Amtrak Charger Locomotive Long Distance Test Train
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- In December of 2018, Amtrak placed an order for at least 75 new Charger locomotives built by Siemens Mobility. These will be designated as model number ALC-42 and will be used on long distance Amtrak trains all across the United States. To fine tune the design of the new locomotives, Amtrak worked with Siemens to test two SC-44 Chargers, borrowed from the state of Illinois, on several of the Western Long Distance routes. In late January of 2020, I followed the first such test train to use the Charger locomotives in the lead of the train as they pulled a simulated long distance consist over the route of the Empire Builder up and over Stevens Pass in the state of Washington and then south along Puget Sound to Seattle. Join me in this video as I take you along with me to see the test train in action!
CoasterFan2105 is the home of all sorts of train and railroad related video content. Stop by every Friday at 9 AM Pacific time for an all new railroading adventure and be sure to check out all of my social media pages @coasterfan2105 for even more great railroad content. Thanks, and I'll see you down the line!
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Most people probably didn't notice...no diesel soot on the Chargers, even when moving uphill.
They don’t sound as bad as I feared. I love how they look back to back. Nothing will beat the chugging of a GE though!
lat woods Not quite. Pretty much any GE is going to sound better than an EMD.
Just mostly hear the blowers.
Tbh, idk what it is but they are pretty damn boring to watch in person.
@@parkerjon29 facts
It’s still wild to me the “Genesis” locomotives are reaching the end of their life. They still seem new to me with the F40s being the old generation.
I was raised on E units, PA units, then "matured" into the F40s, got used to the Genesis units now we have the Chargers. Every once in awhile I'll see F40s and once every two/three years an E unit. Darwinian evolution of passenger locomotives heh? Man I feel old :)
bill timmons .....love everyone of those units you mentioned
@@billtimmons7071 I'm jealous you got to see it all!
I didn't expect the GEs to have the potential longevity that the F40PHs did (still going strong in commuter service). Not sure if the Chargers will last as long as the GEs did either. Everything passenger related is getting more custom, fragile, proprietary, and expensive.
@@MilwaukeeF40C Siemens AC systems have proven to be very robust compared to GE's systems, with many of the Vectrons and EuroRunners still doing very well in Europe. The Charger also uses a Cummins for the prime mover, so don't worry about turbos blowing. The bodies are becoming more complex and unique, but everything mechanical-wise are bulletproof.
Being a '90's baby, I have known no other Amtrak locos other than the P32's and the P42's. Heck, I was 9 when the last of the P42's were delivered new to Amtrak. I'm really sad to see those GE terrors go. Despite all their flaws, they had character and defined Amtrak for at least my generation. I really hope that some of the Genesis' will be preserved
Or in 15 years they come out with a P32/P42 spiritual successor, kinda looks like it, but isnt quite it? You know, like all these disney movie reboots....
@@CMDRFandragon if anything, Amtrak is probably going to take on some SD70MACH's and those will be interesting machines to watch
They will be sold to a new operator probably
@@nolantherailfan5048, the better or newer P42's definitely will be. Some will also be donated to museums but most will be scrapped because they are rolling junk piles on rails
Tyler Parry if they were to do something like that, they’d probably go with something like an ET44ACH, especially with the SD70ACe-T4’s track record.
So in essence Amtrak is hoping to put Chargers on every (non-electrified) line they have.
As a side note, I really like how the Chargers look back-to-back.
I think that's the intention. Or to use DMUs instead once they replace the Amfleet cars.
Mateo Pelissier Meanwhile diesel trains aren’t even running anymore in my country since like a decade now
@@roy_hks . We need diesels here because of the Federal Fuel Tax which the Airlines are exempt from.
Rocky Racoon That doesn’t make sense? How would u pay fuel taxes if your tracks are electrified...
@@roy_hks . That is why we keep our lines with diesel trains. The government needs the revenue.
Now that is how you make a video!! No stupid music, just plain ol’ train noises and well thought out commentary!!
I guess it’s the beginning of the end of the P42s, I’m going to miss those monsters.
Same
I think I'll miss that chugging sound the exhaust makes.
