger-train locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division (EMD) of La Grange, Illinois. A total of 450 cab versions, or E8As, were built from August 1949 to January 1954, 447 for the U.S. and 3 for Canada. 46 E8Bs were built from December 1949 to January 1954, all for the U.S. The 2,250 hp came from two 12 cylinder model 567B engines, each driving a generator to power the two traction motors on one truck. The E8 was the ninth model in the line of passenger diesels of similar design known as EMD E-units. Starting in September 1953, a total of 21 E8As were built which used either the 567BC or 567C engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hood unit</span> Body style for diesel and electric locomotives

A hood unit, in North American railroad terminology, is a body style for diesel and electric locomotives where the body is less than full-width for most of its length and walkways are on the outside. In contrast, a cab unit has a full-width carbody for the length of the locomotive and walkways inside. A hood unit has sufficient visibility to be operated in both directions from a single cab. Also, the locomotive frame is the main load-bearing member, allowing the hood to be non-structural and easily opened or even removed for maintenance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD F7</span> Model of 1500 hp North American cab diesel locomotive

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raritan Valley Line</span> Commuter rail line in New Jersey and New York

The Raritan Valley Line is a commuter rail service operated by New Jersey Transit (NJT) which serves passengers in municipalities in Union, Somerset, Middlesex, Essex and Hunterdon counties in the Raritan Valley region in central New Jersey, United States. The line's most frequent western terminus is Raritan station in Raritan. Some weekday trains continue farther west and terminate at the High Bridge station, located in High Bridge. Most eastbound trains terminate in Newark; passengers are able to transfer to NJ Transit using a combined ticket or PATH and Amtrak to New York City. A limited number of weekday trains continue directly to New York.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head-end power</span> Electric power supply to trains by locomotives

In rail transport, head-end power (HEP), also known as electric train supply (ETS), is the electrical power distribution system on a passenger train. The power source, usually a locomotive at the front or 'head' of a train, provides the electricity used for heating, lighting, electrical and other 'hotel' needs. The maritime equivalent is hotel electric power. A successful attempt by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway in October 1881 to light the passenger cars on the London to Brighton route heralded the beginning of using electricity to light trains in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD GP40</span> 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division

The EMD GP40 is a 4-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between November 1965 and December 1971. It has an EMD 645E3 16-cylinder engine generating 3,000 hp (2,240 kW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD SDP40F</span> Class of diesel passenger locomotives

The EMD SDP40F was a six-axle 3,000 hp (2.2 MW) C-C diesel–electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) from 1973 to 1974. Based on Santa Fe's EMD FP45, EMD built 150 for Amtrak, the operator of most intercity passenger trains in the United States. Amtrak, a private company but funded by the United States government, had begun operation in 1971 with a fleet of aging diesel locomotives inherited from various private railroads. The SDP40F was the first diesel locomotive built new for Amtrak and for a brief time they formed the backbone of the company's long-distance fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD F40C</span> North American diesel locomotive class

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE U34CH</span> American passenger diesel locomotive

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">MPI MPXpress</span> Line of diesel-electric passenger locomotives

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GE E60</span> Locomotive class

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Control car</span> Unpowered railway or tramway car with a drivers cab

A control car, cab car, control trailer, or driving trailer is a non-powered rail vehicle from which a train can be operated. As dedicated vehicles or regular passenger cars, they have one or two driver compartments with all the controls and gauges required to remotely operate the locomotive, including exterior locomotive equipment such as horns, bells, ploughs, and lights. They also have communications and safety systems such as GSM-R or European Train Control System (ETCS). Control cars enable push-pull operation when located on the end of a train opposite its locomotive by allowing the train to reverse direction at a terminus without moving the locomotive or turning the train around.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shoreliner</span> Locomotive-hauled rail car used by the Metro-North Railroad

Shoreliners are a class of locomotive-hauled rail car used by the Metro-North Railroad. They are similar to the Comet coaches used by New Jersey Transit. Ownership of the fleet is split between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation, as part of the latter's operating agreement with the MTA. MTA coaches have blue window bands, while CDOT coaches have red ones. Many of the Shoreliner cars are named in honor of people and places significant to their service area, such as The Connecticut Yankee and Washington Irving.

<i>Crusader</i> (train) Reading Railroad train between Philadelphia and Jersey City

The Crusader was a 5 car stainless steel streamlined express train that ran on a 90.3-mile (145.3 km) route from Philadelphia's Reading Terminal to Jersey City's Communipaw Terminal, with a ferry connection to Lower Manhattan at Liberty Street. The Reading Railroad provided this service in partnership with the Central Railroad of New Jersey (CNJ), in which it was the majority owner of capital stock. Trains including the Crusader ran on Reading Railroad tracks from Reading Terminal in Philadelphia to Bound Brook, NJ, where they continued on CNJ tracks to Communipaw Terminal in Jersey City. Passengers then left the train and walked aboard the ferry or boarded busses that loaded onto the ferry. Introduced in 1937, the Crusader service declined during the 1960s, and the name was ultimately dropped in 1981.

References

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Further reading