They should just add a Tier 4 Engine
Well as far as I know the Vermonter and lakeshore limited east coast trains will be without chargers but for northeastern people it will be a while before chargers are here in the northeast
@@NERRP2017 I think they are doing the longer distance western routes first to gain the efficiency advantage the charger brings over the longer distances.
Man I’m Gonna Miss Those P42s They Were My Childhood
Same, even though I didn't see them much.
Same
Same. I saw them many days on the California Zephyr ever since 2012. And I also saw them on the Sunset Limited since I gone on the Sunset Limited.
Harrison La time traveler I also saw them on the Surfliner
Same
Nothing beats the awesome F40's!
I loved those locomotives. Loved them!
I loved the hell out of running F40s! Tho a UP frt engineer. But I sampled pretty much every Amtrak locomotive on their roster except old ones such as the EMD SDP40Fs and the GE P30CHs (sure wish I could have!!!). But let me tell you, the F40s were the best of the best for power and acceleration! :-) Much better than the P32-8 500s "Pepsi Can" units (although I liked those onnthe Texas Eagle), and yes, although overpowered by the GE P42DC "Genesis" units, those engines were so slow to load up electrically when brand new out of the box, NO!!! They couldn't hold a candle to a pair of EMD F40PHs. No!!! Although the GE "Racehorse Software" installed by GE helped immensely, yes. But NO. Never did give me the sense of URGENCY the times that I ran them that EMD F40s did, and I can only IMAGINE what a completely rebuilt set of F40s could have been with Dash 3 Electricals, well, HAD that been done right!!! And yes, I've compared all of the above with the 3 Union Pacific E9s, as well as the UP Centennial 6936 on passenger in the upper speed ranges. The 6936 is a hotrod!!! SD70Ms are hotrods on passenger specials, bar none!!! If only THEY had the gear ratio to whip it on up to 79 or 90 MPH!!!
FL9
I can’t stress this enough... perfect commercial placement. Beautiful video, love the commentary.
(3:02) The chargers sound like tie fighters lol
More like TIE Fighters from Star Wars
Definitely!
great video bro
5:18 Skykomish Washington
It's a shame that the P42's are approaching the end of their career's, but it's cool to see the Chargers about ready to take over.
P42's break down far too often those past years.
digimaks they are decades old by now so
In my world it wasn't long ago when they were new. P40 about 1993, 5 years later the P42.
@@digimaks They need to upgrade them.
GE Dash 8 technology is really obsolete, the freight railroads have mostly ditched it unlike EMD 645 and -2 stuff by the time the F40PHs were retired.
The Charger is a very elegant locomotive.
It looks more European, which is no wonder because it's made by Siemens.
Siemens used to be parts contributor not an entire locomotive builder such as today.
@@lanerailvideo5928 The first subway system of Budapest, Hungary used Siemens trains back in 1896. And those were also low floor cars! :)
@@jan.tichavsky I like the looks of the Charger better than the European version (the Vectron) (and I'm European).
Unbelievable Tour Trip on the Railroad Adventure with Amtrack. I can t wait to plan a trip with Amtrack and see this Beautiful Country called America..
Thank you..February 8,2020 In Michigan We need more Tracks through out our State too!
*Amtrak
Nice catches! I like the brand new Siemens Charger Locomotives a lot! Really nice!
Thank you, Zach!
They look very modern and fitting to Amtrak
@@CoasterFan2105 You're welcome!
@@TheDomeHepot010 Indeed, they do!
Great video and choice locations as always. I had no idea about this move, so it's always a surprise to see what you'll film next!
I think this is the end of the locomotives we loved to film on intercity and commuter trains.
Metra still has a lot of older equipment! I would be willing to bet that there will be P42s in service for a while longer.
i do too, amtrak is going to start using more chargers which sucks, but ig is good i dont know
@CoasterFan2105 Will some of the chargers have spoilers like the Amtrak California ones, or will they just all be to low height for New York service?
A Very Random Person it’s very possible! The “spoilers” are used as an aerodynamic advantage when in motion, but I’m assuming they’ll only be with train using the Superliner cars
While I agree it's an end of an era, it is the beginning of a new era for them. And I think 20-30 years from now, we might be saying the same thing about them retiring the Siemens Chargers.
I love the look of the P42s, but damn those chargers look so good.
They belong in the future
Nice to see those cool trains.
I'm amazed at how quiet they are. I see them on a regular basis in Chicago to/from Milwaukee. They also look pretty cool when it's dark and the interior is lit.
The Amtrak charger would look nice with stream lining like bright line has
Imagine if they also had B units just like old EMD locomotives
Micah the Nerd Saxophonist ya
Yeah, that would look cool! I've heard that they will be getting some sort of new streamlined nose cone design, so we'll have to see what happens!
CoasterFan2105 cool
CoasterFan2105 thanks for the info
Dude. You are very good at what you do. Reminds me of the Pentrex train videos I used to watch as a kid. Love it!
Nice video
Thanks!
I love the new Amtrak locomotive, but I'm going to miss the roaring P42.
I miss E8s! :-)
@@1940limited same!
@@triplehproductions5214 I think that car body could still be used today with modern running gear. It's timeless.
The F40 were noisier but sounded awesome as engines go.
Can anybody please tell me why a locomotive should be QUIET??? GOOD GRIEF. The Santa Fe FP45s! Amtrak SDP40Fs and F40PHs! And E8/E9s!!! Not ending the lost on them, but to ride behind them, to stand behind them as they roared out of a station compared to modern GEs?!? Or, to RUN them!!! And I've run all of the above!!! It's an unbelievable experience to roar out of a Station, and an incredible feeling of Awesome POWER!! And yes, even to be a passenger behind such was!!! But NOT behind Tier 4, tame, quiet little wimp units that Millenials like. No. YOU all take them. I'll sample them. But **I** have myself some damn good memories!!!!!
Cool video. Thank you for sharing! The AMD-103 types still seem new to me, but I guess its been almost 30 years. Time flies
Hi Mike: The Amtrak Charger comes to my city, Pontiac, Michigan. End of the line from Chicago.
• Cheers from The Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
I remember when Amtrak had all F40's and GE U30CH Pooches used on some routes
I like that they kept the traditional horn rather than the ugly sounding horn on the new Acela train. These engines look great.
This is why I’m catching Genesis’ while I can. They were my childhood.
Same.
Amtrak's locomotives always looks great and powerful. Thanks
Amtrak Needs To Keep Their Long Distance Service Very Much Alive. I Don't Care Too Much For Flying (Especially Nowadays). And I Love Trains And Traveled Them All My Natural Life. It Won't Be The Same If Amtrak Discontinued The Long Distance Service. Thank You For Such A Great Video. As Always.
dejohn913 -- using no capitals at all would make your messages a lot easier to read Than This Crazy Practice Of Starting Every Single Word With A Capital Letter.
Wow. This was a really cool video. By far the best Siemens Charger video.
I like the way it looks and sounds, Its a BEAST!
That is interesting to hear that VIA Rail may be getting these locomotives to run intercity, probably in Ontario. I could see them in use between Windsor and Toronto and up to Ottawa and Montreal. Great video Mike, thanks for posting.
These trains pass through some of the most beautiful scenic vistas on the planet. As long as you ride these trains and look at them as land based cruise ships and not planning a tight business scheduled on them than they are fantastic.
Cool amtrak there. I got the New Acela today on its first voyage
Wow that SC 44 paint looks great, gotta say it looks better than the ALC 42 paint on their new ones.
Never heard anyone saying something like that before
-Can't wait for them to show up on the Coaster
Nick Brown the question is, will they also replace their f40ph’s?
@@CrazyDash9 Last I heard, they're scrapping the F40s and the F59s
Nick Brown oof that sucks
As someone who lives along the coast in northern San Diego I love these engines cuz they are much quieter ! My friend operates them says they are much more comfortable and handle emergency stops much better? 😁
Once again my friend you did it again, thanks for covering this
Fantastic production. Informative, interesting narration. Top notch! Go Chargers!
The Charger looks sharp. Thanks for sharing. Dan. Michigan.
It's a nice looking train. If they made the passenger cars look like a shiny reefer trailer that would be a cool looking train.
What a beauty!
I am going to miss those p42s roarers!
im Australian and i still love the look of these locomotives
Absolutely gorgeous visuals.
RIP P42, you were my favorite engine :'(
I've enjoyed that video man. I'm a huge fan of trains. I love trains ever since I was little.
Im going to miss watching those P42s and P40s pull into Edmonds station pulling the Empire Builder or Cascades
Man it's nice to see some locos in the European design.
The Euros do have style dont they?
These locomotive are so great and I've seen these locomotives before :)
Great video, Mike! Keep up the great work.
Outstanding video! That was a really fun chase!
Great video! I also got a look at the chargers, very nice locomotives!
I still miss the GG-1’s...Lol
Charger look like a good locomotive.
Good video Mike.
All the best from New Jersey. 🚂
This is Fantastic, and I Love It a Lot! :-D
Thanks, Kev!
Beautiully filmed video, great modern Siemens locomotives
My new VW Jetta feels like I'm driving an SC-44 Charger! 😄
Very nice video my friend! Thank you for share!
Nice! I was down in Edmonds when i caught it, Im really excited for these to take over Long Distance service, I'm not a fan of the P42s and they're showing their age fast, will be nice to have some new power! Great Video!
♥️♥️Indian railways♥️♥️i like Amtrak electric and diesel locomotives♥️
We love you, Genesis!
Interested in Trains my whole life. A great channel.
Cheers Mike. They look 👀 good 👍🏻
Quite the mix of coaches there... two I never saw before. But I don't get out much... I still love those rounded Budds.
What beatiful landscapes you have in the US. Fun fact: here in tunisia we are about to acquire new EMD locos for phosphate trains while you buy SIEMENS
Enjoy the EMD's! Some of us in the US still think they are the better locomotive. That is a fun fact, though . . . :)
@@johncrawford6571 Are they two stroke diesel? Like the older ones?
@@johncrawford6571 The good thing they have less electronics. Siemens puts too much computer in its machines.
@@thelovertunisia Hello! No, the Siemens locomotives have V-16 4 stroke engines in them. It appears they have 2 different power output ratings of either 4000 or 4400 hp. According to spec sheets the goal is to have a maximum of 3900 hp (2908 kw) at the rail. So I believe from the spec sheet that the railroads using them can order as they need between those 2 power ratings. And, you are correct! The EMD's are so much simpler in construction and easier to maintain. They are usually VERY reliable and can go for many years. I understand that electronics can help with some goals of fuel efficiency and such, but having something less complicated and fairly reliable sometimes can pay for itself against downtime of electronics that are difficult to come by. I am sure there may be others to disagree, and that is okay. I just believe we as a people have come to depend on computers and electronics far too much. Anyway, have a great day, my friend!
PS: The diesel engines last I checked were made by American engine manufacturer Cummins.
@@johncrawford6571 Thanks John. By the way I totally agree with you especially here in Tunisia in the developing world it is better not to havd something too sophisticated, even at the expense of efficiency. By the way Cummins are good engines I saw them on gensets very reliable but not very fuel efficient though.
Mike, Well done, you showcase not only the Locomotives, but the great scenes along the right of way, kept up the great work!.
Hi Mike. Another fine video I don't understand the Thumbs Down. I enjoy your videos and always a Thumbs Up.
It’d be nice if we saw the semi-streamlined nose from VIA’s SC-40Bs applied to the ALC-42. The drawback of the Brightline SC-40B’s clamshell nose is that the entire assembly (so everything from the collision posts forwards) needs to be rebuilt if it suffers collision damage because of the opening and locking mechanisms in there. Amtrak won’t spring for that. VIA’s nose leaves the coupling and connections exposed, so the nose will be far cheaper to replace than Brightline’s, but still improve the look.
Very well done!
The bright line (Virgin Trains) is scheduled to extend from West Palm to Orlando at a speed of 114 MPH.
matthew portilla 110 between cocoa and west palm beach. 125 between Orlando and cocoa
Well, I hope so, with these retards not taking heed when a train approaching a crossing
I’m going to be leaving the Melbourne area very soon, but I’ll definitely need to come back down here at some point to catch those Brightlines run the FEC through here at those speeds.
Cole Madonna downtown Stuart is going to be a mess.
Cole Madonna brightline plans to build a station in cocoa, Orlando to cocoa-125 mph. Cocoa to west palm beach-110 mph and then 79 to miami
Why is this thing so beautiful
Great camera angles .. as usual. I can see the Euro influence on cab body style. I miss the days when the USA produced domestic passenger locomotives ... E units, PA units ect. Time to move on. The Chargers are nice looking locomotives. Better looking than the Genesis and the F40 PHs I dare say. Things are looking up for Amtrak. Thank you for the video.
I like the look of the Chargers. I never took to those p42s I always thought they were ugly, compared to the P40s they replaced.
Awesome job keep up the awesome work
Chargers look cool, it is weird seeing nobody around
Looks great especially with the 2 engines back to back and is nice and quiet. Hopefully trains will gain momentum and be a major source of travel. Seems the future of train travel is questionable.
Very well put together!
I'm gonna miss the amtrak p42 locos😥
It's okay, I got to ride the Amtrak Palmetto train on Friday and it was led by a P42.
It's good to know Amtrak is doing well financially, it's an American icon.
American Icon used to be Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, Baltimore & Ohio, New York Central, etc. But they are all gone. Amtrak is fairly young passenger company.
It is the only long-distance passenger service at the moment. It has been an icon only since its founding in the early 1970s.
Beautiful footage
👍👍🇮🇳
Living in Northern VA, it would be great too see these on the AutoTrain.
That would be cool!
I love the chargers. They are quality it's siemens
Amtrak is US government, so they should by american locomotives. Wait till' they have to fix them and buy parts.
The Siemens Charger is 100% made in America.
@@nightflyer3242 No, it's constructed in America, it's designed by Siemens (Germany)...
Love the vid mike keep up the great work
Nice Job Mike!!!
Thank you!
The charger would look even better with new (updated, renovated…something) cars…
Agreed
Daphne Logan Amtrak is replacing it’s Amfleet with Calidot train cars between 2020-2024
Three baggage cars on a 9 car train? There is a prototype for everything!
Hannah Miyamoto I’ll bet it’s just because that was the available rolling stock at the time, and it’s the right length for a passenger rail car
Especially with a snack car in front of the baggage cars.
Rob Arons it’s just in case the engineer and conductor and whoever else is on board wants a snack, I mean you might have to stop the train to get to it, but worth it for a snack.
Awesome video 👍
I hope that Amtrak will paint them in the phase 1 and phase 2 colors. I don't like Amtrak's current paint style. Thank you for the merging of the pass with the future.
awesome video Mike As Always Keep Up The Good Work From Your Friend Lima Railfan Productions !
Thank you very much, will do!
This is a really cool looking train! Pretty awesome! But in the end, this train is still slower than the trains in every other country loool
Nobody cares.
I can't wait to see the SC44 on the Cresent going through Birmingham
Just another year or two!
It's not the engine that slows you down, its the roadbed . A steam engine still holds the record NY to Chicago.
I've been on that steam engine.
All your vids great. You're very articulate!
US trains have this strange air about them of technology from a different era -- 1950s. They exude this weird time-traveling appeal as they pass in front of majestic countryside with dignified gradualness.
I'm gonna miss the P42s like hell but at the same time *this* is what nice modern, updated locomotives should like and not the hideous monstrosity that is the Avelia Liberty that is on track to replace the Acela, pun absolutely intended btw
It’s interesting that they still use these and the Talgo on the Cascades here in Oregon.
The LIRR will be purchasing these chargers in late 2021, it is a shame that the GE power houses are leaving :(
Long Island Mowers & More got a source? I thought these only ran on Diesel. LIRR Loco’s are Dual Modes
Matt Kennedy theyre replacing the aging de30 which is only diesel powered, the dm will be most likely rebuilt or replaced by Duel mode Locomotives that I don’t know about, I hear rumors in the yard I clean train cars on the LIRR.
Long Island Mowers & More I heard Kawasaki was supposed to be testing some new Engine on the property that the rail road was “thinking of buying. I haven’t heard about Siemens. It would be neat though the DE’s and DM’s (particularly the DM’s) have always been a problem for the LIRR as they were custom built with no proven track record. The rail road should’ve bought something more seasoned like this Siemens charger with off the shelf tech. It would’ve saved them a whole lot of money and aggravation.
Matt Kennedy theirs no more parts for them diesels sadly they’re outdated
Pretty cool locomotives i get to see daily out of Dearborn right behind my work. Was leading this past Saturday (3/14/2020) with a DC to the rear